Frostburg mining journal., 1883-02-24
FROsTBURG. Md SATURDAY MORNING. FEBRUARY "a, 1883.
girl laughed in her sleeve at his
embarrassment. .

I'm very rude, know, said she
"but if you'd just tie that Goldfish to
the back of the wagon with youl
fshing-line. it would not trouble
you 30 much"
"a good idea," said Payne. briskly.
"Thsnks, very much, for suggesting
it."
I've travelled over this road be-
fore" said the pretty g'rl, Laughing.
"Are you going to MailEis Ford p
said Mr.. Payne, with sudden CLEAN
Of animation.
No." said the pretty girl. "To
Catley's DAM"
Perhaps you know something
about Msilzis Ford ?" hazardsd our
hero.
"oh, yes," said the nymph with
the dark eyes. ats lovely place
| used to live there before went
into the factory at Cstlsy's."
do you know the Widow Buck p
asked Payne with interest.
"Very WE'LL" nodded the pretty
girl.
I'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 sbou
the tall, blus.crested mountains
which were beginning to close in
around them.
The dewy-eyed damssl had read
Lcngfellow /; she knew all about
Thoreau she was even sup" in
Ruskin. and she expressed herself
with grace and spirit, which set Mr..
Payne to wondering if all the Maine
girls were equally cultivated and
beautiful.
And then the Goldfish tumblsd
down and had to be frightened
anew, and by that time they had
come to house in the midst Of a
lonely belt of woods, which tie
driver said was "Catley's DAM" up
on which the pretty girl disappeared
In the purple twilight, and Mr.. Payne
and the Goldfish went on, sorrowfuI,
much jolted, and alone.
A glimpse of the beautiful Magal-
low River by moonlight the cry Of a
wild bird in the woods the noise ol
hidden cascades; a blur Of lighted
windows, which the driver said was
the factory; down blind lane, and
checking the tired horses at one
,toried stone. house behind wall OF
c,dsr trees, and then the Jehu cried
out:
Nov, then Here we be ! Widow
Bucks |"
Mr.. Payne got stifly out and
helped to unload the various para.
phernalis OF travel which belonged
10 him-sll Of them by this time con
side ably favored With salt Goldfish.
"Perhsps you has better wait, sale
he, as the driver turned around and
chirruped to his horse.
"What for7" demanded the man.
"In Gaze Mrs. Buck should not be
able to accommodate me, or"
20, it's all tight" said the driver.
She'll take you in. Naomi would
have told you, else"
And away he drove, leaving our
hero alone In the spectral moonlight
with pile of luggage at bis feet an
gaunt dog smelling at the skirts CT
his coat.
"Who's Naomi ?" said Mr.. Payne,
addressing the moon. "And what
would she have told me ?"
He raised an old-fashioned bras,
knocker that hung at the door AM
ratified it briskly. The gaunt dog,
around to sense of his ,'uty, left oil
snuffilng and began to bark. Pres
emily tall, thin woman, with
pocket-handksi chief tied on her head
and a kerosene lamp in her hand,
opened the door.
"Oh," said she, peering sharply at
him, you're the young man from the
city, are you ?"
With the inistive thus taken out Of
mis- hands, Mr.. Payne could only in
cline his head.
"All them traps your'n ?" demand
cd the widow Buck abruptly.
"Yes, madam" Mr.. Payne admit
ted.
"Humph !" said the widow. "Pears
to me it's purity tol'able cheeky of you,