The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1883-12-29
THE UNKNOWN COUSIN.


Of cloudless blue, the air scented with
clover-blosson s, and the brook wend-
ing its melodius way under green
masses of peppermint, and MI. Carey,
who had walked long distance. and
had just fallen into doze, under the
refreshing shadow of a gnarled apple.
tree, startled gafvanically up at this
ungentle address:
"Ma'am" said he, 81 assure you 1 am
not trespassing; L"
But his apologetic. words were cut
short by the rattling of a stout stick on
the stone wall, close to him; and in an
other moment, belligerent-looking red
Cow, came plunging through the high
grass, directly toward his haven of
refuge.
He started to run, but his foot catch
ing in the gnarled root of an ancient
tree, he fell headlong. The COW execu-
ted hurdle leap over his prostrate
form; and vanished in a clump of hazel
bushes, and resolute, bright-eyed
woman, of some forty-odd years, came
to the rescue, with stick balanced
across her shoulder.
"Don't strikel" pleaded Mr.. Carey.
''I'm getting off the premises as fast as
| can. assure you, didn't know /
was trespassing."
Desire Welland blushed very prettily,
as she pushed back the sunbonnet, and
endeavored to adjust her luxuriant red
brown hair, which had broken loose
from its pins.
"Oh, Pm so sorryl" she said. sit
wasn't you meant at all, sir; it was the
cow who had got into the cabbage
patch. Did L hit you with the stickp
But never dreamed Of anyone but
Bossy being there. Oh, let me run
home and get the camphor-bottleP"
Slowly Mr.. Carey raised himself to a
sitting ard then to standing posture;
slowly he felt his knees, elbows and
collar-bones.
'1'm not hurt" said he-''not to sig
Nifty, that is. 1t wasn't your stick,
ma'am; it was the roots of this con-
founded old tree. It's enough to startle
any man, don't you seep to hear him
self called-an old scamp"
"But it wasn't you 1 meant, breath.
lessly cried Desire: SIT was the old
cow. Won't you let me run up to the
house and get capcine plaster2 Oh,
do"
Desire was fair to look upon, in spite
of her forty summers, with big black
eyes, a laughing cherry-red mouth
and cheeks just Drowned with the
healthful hue of mountain breezes.
Mr.. Carey felt himself gradually
softening as he looked at her.
"No," said he. 81 don't care for a
capcine plaster. But I've walked a
good way, and l should like bowl of
coffee if it's handy"
"oh, pray come up to the house
then," said Desire. sits only step
across the orchard. Oh, that COW, that
COW! We must certainly have her ham.
pered after thisl"
"Perhaps," +" said Mr.. Carey, solemnly,
as he endeavored to straighten the
edges of his hat, ''you know a family
by the name of Welland who lives here
abouts. Two old maids, who manage
farm all by themselves. Vey peculiar
females am told"
Desire stood still and began TO laugh,
while the deep crimson suffused her
cheeks.
"Why,n cred she, ''it's us. It's me
and Malvina. We are the Welland
girls"
1t was Mr., Carey's turn to flush and
look awkward now.
"ohl" said he. "Well, it don't mat.
ter. I've business at the Welland fsrm
that's ALL"
Isn't it strange that things should
happen sop" cried Desire, opening the
gate into the dim, shadowy orchard
where scarlet lilies grew in the tall grass
and the robins darted in and out of the
dropping boughs. "There's the house
You can see it now. Malvina and ]
have managed the farm ever since father
died. Philo-that's our brother-has 8
house and an estate Of his own, anc
his wife don't want any single relations
But we've done very well, every ont
says. Here's the place. And here's
Malyinar'
Miss Malyina Welland was diligentl!
hoeing sweet corn in a mans hat anC
boots. She was tall, Amazonian sor
of female, with high cheek bones, hal
cut short, and a masculine way of lean
ing on her hoe. She looked sharpl,
around at the sound of footsteps.
''Is it the new hired MANI" said she
''Then, Desire, you may tell him tina
we don't want help that comes at thi
time of day. III have no eight hou
men on my place."
( "Oh, Marvina, hushl" cried th
: younger sister, in despair. "Its ger
, tIeman on business"
! In came Brother Philo from the bac
yard, with an auger in his had.