The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1882-08-26
AN zLIoIBLn BoAnDMo.pLAos.


Of one who announces . startling fact.
81 never heard Of such thing In my life," said
Payne
.Nor !. neither" ssrsnsly remarked Warden.
"But how do you account for ?" demanded
the wculd-be tourist, shifting his forehead In de-
spair.
al don't account for it At ALL" said Mr.. Warden,
surveying the nails which he had just been care
fuily trimming with his penknife, "excspt that
nobody knows anything aboa. ,hs place a. yet
thing Of that sort-and . cigar shop, and beer
shop, and two thread and needle stores, and .
postsfiee where the mails come twice . week aud
there's the Magailoway River, all earpeted over
with water-lilies, and half dozen glorious lit
tie rout-strsams running into II. and the hnest
bit Of scenery you ever saw. But-there's no
hoteiw
"But whsre's fellow to stay ," helpiessly de-
manded Payne.
"Get an outat and camp out, as I did," said
with pegs and loops; little smudge Of bran, or
pine needles. to keep the mosquitoes OF at night,
and"
"But don't enjoy camping out" vehsmsntly
remonstr.,sa Payne .it 10 al very we'll for those
En- "a ssils, ssssns ~ plliss. "a rsxsIss
meais served three times day"
"weii, then, look here" said Warden. $50 10
the Widow Bgck's. She takes bosrders, now and
| then"
"That den't know" replied his friend.
"And where does she liver
"There you have me again"
"Man alive are you erary," despairingly
| questioned Payne. "iiow am to find her ?"
"Inauire," calmly responded Mr.. Warden, ~ he
shut up his knife and replaced u In his vest pocket
"Go 10 Mailzie ford-eeven A. N. ge-eoaeh-
| through In one day. Ask for the Widow Bucks (.
Bless my heart nothing In the wide world could
be easier. I have always heard that people got
good fare there and comfortable beds. And Mailxie
Ford !. perfect little Paradise when once you get
| there"
SWELL" said Payne, dejeetedly, cit seems n Wild
goose chase, but I've q mind try IL. man can
but come back again."
II was rather early In the for the conven-
tionai operation known to the American public as
| 'sumtnering," but Percival Payne, being baehe-
Tor Of independent fortune and cultivated tastes.
felt that he could do as he pleased. And IL was
rather luxury TO anticipate the first mad rush Of
| travel, when all the seats engaged, the cory
corners taken, and the most desirable points Of OBJ
| servation usurped.
So he packed his vali.e, laid up his fishing
tackle, laid in great store Of crayons and sketch
ingpaper, and started for the far northern wilder
ness Of MalKic Ford.
| OF course, the train was late-trans always are
| iase-and II vas four o'clock In the afternoon
when Mr.. Payne found himself perched up In an
| open box wagon. alongside Of two trunks, pack
| age Of salt Goldfish. mailbag and pretty girl,
| with eyes soft black pools Of water. and
Of those odd, frngy hats Of black straw all cover
Cd With loops and ribeon, tina, maker people ioos
| so picturesque.
"where do we meet the s,age'" said Mr.. Payne
~ he settled himself 80 rs 10 Inconvenience bis
pretty neighbor as little ne possible.
| The driver started at him.
"This 'ere's the stage" said be. "Git up, Sor.
| reiw
Mr.. Payne started.
| "But stages have tons" said he.
"This ere stage don't" said the driver.
II was rather a trying situation-steep uphill
part Of the way, and steep down.hiii the rest. with
the Goldfish and the mail bag alternately tunbling
into Mr.. Psyne's lap and the pretty girl laughing
in her sleeve ut his embarrassment.
| Elm very rude now" said she; "but II you'd
just tie that cedash TO the back Of the wagon with
your fishing line, Il wouldn't trouble you go
| much"
"a good idea" said Payne, briskly. Thanks,
very much. for suggesting It,"
"Ive travelled over this road before" said the
| pretty girl laughing.
care you going to Mailrie Ford ?" said Mr..
Payne. with sudden CLEAN Of animation.
.No." said the pretty girl. "To Casley's Dam. .
"Perhaps you know something about Mailis
Fordi" h.rarded our hero.
"0h, yes" said the nymph with the dark eyes.
"fts lovely place ! used TO live there before
went into the factory at catley's."
"Doyou know the Widow Buck p a,ked Payne.
with interest.
VERY WE'LL" nodded the pretty girl.
Elm going there to lock for board" said Mr..
Payne.
~ hope you'll be suited" said the girl.
And then they began 90 talk about the tall blue
crested mountains, which were beginning to close
In around them.
The dewy.eysi damsei had read LongfellOw
she knew all about ThOreau; she vas even up
/ In Ruskin. and she expressed herself with grace
and spirit which set Mr.. Payne 10 wondering if
all the Maine girls were equally cultivated and
beautiful.
And then the Goldfish tumbled down again and
/ had To be frightened anew. and By that time they
had come 10 q house in the midst Of q lonely belt
Of woods. which the driver said vas "Cailey .
DAM" upon which thepret,y girl disappeared into
the purple twilight, and Mr.. Payne and the cod.
6sh went on, sorroufal. much jol,ed. and alone.
| A glimpse Of the beautiful Masaiowsy River
By moonlight; the cry of q Wild. bird In the woods:
the noise Of hidden cascades; blur u lighted
windows. which the driver said was the factory
| down blind lane, and checking the tired horses
at u one-storiei stone house behind wall % cedar
trees. and then the Jshu cried out
Snow, then; here We be Widow Dack's!"
| Mr.. Payne got stifiy out, and helped to unload
the various pAraphernaiia of travel which belong
| ed 90 him-aii Of them by this time considerably
favored with salt Goldfish.
perhaps you had better watt" said be. a. the
driver turned around aud ehirrupei 20 bis horse
"whst for ?" demanded the man.
"In case Mrs. Buck should not be able 10 ae-
eommodate me. or"
"Oh, it's ali right" said the driver. "sheu
take you In. Naomi would have told you. else. "
Aud away he drove, leaving our hero alone In
the spectral moonlight. with pile of luggsge At
his feet. and saunt dog smelling at the skirts
| Of HE coat.
"who.x Naomi ?" said Mr.. Payne, addrsssssg
the moon. "And what weald she have told me y
| lie raised an oid-fashioned brass. knoeker that
hung at the door. aud ratified u br.skly. Tbs
gaunt dog. aroused TO sense Of his duty. len %
suuiliing and began 20 bark. Presently, . tall.
thin woman. with red pocket handkerchief TIED
on her head, with kerosene lamp In her hand,
opened the door.
| "Oh," said she, peering sharply at him, "yeu'rs
the young man from the city, are your"
With the initiative thus taken out Of his hands.
Mr. Payne could only incline his head.
"Ar them traps your'n ?" demanded the wideu
Buck, abruptly.
eyes, madam" Mr.. Payne admitted.
"IIumphw said the widow. "'Pears 10 me IT,
purity toabie cheeky Of you. mister, 10 take Il foI
granted you'd be asked 10 stay"
81 thought, madam"
"I'm a-iaikin," said the widow, sharply. etc
begin right straight at the beginning. We doni
know anything about you. You may be bank.
| burglar, or q eounterfsiter, for all We know"
| my references, madam"
"Yes know" said the widow. "And them very
references 10 most likely forged. But TN wiiin
TO be reasonable. How old be your"
And Mr. Payne. secretly wondering u this was
the way they managed things In Maine. answered
msekiy:
"T.o.and.thir.y."
Ever been married bsforei" sharply question.
cd the widow.
"Csrtainly not, madam I am . single man =
answered Mr.. Payne, with . very jus,ihabls spark
Of indignation In his manner"
"Any business' went on bis eatechist.