Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1883-07-25
COUSIN ROLF.
"Get out, you old scamp!"

"Get out, you old scamp!
1t was a brilliant July day, with
skies of cloudless blue, the air scented
with clover blossoms, and the brook
vending its melodious way under
green masses of peppermint; and Mr.
Carey, who had walked a long dis
tance, and had just fallen into doze,
under the refreshing shadow of a
gnarled old apple-tree, started galvani-
cally up at this ungentle address.
"Ma'am," "said he, 81 assure you am
not trespassing; /"
But his apologize words were cut
short by the rattling of a stout stick
on the stone wall, close to him; and in
another moment, a belligerent-looking
red COW, came plunging through the
high grass, directly toward his haven
of refuge.
He started to run, but his foot
catching in the gnarled root of an
ancient tree, he fell headlong The
COW executed a hurdle leap over his
PROSTATE form, and vanished in a
clump of hazel bushes; and a resolute,
bright-eyed woman, of some forty odd
years, came to the rescue, with a flap
ping sunbonnet tied over her ears, and
the stick balanced across her shoulders.
Don't strike" pleaded Mr.. Carey
"I'm getting off the premises as fast
as can. / assure you, didn't know
I was trespassing"
Desire Welland blushed very pretti-
ly, as she pushed back the sunbonnet,
and endeavored to adjust her luXuri-
ant red-brown hair, which had broken
loose from its pins.
"Oh, I'm so sorry" said she. at
wasn't you / meant at all, sir; it was
the COW who had got into the cabbage
patch. Did 1 hit you with the stick
But | never dreamed of any one but
Bossy being there, Oh, do let me run
home and get the camphor bottle?'
Slowly, Mr. Carey raised himself to
sitting and then to standing posture;
slowly he felt his knees, elbows and
collar-bones.
am not hurt" said he-"not to
signify, that is. 1t wasn't your stick
ma'am; it was the roots of this old
tree. It's enough to startle any man,
don't you see? to hear himself called
an old scamp"
"But it wasn't you meant breath
lessly cried Desire; "it was the old
COW. Won't you let me run up to the
house and get capcine plaster? Oh,
do"
Desire was fair to look upon, in spite
of her forty summers, with big black
eyes, laughing cherry-red mouth and
cheeks just Drowned with the health.
full hue of mountain brcezes. Mr..
Carey felt himself gradually softening
as he looked at her.
mo-" said he. al don't care for a
capcine plaster. But I've walked q
good way, and | should like bowl OF
coffee if it's handy
"Oh, pray come up to the house
then" said Desire. Its only stel
across the orchard Oh, that cow, that
COW! We must certainly have hel
hampered after this"
"Perhaps," said Mr.. Carey, solemnly
as he endeavored to straighten The
edges of his hat, you know famil!
by the name of Welland who live here
dDOulS. w OiN nlulIio, WIZ iii'HuiS'
farm all by themselves. Very pecu
liar females, am told"
Desire stood still and began to laugh
while the deep crimson suffused he
cheeks.
"Why," cried she, sit us. It's m,
and Malvina. We are the Wellant
girls"
1t was Mr.. Careys turn to flush AM
look awkward now.
"Oh!" said he. "Well, it don't mat
ter. I've business at the Wellan,
farm-that's al"
"Isn't it strange that things shoul,
' happen SOP" cried Desire, opening tn
gate into the dim, shadowy orchard
where scarlet lilies grew in the tai