14000 MILES 



deserted village on the Saco." She fascinated us with 

 her description of that quiet nook she had chosen for a 

 summer resting place, and the charmed circle of friends 

 there, and offered us her rooms which she had left for a 

 few days, if we would spend a night there, at the same 

 time wishing we might meet all her friends and assuring 

 us of a kindly reception. We thought this the climax of 

 Maine hospitality. Only a moment before we were entire 

 strangers, except that we recognized the face of our 

 friend as one well known in the literary circles of Boston. 

 We referred to our map, and found Hollis directly in our 

 course, but unfortunately, only about half the distance 

 we had proposed driving that day. We promised, how- 

 ever, to take dinner there, if possible. 



We rarely spend more than one night in a place, and as 

 we packed ourselves into our phaeton once more it 

 seemed like starting on a fresh journey. Old Orchard 

 has its charms ; still we rejoiced as we left the scorching 

 sand. The drive of seventeen miles to Hollis seemed 

 short, and it was only eleven o'clock when we introduced 

 ourselves to our new friends, and so very friendly were 

 they that after an hour's chat in the parlor and a pleasant 

 dinner company we were loth to leave, and stated the 

 rest of our friend's proposition to the lady of the house, 

 whereupon we were taken to the promised apartments, 

 and at once made to feel at home. The heat was hardly 

 less intense than on the beach, and we passed the after- 

 noon pleasantly indoors. Supper was served early, as 

 one of the ladies proposed a walk to the charm of Hollis, 

 the Saco River. Only a few rods from the house we 

 entered the woods and followed the little path up and 



38 



