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

remembered the tree, wafer OlODS Dc
came painfully conscious that his re-
mark had dyed her face with telltale
bushes, and the tale they told was about
George Reynolds. Then he remembered
how he had forced his company upon
her, and his conscience smote him when
he thought how his careless words
might have added to the trouble of the
girl he loved. At least she should be
relieved from the annoyance of his So
ciety, and, with sigh, he remarked:
"It was uncivil of me to join you,
Miss Rachel, when you came out to
walk alone. 1 beg your pardon. And
as 1 have an errand down to the widow
Browns, and am going around that way,
1 will leave you here"
"I would be glad to have your com
pany," Rachel Moffatt felt constrained
to say.
"Thank you, but my errand is urg-
ent," Walter Gibbs answered. "Glad
to have my company" he muttered, as
he walked away-"a pretty story that,
and she wishing me ten miles away,
from the moment 1 joined her What
q poor blind fool I have been!"
The woman whose happiness George
Reynolds had trifed with so wantonly
walked slowly toward her home and sat
down on the little low porch, watching
the moon come up. She overheard
her fathers words as he talked to her
mother:
"There's as good fish in the sea as
was ever caught. It's my opinion the
man who gets our Rachel will find there
is better fish than George Reynolds has
caught, and I'm sure Rachel will find
better fish than George Reynolds, if he
does think himself the biggest toad in
the puddle"
Over Rachel Mofatt's sad face fitted a
smile that was almost merry. To think
of comparing Medbury society to
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
Reynolds2 And Walter Gibbs-had her
face tattled to him of secrets that she
fain would have kept9 Henceforth she
would wear mask, and hide her secrets
in her heart.
She went into the house and sat down
by the lamplight. Her mask was on,
and she wondered if Mrs. Reynolds had
made the fruit cake for the reception, or
whether they had bought it of the baker
at Medbury.
Mrs. Moffatt thought that Mrs. Reyn-
olds would make it. She was such a
hand to have everything done up in her
kitchen. "Maybe," she added, MRS.
Reynolds would like your help in making
lady cake or something. You're such
master hand at lady cake, you know,
Rachel. Supposing she should express
herself that way, what should say to
herr"
Rachel's mask threatened to fall. To
go into George Reynold' home and help
prepare for the reception of his bride
was blow for which she was i'll pre-
pared. Only moment, and the totter
ing mask was up again. Certainly, if
Mrs. Reynolds should ask my help, I
would CO." Rachel answered. "I 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 herself
beating eggs and stirring butter and
sugar 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 culin-
ary operations to watch the whites of
eggs rising in foam under Rachel Moi
fatt's dextrous manipulations. "And /
expect she's a very fine lady we're a.
making it for; but it's matter that 1
wouldn't like to go no further than be-
tween us two, that I'd a been satisfied
if George had picked out wife nearer
home. I'm sure 1 wouldn't a said o
word if she who is making the cake and
she who would eat the cake had been the
same identical individual.
Rachel's mask shook little, but she
was brave girl. "Oh, I am sure
Georges wife will be nice lady, and I
dare say we will all like her very much, "
she answered.
Rachel Mofatt's words were fully
verified. George Reynolds wife proved
to be a very nice lady-a little delicate
creature, all pink and white, whom it
was impossible not to like, because she
was so thoroughly amiable and lovely.
"Who is the lady in white with the
pink flowers in her hair p asked the
bride of the bridegroom, the evening
of their reception, as Rachel Moffatt en-
tered the room, somewhat late. "She
looks very lovely, but I shouldn't think
she would like to wear flowers off the
Judas tree. Don't you know9" she
asked, answering the inquiring looks of
her husband. "That this is the name
of the tree that bears those pink flowers.
am great botanist-don't you know
that, my darling?"
The darling colored, seeing Rachel
Mofatt and the pink flowers, and remem-
bering certain words uttered beneath
the shadows of the pink branches.
Rachel Moffatt was q study to another
man at George Reynolds reception.
Walter Gibbs eyes followed her
wherever she moved, and he went home
thinking of the mystery of womanhood
as it revealed itself in Rachel Moffatt and
pink flowers.
The Judas tree had never bloomed
but once when George Reynolds and his
wife came to Medbury to live.
"George don't get on so we'll as ]
could expect" Squire Reynolds said
and Mrs. Reynolds limited to half q
dozen neighbors, hoping it would go nc
further than between herself and the
one with whom she talked, that Georges
wife was we'll meaning, good hearted
little creature, but, bless her heart she
didn't know the first thing about house.
keeping, and she hadn't any knack al
making the most of her means.
George Reynolds wife sent for Rachel
Moffatt one day. 81 would have come
down myself" she apologized, "but
really was not able;" and Rachel, look