St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1911-02-22
WHITTAkER'S
PLACE
By JOSEPH c. LINCOLN


Cahoon. Whether or not the animal
had during her calfhood days been in
jured by a woman is not known. Pos
sibly her behavior was due me ely to
innate depravity. At any rate, she
cherished a mortal hatred toward hui
man beings of her own sex With
men and boys she was meek enough,
but no person wearing skirts and alone
might venture in that field without
being chased by that cow What
would happen If the pursued one was
caught could only be surmised, for so
far no female had permitted herself to
be caught. Few would come even so
near as the other side of the pasture
walls.
Bos'n had forgotten the cow. She
had gone from one goldenrod clump to
another until she had traversed nearly
the length of the field. Then the vi
cious creature had appeared from be-
hind a knoll I'm the pasture and, head
down and believing wickedly, had
rushed upon her. When the captain
reached the farof fence the little girl
was lodging from one dwarf pine to
the next with the cow in pursuit. The
pines were few. and Bos'n was nearly
at the end of her defenses
''Help!" she screamed "Oh, uncle,
where are you? What shall I do?"
Captain Cy roared in answer.
Keep it upy' he yelled I'm aeon
in! Shoe, you everlastin' critter! I'll
break your back for your
The COW didn't understand English.
it seemed, even such vigorous Eng
lish as the captain was using. Emily
lodged to the last pine. The animal
was close upon her. Her rescuer was
still far away.
And then the cemetery gate opened
and another person entered the pas
ture-a small person, a woman. She
said nothing, but, picking up her skirts,
ran straight toward the COW, needless
of the latter's reputation and vicious
appearance One hand clutched the
gathered skirts; in the other she held
a book
Don't be scared, DEAR" she called
reassuringly, then to the cow: stop
it! Go away, you wicked thing"
The animal heard the voice and
turned Seeing that the newcomer
was only a woman. she lowered her
head and paved the ground.
run for the gate, little girl!' COM
manded the rescuer. run quickw
Bos'n obeyed. She made a desperate
dash from her pine across the open
space and in another moment was safe
inside the cemetery fence.
"Scat! Go home!" ordered the lady,
advancing toward the cow and shak-
ing the book at her as if the volume
was some sort of deadly weapon
Aren't you ashamed Of yourself? Go
away! You needn't growl at me! I'm
not a bit afraid of you'll"
The growing" was the muttered
below with which the COW was wont
to terrorize her feminine victims. But
this victim refused to be terrorized-
Instead of screaming and running, she
continued to advance, brandishing the
book and repeating her orders that the
creature "go home" at once The COW
did not know what to make of it. Be
fore she could decide whether to
charge or retreat good sized stick
descended upon her back with a
"whack'r that settled the question.
Captain Cy had reached the scene OF
battle.
Then the rescuer's courage seemed
to desert her, for she ran back to the
cemetery even faster than she had
run from it When the indignant cap
tain, having pursued and chastised the
row until the stick was but a splin-
tered remnant, reached the haven be-
hind the iron fence he found her sooth-
ing the frightened Bos'n, who was
sobbing and hysterical.
Emily saw her Uncle Cyrus COM
ing and rushed into his arms. He
picked her up and. holding her with a
grip which testified to the nerve strain
he had been under, stepped forward to
meet the stranger, whose coming had
been so opportune.
And she was a stranger. The cap
tain knew most OF Bayport's inhab-
itants by this time or thought he did,
but he did not know her. She was a
small woman. quietly dressed, and her
ud1T, uuQ&T neat DlaCK ana WHITE
hat. was brown. The hat was now a
triae to one side, and the hair was the
least bit disarranged-an effect not at
all unbecoming. She was tucking in
ihe stray wisps as the captain, with
Bos'n in his arms, came up.
'sWell, ma'am." puffed Captain Cy-
well, ma'am. must say that was
the slickest, pluckiest thing ever
saw anywheres. don't know what
would-I-I declare I don't know how
10 thank you"
The lady looked at him a moment
before replying. Then she began to
laugh, jolly laugh that was pleasant
to hear
Don't try. please" she said chok-
ingly. "It wasn't anything. Oh, mer-
81 mel I'm all out OF breath. You
see, had been warned about that
cow when started to walk this after
noon. So when / saw her chasing
your poor little girl here I knew right