Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-04-25
WIDOW BUCK.

Ono hosel?" said Mr. Percival PAYNE.
Nothing in the shape Of one" an
svered his friend. Lucius Warden. with
the subdued triumph Of one who an
nounees a startling fact.
81 never heard Of such thing in my
htel" said PAYNE.
"Nor neither" serenely remarked
Warden.
But how DO yon account for it 2
demanded the would be tourist, shifting
his forehead in DESPAIR.
81 don't account for IL all" said Mr..
Warden, surveying the nails which he
had just been carefully trimming with
his peuknife, Except that nobody
knows anything about the place as yet.
There Il factory-wall-psper, believe,
or something OF that sort-snd a cigar.
shop and beer-shop and two thread.
and-needle stores, and q postofice
where the mails come twice week; and
there's the Magalloway river, all car.
peted over with water.lilies, and half a
dozen glorious little trout-streams run
ming into it. and the finest bit OF
scenery You ever saw. B1t-there's no
hotelr
"Bnt where's fellow 10 stAyy' help
lCssly demanded Psvre.
Get az ou:ft and camp out. as |
din said Warden, cheeriully. a
blanket a canvas tent, with pegs aud
loops, little smudSe Of bran or pine.
needles, to keep tie mosquitoes OF st
night, and
But l don't enjoy camping out"
vehemently demonstrated Payne. 81.
Is all very well for those that like it,
but I'm not one Of that sort. l like
your good walls, feather pillow and
regular meals served thr.e times a
day."
Well, then, look here" said War
den. "Go to the Widow Bucks. She
takes Soariers now and then"
Who is the Widow Buck?" asked
Payne.
That l don't know" replied his
friend.
And where--ioe she live?"
There you have ne again"
Man alive are you .crazy2" de-
spairingly questioned Payne. How
an 10 find her?'
Inquire" calmly responded Mr..
Warden, as he shut up his knife and
replaced /: in his vest pocket. &" Go to
Msilzie Pord-ll A " train-stage-
coach-through in one day. ASK for
the Widow Bucks! Bless ny hesrtl
nothing in the vide world could be
easier. lalways heard that people so,
good fare there a2i comfortable beds.
and Mai!zie Ford is aperfect little par.
adise when YOU once get there
Well said Payne, de!ectedly, at
seems wild-soose chase. but I've 8
mind TO try it. \ man can bat come
saek Esain."
twas rather early in the season for
the conventional! operation known to
the American public as summering,'
olt PerciyAl Payne, being bachelor OF
independent fortune and cultivated
tastes, felt tia. he could do as lie
pleased. And !; was rather luxury e.
anticipate the first Iaad rush Of travel
when all the seats are engaged, The
coy corners taken. and the most iesir
able points OF observation nsnrped
So lie packed his valise, did up his
fshiDg-tsckle, laid in a grsat store Of
orayons and sketch;ug-raper, an
started for the far northern wilderness
OF Mailzie Fo.d
or course the train was late train,
always are late-and il Was O'Clock IL
the afternoon when Mr.. PANE found
himself perchei M in an open box
wagon. alongside Of two trunks, pack
age OF Goldfish. mailbag. and a pretty
girl. with eyes as soft as black pools OF
water, and one OF those odd, friugy
hats of black straw, all covered with
loops and ribbon, that make people look
so picturesque.
Where 10 we meet the stagef" said
Mr. Payne, as he settled himself so as
10 Inconvenience his pretty neighbor as
little as possible.
The driver stared az him.
This 'ere's the stage" said he.
"Git up. sorrel Il
Mr.. Payne stared.
"But stages hsv tops" 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-hill the rest. with the Goldfish and
the mailbag alternately tumbling into
Mr.. Payne's lap, and the pretty girl