The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-09-28
SELECT STORY.
ELIGIBLE BOARDING PLACE.

"Nor |, neither, serenely remarked
Warden.
"But how do you account for it?'
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 been carefully trim
ming with his penknife, "except that
nobody knows anything about the
place as yet. There's factory-wall
paper, believe, or something of that
sort--and cigar shop and beer
shop, aud two thread and needle stores,
and post-oflice where the mails come
twice week and there's the Mag
allOway river all carpeted over with
water-lillies, and half dozen glorious
little trout streams running into it,
and the finest bit of scenery You ever
saw But-there's no hotel !"
"But where's fellow to stay ?"
helplessly demanded Payne.
"Get an outfit and camp out, as
did, said Warden, cheerfully. "a
blanket; canvas tent, with pegs and
loops; little smudge Of bran, or pine
needles to keep the mosquitoes off at
night, and"
'But don't enjoy camping ont,
vehemently demonstrated Payne. at
is all very we'll for those who like it,
but I'm not one of that sort. l like
four good walls, a feather pillow and
regular meals served three times a
day"
"Well, then, look here said War
den, $50 to the Widow Bucks. She
takes boarders now aud Their"
"Who is the Widow Buck {? asked
Payne. ...
''That don't know" replied his
friend.
"Aud where does she live p
"There you have me again
"Man alive are you crazy? ?" de-
spairingly questioned Payne. "How
am / to find herr
Enquire responded Mr.. Warden
as he shut up his knife and replaced il
in his vest pocket. SEQ to Maiz,
Ford--1l q, m., stage coach--througl
in one day Ask for the widow
Bucks! Bless my heart Nothing il
the wide world could be easier.
have always heard that people go,
good food there and comfortable beds
Aud Maizle Ford is perfect little
paradise when once you get there"
"Well,' said Payne, deiectedly, q
seems wild goose chase, but I've
mind to try it. A man can but com,
back again"
1t was rather early in the season TO
the conventional operation known t,
the American public as "s,mmering,
but Percival Payne, being bachelo
of independent fortune and cultivated
tastes, felt that he could do as h,
pleased. And it was rather luxur,
to anticipate the first mad rush O
travel, when all the seats are engaged
the cosy corner taken and the most de
sirable points OF observation usurped
So be packed his valise, laid up hi
fishing tackle, laid in a great store O
crayons and sketching paper, anc
started for the far Northern wilderness
OF Maizle Ford
OF course the tram was late-traIn
are always late--and it was oclocl
in the afternoon when Mr.. Payn
found himself perched up in an open
box wagon alongside of two trunks
a package of salt Goldfish, @ mail bal
and pretty girl, with eyes as soft a
black pools of water, and one Of thos
old, fringy hats of black straw all GOV
cred with loops and ribbons that make
people look so picturesque.
| "Where do we meet the stage ?
said Mr.. Payne, as he settled himsel
so as to inconvenience his pretty littl
neighbor as little as possible
| The driver stared at him.
"This 'erc's the stage" said hs
''Git up, Sorrel y
Mr.. Payne started.
''But stages have tops" said he.
| This ere stage don't" says til
driver.
1t was trying situation-steep u,
hill part of the way aud steep dow
hill the rest, with the Goldfish and ma
bag alternating tumbling into NJ
Payne's lap and the pretty girl laugl
ing in her sleeve at his embarrassment
| "Tm very rude, / know" said sh
"but if you'd tie that Goldfish to I'll
back of the wagon with your fishing
line it wouldn't trouble you so much
| "a good idea, said Payne briskl
Thanks, very much, for suggestin
| it,"
| Eve travelled over this road before
said the pretty girl, laughing,
| care you going to Maizle Ford
said Mr. Payne, with sudden glea
Of animation.
| "No;" said the pretty girl, "to Ca
lcy's Dam H-.
| "Perhaps you know somethin
about Maizle Ford?" hazarded o,
hero.
"Oh, yes" said the nymph with Il
dark eyes, Its a lovely place.
used to live there before | went in
the factory at Catley's,
do you know the Widow Buck
he asked, with interest,
"Very well,' nodded the pretty gi
81 am going there to look f
board said Mr.. Payne
Il hope you'll be suited said I
girl.
And they began to talk about t
tall, blue crested mountains, viii
were beginning to close in arou
them. .....
The dewy eyed damsel had re
LOngfellow; she knew all abe
Thoreau she was even ''up" in Ru
kin, and she expressed herself wi
grace and spirit, which set Mr.. Pay
to wondering If all the Maine gi
We're equally cultivated and beau
full.
: And then the codfsh tumbled do,
again and had to be tightened ane
and by that time they had come t,
house in the midst Of lonely belt
woods, which the driver said v
"Catleys Dam" upon which the pre-
girl disappeared into the purple {
light aud MIR, Payne and the oodi
. went on, sorrowful, much iolted q
alona.