Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1876-05-13

MISS MOudbby WOulO JOu uluu SuOWluB
me little, and see if 1 can't learn to
manage better, and make Georges home
more comfortable2 l thought 1 had
rather ask a young person like you than
Georges mother even."
And SO Rachel Mofatt found herself
in George Reynolds kitchen, instruct
ing the child-wife in the mysteries of
cooking, and trying to impart 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 toward her own
home, gentleman passed her on horse
back. Looking up, she saw man with
full beard and good figure; a stranger
she thought him until he wheeled about
and exclaimed: "You are not running
away from your shadow again, are you,
Miss Rachel9" 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 in
quired kindly after bis health and stay
in Medbury.
" presume strangers occupy the cot
tage yonder9" Walter Gibbs remarked,
pointing to the cottage Rachel had just
left.
"George Reynolds lives there"
assist Kate-Mrs. Reynolds-in canning
some fruit"
Rachel Moffatt's face did not color or
feature change. Either her mask was
perfectly worn, or that look had ceased
to be a mask.
Walter Gibbs, during his stay in
Medbury, fell into his old habit of walk
ing in Rachel Mofatt's shadow. Look
ing into her face as on that evening
year before, he missed the resignation it
bad worn then, for in it was real
pleasure.
One day he sought her with strange
nervousness aud abstraction in his man.
ner. Rachel was very grave too, and
Walter Gibbs saw that she had been
weeping. He looked into her face with
the tender solicitude that only men who
love and women who have been loved
know, and Rachel explained hastily.
Did he not know2 Had he not heard
George Reynolds wife died suddenly
that morning of heart disease.
Walter Gibbs went home with the
nervous abstraction all gone from his
manner, and hard endurance in its
stead. George Reynolds was free now,
free to win Rachel Moffatt if he could,
and she who loved him once was free to
accept him. 81 couldn't be satisfied
with a doubtful love-" he said Il will
wait"
He waited until the Judas trees were
in blossom again, and then he went to
Medbury.
"It's awaiting on Rachel Mofatt,
George Reynolds is" one of the Med
bury gossips told him. "And his wife
not been under the sod year yeti They
were old schoolmates, 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 I haven't any doubt in my own
mind but it will make match now
Gussie Reynolds is going to have tea
party next week, and that will show
which way the wind is blowing"
Walter Gibbs went to Gussie Reyn-
olds' tea drinking. He said to his mother
he would not miss it for fortune.
Rachel Moffatt was there, walking now
and then with George Reynolds, and
talking with him ever and anon; but then
it was Rachels habit to be kind to every
one who came in her way. Late in the
evening Walter Gibbs missed her from
the parlor. He looked around for
George Reynolds, but he too was gone.
"The Medbury gossip was right" he
thought. "This tea party is showing
which way the wind is blowing" He
walked to the window and looked out,
deserving Rachel Mofattt's futtering
garments down a winding path. George
Reynolds was by her side, and the way
they took was toward the south, Away
off to the north the Judas tree stretched
out its pink branches in the moonlight.
"The wind sets unfavorably," Walter
Gibbs said, with a sigh.
Half an hour later, George Reynolds
passed Walter Gibbs in the hall. His
brow was clouded, and his lips worked
nervously. "He looks like one on
whom the north wind has blown" Wal
ter Gibbs thought, and went in pursuit
of Rachel Moffatt.
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 her
shadow fell.
Rachel" he said, with all his heart
in his voice, 81 would like to walk in
your shadow henceforth, if you are 60
ing my way"
Rachel Moffatt looked up with startled
eyes into the face above her; the pink
flowers with their fatal significance fell
from her hand, and the irregular out
lines of two confused shadows, never
henceforth to be parted, lay upon the
greensward. In the frosts of the follow
ing winter the Judas tree died, and the
place thereof knew it no more.