Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1882-04-06
this was tho way they managed things
in Maine answered meekly:

lWo-tnu-tuhlJ
"Ever been married before p sharply
questioned the widow.
"Certainly not, madame am a
single man !" answered Mr.. Payne, with
very justifable spark OF Indignation
in his manner.
"Any business ?" went on his cate
chist.
"None, madame
"Well, like that |" said the widow.
with a scornful sniff. Like your i'm
pudence to come here and own to such
a disgruce as that Expect to live on
me, hey?"
Madamel" gaspcd poor Mr.. Payne.
"How dye suppose you're ever going
to keep my Naomi, even if allowed
you to marry herr" sharply went on
the woman, (which l shan't do, and
don't you think it She don't care for
you, anyway When she heard you
was coming she made up her mind to
stop Off at Catley's Dam, just to get rid
of the sight Of you. There So just
pick up your traps and go back ag'in
the way you come You won't never
be a son-in.law OF mine !"
But while Widow Buck was volubly
uttcring these last glib sentences n
light began to dawn on Mr.. Payno's
obscurcd brain.
I" | think, Mrs Buck," said he, that
you must be laboring under little
misapprehengion. Ny name is Perciyal
Payne. am from Boston. was ro-
commended here, az an eligible board
ing place, by Mr.. Warden, Of 10 Pep.
permint place"
Mrs. Buck nearly dropped her lamp
in constefnation.
&" Well, never" said she, instant
ly flinging the door wide open. "Plcaso
to walk IN, sir I'll send tho boy out
arter your trunks and things in half q
minute. beg Your pardon, I'm sure,
for mis!aking you for PeIeP briggs,
from Lowell, as was comm here after
my daughcr Naomi She works in the
Lowell mills, Naomi does. To think
how ever l could have made such a
blunderl Do walk in, sir !"
And Mr. Payne was promptly intro
duccd to delightful little "intcrior0
Of rel carpet round iablc spread for
tea, ahaded lamplisht, and fire Of
logs, burning on an open hearth TO
keep ont tho damp Of the summer even.
ming.
After 10 o'clock. when the wearied
traveller was in bed, in q pretty litlto
room, where there was an eight day
clock in cherry wood case, a1d a
carpc. made Of woven rags, he heard
the opening and shutting of doors be-
low, tho clear sound OF familiar voice
tho voice OF his black-cyed travelling
companion.
We'll, mother, did he come p she
asked.
"Peleg didn't come" said the Widow
Buck. "But q young gentleman from
the city came. And don't you blicve,
Naomi, I took him for Peleg, and I
peppered away At him we'll !"
"Oh, mother, what will he think"
cried the softer young voice.
"I asked his pardon, OF course.
said the old lady. aud he took it all
as 4 joke"
And when Peter briggs himself the
next day put in an appearance, no was
summarily dismissed. While Mr.. Per.
cival Payne aud the fair Naomi were
sitting 10y front pool in the cool
woods below: for Naomi knew all about
the haunts and hooks OF. the neighbor-
hood and handled a fishing pole most
skillfully.
Mr.. Payne liked Mailzie Ford and
stayed there all summer. And as there
we're several boArders in the old stone
house Miss Naomi concluded not to re.
turn TO factory life in the Lowell mills
but to stay aud help her mother with
the housework; and when the autumn
came she was engaged to Mr.. Percival
Payne.
"The sweetest wild.aower in all the
Northern woods,n he wrote, enthusiastic.
cally, to his friend Warden.
Warden went mp to Mailzie Ford. He
was introduced to Miss Naomi. He
agreed with his friend.
"She's little jewel" said he.
"Yon're a lucky fellow, Payne. Bat
didn't know when you wrote me that
you were 80 we'll suited with tho accom-.
modations hore--"
"That was suiting myself for liie'
interrupted Payne. "But you see that
aunh vvaa Ahn fanl