Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1882-04-26
AN ELIGIBLE BOARDING PLACE.

mo hotel?" said Mr.. Percival Payne
Nothing in the shape of one," an
swered his friend, Lucius Warden, witt
the subdued triumph of one who an
nounees a startling fact.
"I never heard of such a thing in my
hfel" said Payne.
Nor 1, nither," serenely remarked
Warden.
But how do you accoRnt for it?'
demanded the would-be tourist, smitins
his forehead in despair.
"I don't account for it at all" said
Mr.. Warden, surveying the nails which
he nad Just been carefully trimming
with his pen-knife, except that nobody
knows anything about the place as yet.
There's a factory-wau paper, l be.
ieve, or something of that sort-and a
cigar shop, and beer shop and two
thread and needle stores, and postof.
fee where the mails come twice a week:
and there's the Magalloway River, al
carpeted ever with water lilies, and
half dozen glorious little trout streams
running into it, and the finest bit OF
scenery you ever saw. But-there's nc
hotelr'
But where's fellow to stay" help
lessly demanded Payne.
''Get an outfit and camp out, as l did
said Warden, cheerfully. "A blanket,
a canvas tent, with pegs and loops q
little smudge of bran, or pine needles,
to keep the mosquitoes off at night,
and"
''But 1 don't enjoy camping out, y
vehemently demonstrated Payne III
is all very well for those who like 1t. but
I'm not one of that sort, / like four good
walls, feather pillow, and regular
meals served three times day.
We'll, then, look here, said Warden
"Go to the Widow Bucks. She takes
boarders now and then"
WHO Is the Widow Buck?' asked
Payne.
THAT 1 do not know" replied his
friend.
"And where does she live?"
There you have me again.
MAN alivel are you crazy?" despair
ingly questioned Payne. How am / to
find her?"
Inquire" calmly responded Mr..
Warden, as he shut up his knife ard
replaced it in bis vest pocket. go to
Mailzls Ford-1l N. train-stage
coach-through in one day. Ask for
the Widow Bucks Bless nay heart
nothing in the wide world could be
easier. 1 always heard that people got
good fare there and comfortable beds.
And Mailzie Ford is a perfect little
Paradise, when once you get thereT
well" said Payne, deIectediy, sit
seems wild goose chase, I've mind
to try it. A man can but come back
again"
1t was rather early in the season for
the conventional operation known to
the American public as ''summerinS,
but Percival Payne being a bachelor OF
independent fortune and cultivated
tastes felt that he could do as he pleased.
And 1t was rather a luxury to anticipate
the frst mad rush OF travel, when all
the seats are engsa7d, the coZy corners
taken and the most desirable points OF
observation usurped.
So he packed his valise, did up his
fishing tackle, laid in great store OF
crayons and sketching paper, and start
ed for the far northern wilderness OF
Mailzie Ford.
OF course, the train was late-trains
always are Iate-and it was O'Clock In
the afternoon when Mr.. Payne found
himself perched up in an open box wa
con alongside of two trunks, package
of salt Goldfish, q mail bag, and pretty
girl, with eyes as soft as black pools OF
water. and one of those odd, fringy hats
of black straw, all covered with loops
and ribbon, that make people look SO
picturesque.
Where TO we meet the stage?" said
Mr.. Payne, as he settled himself 30 as
to inconvenience his pretty neighbor as
little as possible.
The drlver stared at him.
This ores the stagel" said he. "Git
up, ,Sorrell''
Mr.. Payne stared.
s.But stages have tops" said he.
This ere stage don't" said the
driver.
Itwas rather trying situation-steep
ND hill part of the way, and steep down
hill the rest. with the Goldfish and the
mail bag alternately tumbling into Mr..
Payne's lap, and the pretty girl laugh
ing in her sleeve at his embarrassment.
I'm very rude, / know, said she;
"but if you'd d Just tie that Goldfish to
the back of the wagon with your fish
ing line it wouldn't trouble you SO
much"
"a good ideal' said Payne, briskly.
Thanks. very much, for suggesting
i'll" -,
sTye travelled over this road before, y
said the pretty girl, laughing: 49,, =,
"Are YOU going to lailzie Ford?" said
Mr.. Payne, with sudden gleam OF AMI
nation.
No." said the pretty girl. ITO Cat
ley's Dam
perhaps you know something ABOUT
Mailzie Ford?" hazarded our hero.
"Oh, yesr' said the nyniph with the
dark ewes. "It's lovely placer
used to 1--we there before went INTO the
factory at Catley's."
DO you know the Widow Buck!
asked Payne with interest.
Very well, ;" nodded the pretty girl.
sI'm going there to look for board.
said Mr.. Payne.
II hope you'll be suited, said the
girl.
And then they began to talk about
the tall, blue crested mountains, whicn
were beginning to close IN around
them. :,