The daily gazette., 1883-08-27
COUSIN ROLF.
Helen Forrest Graves.
,o.. ont. YOU old scAmpl"

des militant July day, with skies Of
wac hi,e the afr scented with clover
cloulless and the brook vending It's melo-
oossO s" way under green masses OF pepper
dious " ND Mr.. Carey, who bad walked a
mln'' distauce, and had just fallen into
lons Ne under the refreshing shadow OF
usyled uUsvl old apple tree, started gaiVanieaiIy
gnAlt,Vtb tbis ungentle address.
MMa'am," said me-, S''u'0 w. ""'
not uesIp ~ anologetic words were cut short
buy rattIInp stout stick on the stone
W t'o oiose 10 him; and In another moment,
Wal, aal.i,,'rerent- looking red cow, came plung-
s,g sU't tbTough the high grass, directly toward
NE haven of refuge
"I Ita started to run, but his 1oot catcnlnR IN
hoaSIed nc e'd root of ancient tree he fell head
tue The cow executed a hurdled leap
long L.. nrostrate form, and vanished in
over no Il hazel bushes; and resolute,
ul.ht SiuL aved woman, Of some 40 odd years,
wg WIZ N the rescue, with Tapping sunoon-
os ~ ,,ed over her ears, and the stick balanced
across her shoulders. c. .1,-
pon otr the nremises as fast as | can. !
s assure you, didn't know was trespass-
ing" A,,,.hod varv nratt,Iv aa
nnsbod hack the snubonnet, and endea-
guy .a6 IN sdiust her luxuriant red-brown
VI which had broken loose from Its pins.
nA "hh pm 40 sorryp' said she. "It wasn't
.or meant at all, sir It was the COW who
IA IA 5ot into the cabbage patch. Did hit
"ou "au Titb the stick9 But never dreamed of
! ,Ov one but Bossy being there. Oh, do let
me- run home and get the camphor bottle =
slowly, Mr.. Carey raised himself to sit
tinp and to a standing posture slowly ne
ali M his knees, elbows and collar-bones.
1I'm not hurt" said he--"not to signify,
that's. It wasn't your stick, ma'am; 1t was
,be root of this old tree. It's enough to
startle ang man, don't you seef to hear
himself called an old scamp"
HBut II wasn't you meant, breathlessly
.yed Desire: at was the old COW. Won't
you let me run up to the house and get
capcne plaster Oh, do"
Desire was fair to look upon, in spite OF
her 40 summers, with big black eyes,
laughing, cherry-red mouth and cheeks just
Drowned With the healthful hue Of noun
tap br, ezes. Mr.. Carey felt himself grad
ually softening as he looked at her.
mo" said he 81 don't care for cap
N cine plaster But I've walked good way,
and | should like a bowl of coffee If it's
handy" .,
"Oh, pray, come up to the house, then,"
said Desire. "It's only step across the
orchard Oh, that COW, that COW We
must certainly have her hampered after
this "
"Perhaps," said Mr. Carey, solemnly, as
he endpavorcd to straighten the edges of his
bat. "you know family by the name OF
Welland, who live hereabouts. Two old
maids who manage a farm all by them
selves. Very peculiar family, am told"
Desire stood still and began to laugh,
while the deep crimson suffused her cheeks.
"Why," cried she "its us. It's me and
Mayina We are the Welland girls"
TWAS Mr. Carey's turn to flush and look
awkward now.
"OhI' said he. "well it don't matter
I've business at the Welland farm-that's
alln
"Isnt it strange that things should hap
pen so" cried Desire, opening the gate into
The dim, shadowy orchard, where scarlet
lilies grew in the tall grass, and robins
darted in and out Of the dropping boughs.
"Theres the house. You can see II now.
MalYina and have managed the farm ever
since father died Philo--that's our brother
has house and an estate OF his own, and
biz wife don't want any single relations.
But we've done very well, everyone says.
Here's the place. and here's Malvina.
Miss Nalvina Welland was diligently hoe
Ing sweet corn in a mans hat and boots
She was a tall, Amazonian sort of female,
with high check bones, hair cut short, and a
masculine way of leaning on her hoe. She
looked sharply around at the sound OF foot
steps.
as it the new hired mani" said she.
"Ihen, Desire, you may tell him that we
don't want help that comes at this time OF
day lll have no eight hour men on my
place.
"0h, Malyina, hush /" cried the younger
sister, in despair "It's a gentleman on
business"
In came Brother Philo from the back
yard, with an auger In his hand.
"Eh p said Brother Philo, wrinkled
hard-leatured man in a blue overall, and
baots that looked as If they might have
been carved out of lignum Vita. "Business
1t amt sewin'- machine. / s'pose or q
new patent reaper, nor any o. these labor
savn' humbugs Because"
ITS about your cousin Rolf" said Mr.
Carey-"Paul Weland's son. He's CONF
back from Australia. He requested me tt
come over here, as happened to be passing
tnls way, and see what his relations woulc
do about giving him a home"
AT these words, Mrs. Philo WellanC
emerged from the currant-bushes, where sht
was picking the sparkling, ruby-coloret
NUT to make jelly. For Mrs. Philo believed
IN always picking her neighbours fruit befor'
she began on her own.
"a home, indeed I" said Mrs Philo. 'It'
what always told you. Philo. Says l, tina
manll he sure to come back some day
poorer than poverty, says l. AMI hell ex
pect us to take care of him then. But view
worked deal too hard for our money-m,
ana Philo-and if he wants to be supported
igt ,y, MN just 90 to the poor-house. Pau
mtlland always was rovin' creetur,' ant
ho amt no better, Pll 90 bail p'
MrPhilo Welland screwed up his fac
nt0 an expression of the utmost caution.
J., frhaps you're his lawyer, sirY" sat
Mr.. Carey nodded.
act for him." said he.
M, Then tell him." said Philo, succinctly
that ii he expects we're goin' to suppor
nll' he's considerably mistook We'v
always took care of ourselves; he can do tn
goinr'
"Philo !" cried out Desire; show can yo
Te Te SO sellish3 Rolf Welland is our cousin
~ ne Is IN want or trouble, whom has he t
ook to but us9 Malvina, you won't be s
laru-heartedi The old farm house is bi
enough Tor our cousin Rolf as well as 70
U.s. GU never would turn sickly old ma
Surilt upon the world2"
NO, 1 WOuldn'tW said Miss MalVina