Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1896-08-08

and had just fallen into doze under
the refreshing shadow of gnarled old
apple tree, started galvanically up at
this ungentle address.
"Ma'am," he said, 81 assure you I
am not trespassing; l."
But his apologetic words were cut
short by the rafting of stout stick
on the stone wall close to him, and in
another moment 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 an.
oient tree, he fell headlong. The COW
executed hurdle leap over his pros.
trate form and vanished in dump OF
hazel bushes, and a resoiute, bright
eyed woman came to the rescue, with
tapping sunbonnet tied over her
ears, and the stick balanced across
her shoulder.
"Don't strike!" pleaded Mr.. Carey.
"Tm getting of the premises as fast
can. assure you, I didn't know I
was CreSpasslnB.
Desire Welland blushed very pref.
tily as she pushed back tho sunbon.
net and endeavored to adjust her lux.
uriant red.brawn hair, which had
broken lOuee '~an it's pins.
ooh, Pm ~ sorryl" said she. cit
wasn't you meant at all. sir: IT. ,vos
the COW who had got into the cabbage
patch. Did I hit you with the stick
But I 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
a sitting and then to standing pos
ture; slowly lie felt his knees, elbows
and collar bones.
"I'm not hurt" said he-"not to
signify, that is. 1t wasn't your stick,
ma'am f; it was the roots of this tree.
It's enough to startle any man, don't
you see-to hear himself called an old
scamp"
"But it wasn't you I meant |"
breathlessly cried Desire. ''It was
the COW. Won't you let me run up
to the house and get a capcine plas.
ter? 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 healthful hue OF mountain breezes.
Mr.. Carey felt himself gradually
softening as he looked at her.
"No," said he. II don't care for a
capcine plaster. But I've walked a
good way, and I should like bowl OF
coffee if it's handy"
"Come up to the house then," said
Desire. otis only step across the
orchard. Oh, that COW, that COW
We must certainly have her hampered
after thisl"
perhaps, "said Mr.. Carey, solemnly,
as he endeavored to straighten the
edges of his hat, "you know q family
by the name OF Welland who live
hereabouts. Two old maids, who
manage farm all by themselves. Very
peculiar females, am told"
Desire stood still and began to
laugh, while deep crimson suffused
her cheeks.
"Why," cried she, cts us! It's
me and Malvina. We are the Welland
girls"
1t was Mr.. Carey's turn to flush and
look awkward now.
"Oh," said he. "Well, it don't
matter. I've business at the Welland
farm-that's oil"
''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 robins darted in and out of
the dropping boughs. 'There's the
house. You can see it now. Malvina
and I have managed the farm ever
since father died. Philo-that's oul
brotber-has house and an estate of
his own, and his wife don't want any
single relations. But we've done very
well, every one says. Here's the place.
And here's Malvinar
Miss Malvina Welland was diligently
hoeing sweet corn in a mans hat and
boots. She was o tall, Amazonian
sort of female, with high cheek bones,
hair cut short and masculine way of
leaning on her hoe. She looked sharply
around at the SOUND ef footsteps.
'Is it the new hired man?" said
she. "Then, Desire, you may 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, Malvins, hush?" cried the
younger sister, in despair. cts q
gentleman on business"
In came Brother Philo from the
back yard, with an anger in his hand.
"EhP" said Brother Philo, wrin.
kled, hard featured man in blue over.
ais and boots that looked as if they
might be carved out Of lignum vitae.
''Business? 1t amt q sewin' machine,
s'sposeP or patent resper, nor any
o. these labor savin' humbugss" -
cts about your Cousin Rolf" said
Mr.. Csrey-''Paul Welland's son.
Hes come back from Australia. He
requested me to come over here. Is !