The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1876-06-23

ever WAS CduSuI. lGS my OplulOu Tue
man who gets our Rachel will find
there is better fish than George Rey-
nolds has caught, and Pm sure Rachel
will find better fish than George Rey-
nolds, if he does think himself the big
gest toad in the puddle"
Over Rachel Moffatt's sad face fitted
a smile that was almost merry. To
think of comparing Medbury society to
a puddle, and George Reynolds to the
biggest toad! Then her thoughts wan
dered to herself Did her father and
mother suspect her liking for George
Reynolds? And Walter Gibbs-had
her face tattled to him of secrets that
she fain would have kept? Henceforth
she would wear a mask and hide her Sc
crets in her heart.
She went into the house and sat down
by the lamp-light. Her mask was on,
and she wondered if Mrs. Reynolds had
made the fruit-cake for the reception, OF
whether they had bought it of the baker
at Medbury.
Mrs. Moffatt thought that Mrs. Rey-
nolds would make it, she was such q
hand to have everything done up in her
kitchen.
"Maybe," she added, "Irs. Reynolds
would like your help in making lady
cake or something. You're such mas
ter hand at lady-cake, you know,
Rachel. Supposing she should express
herself that way, what should l say to
herr"
Rachel's mask threatened to fall. To
go into George Reynolds home and
help prepare for the reception of his
bride was blow for which she was i'll
prepared. Only a moment, and the tot
tering mask was up again.
Certainly, if Mrs. Reynolds should
ask my help, I would co." Rachel an.
swered. 81 would be glad to CO." she
added, moment after, as if she were
giving the mask a final securing touch
And so Rachel Moffatt found hersel
beating eggs and stirring butter and su
/ gar in Mrs. Reynolds kitchen, listen
ing to the woman's garrulous chat.
"Lady-cake it will be, I expect" she
said, pausing in the midst of her Gull
nary operations to watch the whites o
eggs rising in a foam under Rache
Moffatt's dextrous manipulations. "AnC
l expect she's very fine lady we're a
making it for; but it's matter that
wouldn't like to go no further than be
tween us two, that I'd "a been satisfied
if George had picked out wife neare
| L
word if she who is making the cake ant
she who would eat the cake had beeI
the same identical individual"
Racheps mask shook little, but sh'
was brave girl.
"Oh, am sure Georges wife will b,
a nice lady, and dare say we will al
like her very much," she answered.
Rachel Moffatt's words were full
verified. George Reynolds wife proves
to be very nice lady-a little delicat
creature, all pink and white, whom j
was impossible not to like, because sh
was so thoroughly amiable and lovely
"Who is the lady in white with tn
pink flowers in her hair?" asked th
bride of the bridegroom, the evening O
their reception, as Rachel Moffatt en-
tered the room, somewhat late. "Sh
looks very lovely, but ] shouldn't thinl
she would like to wear flowers off th
Judas tree. Don't you know ?' sh
asked, answering the inquiring looks o
her husband. '"rhat is the name of tn
tree that bears those pink flowers.
am a great botanist-don't you know
that, my darling ?"
The darling" cOncurred, seeing Ra
chel MOffatt and the pink flowers, ant
remembering certain words uttered be
meath the shadows of the pink branches
Rachel MOftatt was a study to an
other man at George Reynolds recep
ton. Walter Gibbs eyes followed be
wherever she moved, and he went hom
thinking of the mystery of wOmanhOou
as it revealed itself in Rachel Moffat
and pink flowers.
The Judas tree had never bloomed bu
once when George Reynolds and hi
wife came to Medbury to live.
George don't get on so well as
could expect" Squire Reynolds said
and Mrs. Reynolds hinted to half
dozen neighbors, hoping it would go d
further than between herself and tn
one with whom she talked, that George
wife was a well-meaning, goOd-hearte
little creature, but, bless her heart, sh
didn't know the first thing about house
keeping, and she hadn't any knack 8
making the most of her means.
George Reynolds wife sent for Rache
MOffatt one day.
81 would have come down myself,
she apologized, "but 1 really was nc
able;" and Rachel, looking into he
face, saw that the pink had all faded out
. leaving only the whiteness of the previ
Gus year. "You see, DEAR" she went or
: with winning frankness, 81 WASH
: brought up to anything useful, and th
housekeeping don't go right, an
! George and have moved out, thinkin
| we could manage better, and it wOul
be better for the baby. 1 remembe
: what beautiful lady-cake you made fC
our reception, and the praises that wer
| in erybOdy's mouth about your cook
: ing. And now, my dear Miss MOffat
3 would you mind showing me a LITTLE
I and see if / can't learn to manage bel
: ter, and make Georges home more com
Portable? l thought had rather ask
young person like you than George
t mother, even."
And so Rachel MOffatt found herse
= in George Reynolds kitchen, instruct
. ing the child-wife in the mysteries {
5 cooking, and trying to impart to he
some of her ''rare knack," as the peopl
called it.
E One day, as she came out of the littl
$ gate and took her way toward her ow
e home, gentleman passed her on horse
t back. Looking up, she saw man wit
full beard and good figure; a strange
3 she thought him until he wheeled aboU
and exclaimed:
, "You're not running away from you
D shadow again, are you, Miss Rachel ?
/ And the stranger was no other tha
' Walter Gibbs.
t Rachel laughed this time withou
effort.
= "They are harmless things, as yo
I said" she replied; and then she inquire
kindly after his health and stay in MeC