The Mineral argus., 1884-02-28
COUSIN ROLF.
BY HELEN FOREST GRAVES.

clover blossoms, and the brook Wend-
ING it's melodious way.under green mass.
as of peppermint; and Mr.. Carey, who
had walked a long distance, and had
inst fallen into a doze, under the re-
freshing shadow of a gnarled old apple
tree. started ~galvanically up at this I'M
gentle address.
''Ma'am," said he, 81 assure you | am
not trespassing; L"
But his apologize words were cut short
bv the rafting ola stout stick on the stone
wall, close to him; and in another mo-
ment a billigerent-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 a hurdle leap over his PROSTATE
form, and vanished in a clump of hazel
bushes; and a resolute, bright-eyed wo-
man. of some forty odd years, came TO
ibe rescue, with a tapping sunbonnet
tied over her ears, and the stick bal
anced across her shoulders.
Don't striker pleaded Mr.. Carey.
stFm getting off the premises as fast as |
can. / assure you, / didn't know / was
Desire WelIand blushed very prettilv,
as b pushed back the sunbonnet, and
endeayored to adjust her luxuriant red
brown hair, which had broken loose from
its pins.
wasn't you / meant at all, sir; it was the
cow who had got into the cabbage patch.
Did hit You with the stick? But |
never dreamed Of any one but Bossy be-
inc there. Oh let me run home and get
the camphor bottle?"
Slowly, Mr.. Carey raised himself to a
sitting position and then to a standing
posture, slowly he felt his knees, elbows
and collar-bones.
"Tm not hurt" said be-"not to sig
nifty, that is. II 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 l meant" breath
lessly cried Desire sit was the old COW.
Won't you let me run up to the nous
and get a capcine plaster? Oh, do"
Desire was fair to look upon, in spite
Of her forty summers, with big black
eyes, a laughing cherry mouth, and
cheeks Just Drowned with the healthful
hue of mountain breezes. Mr.. Carey
felt himself gradually softening as he
looked Mt her.
mo" said he. 81 don't care for a
capcine plaster. But I've walked a good
way, and should like 4 bowl Of coffee
If it's handy"
ooh, pray comeup to the house them"
said Desire. "It's only q step across
the orchard. Oh, that cow, that COW,
We must certainly have her hampered
after thisi"
Perhaps" said Mr.. Carey, solemnly,
as he ~endeavored to s%tTaighten the edg-
es of his hat, ''you know a family by
the name of Welland who live here
abouts. Two old maids who manage q
farm all by themselves. Very peculiar
females, l am told"
Desire stood still and began to laugh,
while the deep crimson sutfused her
cheeks.
why" cried she "It's me and Nal
vina. We are the Welland girls"
1t was Mr.. Carey's turn to flush and
lock awkward now.
"Ohp said he. "Well, it don't mat
ter. Pye business at the Welland farm
that's all"
Isn't it strange that things should
happen so?" cried Desire, opening the
gate into the dim, s hadoWy orchard,
Wnere scarlet Niles grew IN the tall
grass, and robins darted in and out Of
the dropping boughs. There's the
house. You can see it now Malvina
and / have managed the farm aver since
father died. Philo-that's Il brother
has a house and an estate ofhis own,
and his wife don't want any single rela-
tons. But we've done very well every
one says. There's the place. And here's
MalYInal"
Miss Malvina Wellaud was diligently
hoeing sweet corn in q mans hat and
boots. She was a tall, Amazonian sort
of female, with high cheek-bones, hair
cut short, and a masculine way of lean
ing on her hoe. She looked sharply
around at the sound of footsteps.
SIS it the new hired mani" said she.
Then Desire, you NAV tell him that
We don't want help that comes at this
time of day. I'll have no eight hour
men on my place"
"oh, Malyina, hush It's a gentle
man on business"
In came brother Philo from the back
yard, with an augur in his hand.
"FbG" said brother Philo, a wrinkled,
hard featured man in a blue overall,
and boots that looked as though they
might have been carved out Of lignum
vite.
Business? 1t amt a seWin' machine L
spose? or a new patent reaper, nor n
OF these labor savin' humbugsH Be-
cause"
It's about your Cousin Rolf said
Mr.. Carey "Paul Welland's son. He's
come back from Australia. He reques-
Ted me to come over here as l hap
DeHed tn no naecipu this wav and SOC