Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1876-05-20

~ presume strangers occupy the cot
tage yonder3" Walter Gibbs remarked
pointing to the cottage Rachel had JUS
left.
"Georee Reynolds lives there,
Rachel answered. "I've been up K
assist Kate-Mrs. Reynolds-in canning
some fruit"
Rachel Moffatt's face did not color or
feature change. Either her mask wa.
perfectly worn, or that look had ceased
to he mask.
Walter Gibbs, during his stay in
Medbury, fell into his old habit Of walk
ing in Rachel Moffatt's shadow. Look
ing into her face as on that evening .
year before, he missed the resignation !!
bad worn then, for in it was real
pleasure.
One day he sought her with strange
nervousness aud abstraction in his paan.
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 know3 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. II couldn't be satisfied
with doubtful love-" he said II will
wait"
He waited until the Judas trees were
in blossom again, and then he went to
Medbury.
"1t's awaiting on Rachel M6datt,
George Reynolds is" one Of the Med
bury gossips told him. "And his wife
not been under the sod year yet! They
were old schoolmates, and knew each
other from childhood, and we used to
think it would make o match before he
ever married that little helpless city
girl, and 1 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 1t for a fortune.
Rachel Moffatt was there, walking now
and then with George Reynolds, and
talking with him ever and anon; but then
it was Rachel's 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 Mofatt's futtering
garments down a winding path. George
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 sigh.
Half an hour later, George Reynolds
passed Walter Gibbs in the hall. His
brow was clouded, and his lips worked
"He looks like one on
whom the north wind has blown" Wal
tcI OAUUp tnouSAps dAu woue IL Pulcu1U
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
ayes into the face above her; the pink
flowers with their fatal significance fell
from her hand, and the irregular out
ines of two confused shadows, never
aenceforth to be parted, lay upon the
yreensward. In the frosts of the follow
ng winter the Judas tree died, and the
place thereof knew it no more.