Frostburg mining journal., 1883-02-24
Selert Sturp.
an Eligible Boarding-Place.

Payne.
Nothing in the shape of ons," an
swered his friend, Lucius Warden,
with the subdued triumph of one who
announces ptartling fact.
II never heard Of such thing in
my life," aaid Payne.
"Nor 1 either" serenely remarked
Warden.
"But how do you account for it p
demanded the would. be tourist, smit-
ing his forehead in despair.
81 don't account for it at all, )" said
MIR. Warden, surveying the nails
which he had just teen trimming
with penknife, Except that nobody
knows anything about the place as
yet. There's a factory-wall-paper,
l believe, or something of that sort
and cigar.shop, and two thread
snd-needle stores, and post-office
come twice a week and there's the
Magallow River, all csrpetsd over
with water lilies, and half dozen
glorious little trout.stresms running
into it, and the finest bit of scenery
you ever saw. But--there's no ho.
tel"
"But where's a fellow to stay P
helplessly demanded Payne.
SECT an outfit and camp out, as 1
did" said Warden, cheerfuily. IA
blanket, canvas tent, with pegs and
loops; a little smudge of bran, or
pine needles to keep off the mos
quitoes at night, and"
"But I don't enjoy camping out"
vehemently demonstrated Payne.
"It is all very well for thoss who
like it, but I'm not one of that sort:
I like four good walls, feather pill.
low, and regular meals served three
times day."
"Well, then, look here, said War
den. "Go to the Widow Bucks
She takes boarders, now and then"
"Who is the Widow Buck p esked
Payne.
"That, don't know" replied his
friend.
"And where does che live ?"
"Thers you have me again"
"Mau alive you are crazy ?" despair
ingly questioned Payne. "How am
to find her p
Enquire" calmly responded Mr..
Warden, as he shut up his knife and
replaced it in his vest pocket. go
to Mailzie Ford-eleven A. M. stage
coach-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 MaiIzie
Ford is perfect little Paradise when
once you get there"
"Well, said Payne dejectedly, "it
seems wild-goose chase, but I've a
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 summer.
ing" but Percival Payne, being a
bachelor Of independent fortune and
cultivated tastes, felt that he pleased
And it was rather luxury to antici-
pate the first mad rush of travel,
when all the sests are engaged, the
cozy corner taken, and the mcst de
sirable point of observation usurped.
So he packed his valise, laid up
his 6shing-tackle, laid in good
store Of crsyons and sketchlng paper,
and started for the far northern will
derness Of Mallzie Ford.
Of courss, the train WAS late-trsins
are always lste-and it was four
o'clock in the afternoon when Mr..
Payne found himself perohsd in an
open box wagon, alongside of two
trunks, package of salt Goldfish,
bag and pretty girl, with eyes
as soft as black pools of water, and
one of these odd, fringy hats Of
black straw all covered with loops
and ribbon, that make people look SO
picturesque.
Where do we meet the stage2"
said Mr.. Payne, as he settled himself
so as to inconvenience his pretty
neighbor as little as possible.
The driver stared at him.
"This 'ere's the stage" said he.
Git up, Sorrel |"
Mr.. Payne started.
i L