Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1876-05-05

Egeod d-hearted little creature, but,
bless her heartii she didn't know the
/ first thing about housekeeping, and
she hadn't any knaek of making the
most of her means.
George Reynolds wife sent for
Rachel Moffatt one day. I would
have come down myself, she apollo
gized, bat really Twas not able; and
Rachel, looking into her face. saw
the pink had all faded out, leaving
only the whiteHess of the previous
| year. You see, dear, she went on,
with winning frankness, l wasn't
brought up to anything useful, and
the house keeping don't go right, nd
George and | have moved out, think
ing we could manage better and it
would be better for the baby. | re-
member what beautiful ladv-eake
you made for our reception aud the
praises that were in everybody's
mouth about your cooking. And
now, my dear Miss Moffatt, would
You mind showing me a little, and
see if | can't learn to manage better
aud make Georges home comforta-
BILE? | thought l had rather ask
young person like you than
Georges mother even.
And so Rachel Moffatt found her
self in George Reynolds kitchen,
instructing the child-wife in the
mysteries of cooking, and trying to
inpart to her some of her rare
knack, as the people called it.
One day, as she came out of the
little gate and took her way towards
her own home, a gentleman passed
her on horseback. Looking up, she
saw man with a full beard and
good figure; stranger she thought
him until he wheeled about and ex-
claimed, you are not running away
from your shadow again, are you,
Miss Rachel? And the stranger
was no other than Walter Gibbs.
Rachel laughed this time without
effort. They are harmless things,
as you said, she replied, and then
she inquired kindly after his health
and stay in Medbury. sIIEiXHL
L presume strangers, occupy the
cottage yonder.? Walter Gibbs re-.
marked, pointing to the. cottage
Rachel had just left.
HGeOrge Reynolds lives there"
Rachel answered. "I've been up to
assist Kate-Mrs. ReyonldsAin can
ming some fruit"
Rachel Moffatt's face did not CO.
leF or a feature change. Either her
mask was perfectly worn or that
look had ceased to be mask.
Gibbs, during his stay in
! Medbury, fell into his old habit of
walking in Rachel Moffatt's shadow.
Looking into her face as on that
evening year before, he missed the
resignation it had worn then, for in
1t was real pleasure.
One dayhe sought her with
strange nervousness and abstraction
in his manner, Rachel was very
gray, too, and Walter Gibbs saw
that she had been weeping. He look
ed into her face with the tender. So
licitude that only men who love and
women who have been loved know.
and Rachel explained hastily. Did
he not knowa Had he not heard?
George Reynolds wife died that
morning of heart-disease.
Walter Gibbs went home with the
nervous abstraction all gone from
! bis, manner and a hard endurance in
It's lstead. George Reynolds was
free now, free to win Rachel Mof-.
fatt if he could, and she who loved
him once was free to accept him.
81 couldn't be satisfied with a doubt.
full love, he said; l will wait.
He waited until the Judas-tree was
in blossom again, and then be went
to Medbury. @i,@
It's awaiting on Rachel Mofatt
George Reynolds is, one Of the Med
bury gossips told him. And his
wife not heen under the sod a year
yet! They were old sch0olmates, and
knew each other from childhood, and
we used to think it would make a
match before he ever married that
little, helpless, city girl, and
| haven't any doubt in my own mind
but it will make a match now. Gus
sic Reynolds is going to have tea
party next week, and that will show
which way the windis blowing.
Walter Gibbs went to Gussie Rey-
nolds' tea-drinking. He said to his
mother he would not miss it for a
fortune. Rachel Moffatt was there,
walking now and then with George
Reynolds, and talking with him ever
and anon; but then 1t was Rachel's
habit to be kind to everyone who
came in her way. Late in the even
ing Walter Gibbs missed her from
the parlor.-g He looked around for
George Reynolds, but he too was
gone, The MedbgrY gossip was right,
he thought. This tea-payty is shows
ing whiehaway the wind is blowing.
He walked to the window and look.
ed out deserving Rachel Moffatt's
fiuttering garments down winding
path. George Reynolds was beside
her, and the way they took was to-
ward the south. Away off to the
north the Judas-tree stretched out
its pink branches in the moonlight.
The wind sets unfayorably, Walter
Gibbs said, with sigh.
Half an hour later George Rey-
nolds passad Walter Gibbs in the
hall. His brow was clouded and
his lips worked neryousIy. He looks
like one on whom the north wind
has blown, Walter Gibbs, thought,
and went in pursuit Of Rachel Mof-
fatt. - -
He'found her standing in the moon,
light, her long shadow reflected from
her figure and the branch of Judas.
tree she held in her hand. He ap.
preached her and stood where hel
shadow fell.
Rachel, he said, with all his heart
in his voice, would like to walk in
4 your shadow henceforth, if you are
going my way.
Rachel Moffatt looked up with
startled eyes into the face above her
the mink flowers y,;th thaiY fatal s;o,