Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1874-08-13
RACHEL.

ana browning corn CAKE was WalIeo
through blossomy lilacs and fruit trees
almost as far as the mill, where Ed
win, the only son of the house o1
Huntly, was laying off his dusty coat
preparatory to the matutinal meal.
"There comes Mrs. Cramp, the old
cat I wish she'd stay away" thought
Edwin, as a dingy black alpaca pass
ed through the front gate, and brush
ed the dew from the grass and dande-
lions. The young man had natural
aversion to Mrs. Camp, partly because
she had known him from his youth
up, and felt called upon to talk to him
about his soul, and partly because she
always waited abroad a strong odol
of camphor as if her virtues were
securely wrapped up in that usefu
drug.
Edwin knew he must put up with
Mrs. Camp. She was his mothers
adviser and friend, and a necessary
evil. He whstIed as he wiped his
hands on the mill towel, and glanced
over at Rachel's window. The whis
tie suddenly died out.
"Confund it!' he thought. 81
wish I could clear up this miserable
mystery. If Mrs. Camp gets hold o.
it-and mother will be sure to leak il
out-shell go cracking all over the
village"
A thicket of leaves between the
mill and the house was studded witt
young leaves glistening in the sun
but Edwin could see through theil
thin branches, and his heart gave ;
new and curious thump as Rache
came to the window. She put ou
her head, ripping all over with pale
golden locks, drawn behind the ears
and tied simply in the neck with
brown ribbon.
Edwin had browsed among the
poets, if he was nothing but a tai
young miller.
"shine out, little head, running over will
cur's, Q
10 the flowers and be their sum-"
thought he, and then the young MAJ
longed irrationally to take the pale
wistful face between his two hands
and kiss it. lie had never lisset
Rachel. The very idea Of such
thing gave him an all overish feelin!
that ran through his six feet of stature
like the vibration through harl
string.
Huldah had tangled the bell three
times from the doorway before Edwin
put in an appearance.
"Latc as usual" she said, with
tartness sisters sometimes indulge
themselves in towards refractory broth
ers.
ooh, he thinks it manly to keep III
waiting" put in Janet, with the pert
ness of fourteen.
'But we haven't waited" said Mrs
Huutly from behind the tray, wher
incense was rising from her excellen
coffee. edwin Rufus, don't you SCI
Sister Camp?'
If there was anything Edwin detest
ed it was being called Edwin Rufus
He took Mrs. Camps hand as if it hat
been the end of a poker. Rachel sa
at the table, silent and with her eye
cast down, but she ate little or moth
ing.
"Sister Huntly, III take leetl
tech more sugar in my coffee, and yo
won't mind if help myself to anoth
er slice of coin cake. You do know
how to make a corn cake, Sister Hunt
ly; and, Huldah, you may slide on
of them eggs on my plate"
ooh, do 60 on with your story
Mrs. Camp" said Janet. "What d
you think, Ed there was ghos
seen night before last on the long raj
road bridge over the gully"
"Ghostl granny" exclaimed Ed
win, with more energy than elegance.
81 don't ask you to take my wor
for it," remarked Mrs. Camp, a. tn
same time shaking out cloud of cam
phor from her person. She spok
with slight wheeze, which gave on
the impression that the pipes of he
voice needed oiling. "But Nose
Golf is a stiddy man. l never hear
of his taking drop to drink, and h
says his head was as straight as dye
/ guess he amt easily scared either
The moon was shining straight dow
on the bridge, land Moses says he
ready to take oath to what he saw