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

Miss Rachel, when You came out to
walk alone. I beg your pardon. And
as have an errand down to the widow
Browns, and am going around that way,
/ vii. leave you here"
AZ would be glad to have your com
pany," Rachel Moffatt felt constrained
TO say.
"fhank you, but my errand is urg-
ent," Walter Gibbs answered. "Glad
to have my companyW he muttered, as
he walked away-"a pretty story that,
and she wishing mo ten miles away,
from the moment I joined her What
q poor blind fool I have been!"
The woman whose happiness George
Reynolds had trifled 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 Moffatt's sad face fitted
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
Reynolds9 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
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 a
master hand at lady cake, you know,
Rachel. Supposing she should express
herself that way. what should say to
her q"
Rachel's mask threatened to fall. To
60 into George Reynold's home and help
prepare for the reception of his bride
was blow for which she was ill 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. ~ would
be glad to co." she added, moment
after, as if she were giving the mask
final securing touch.
And so Rachel MoAatt 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. q foam under Rachel Moi
fatt's dextrous manipulations. "And
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 nearer
home. I'm sure wouldn't a SAID q
word if she who is making the cake and
she who would eat the cake had been the |
same identical individual"
Rachels mask shook little, but she |
was brave girl. "Oh, am sure
Georges wife will be nice lady, and J
dare say we will all like her very much"
she answered.
Rachel Moffatt's words were fully |
verified. George Reynolds wife proved |
to be 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 ?" asked the
bride of the bridegroom, the evening
of their reception, as Rachel Moffatt en-
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 q great botanist-don't you know
that, my darling?"
The darling colored, seeing Rachel
Moffatt and the pink flowers, and remem-
bering certain words uttered beneath
the shadows of the pink branches.
Rachel Moffatt was 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 I
could expect" Squire Reynolds said
and Mrs. Reynolds limited to half a
dozen neighbors, hoping it would 60 no
further than between herself and the
one with whom she talked, that Georges
wife was a 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 at
making the most of her means.
George Reynolds wife sent for Rachel
Moffatt one day. "I would have come
down myself" she apologized, "but
really was not able;" and Rachel, look
ing into her face, saw that the pink had
all faded out, leaving only the whiteness
of the previous year. "You see, DEAR"
she went on, with a winning frankness,
:" wasn't brought up to anything use
lul, huA Uuo AouoOhocpluS uOu BO
right, and George aud I have moved
out, thinking we could manage better,
and it would be better for the baby. I
remember what beautiful lady cake
you made for our reception, and the
praises that were in everybody's mouth
about your cooking. And now, my dear
Miss Moffatt, would you mind showing
me little, and see if I can't learn to
manage better, and make Georges home ,
more comfortable? I thought 1 had
rather ask young person like you than
Georges mother even." I
And SO Rachel Moffatt found herself
in George Reynolds kitchen, instruct
ing the child-wife in the mysteries of |
cooking, and trying to impart to her I
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
a full beard and good figure; a stranger I
4 u |