Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-11-05
ress herself that way, what should I say to

my ucip Wouiu bot ieoShci "uo" "S'NN'
would be glad TO co." she added moment
after, as il she were giving the mask final
securing touch.
And so Rachel Moffatt found herself
beating eggs and stirring butter and sugar
in Mrs. Reynolds kitchen, listening to the
woman's garrulous chat. "Lady-cake 1t
will be, expect" she said, pausing in the
midst of her culinary operations TO watch
the whites of eggs rising in foam under
Rachel Moffatts dexterous manipulations,
d" and l expect she's a very fine lady we're
a-making it for but it's a matter that /
wouldn't like TO go no farther than between us
two, that I'd been satisfied IL George had
picked out wife nearer home; | am sure
shouldn't a said a word if she who is max
ing the cake and she who would eat the
cake had been the same identical individual"
Rachel's mask shook little but she was
a brave girl. "Oh, I'm sure Georges wife
will be a nice lady, and I dare say we will
all like her very much" she answered.
Rachel Moffatts 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 thoroughly amiable
and lovely.
"Who is that lady in white, with the
pink flowers in her hair ?" asked the bride
Of the bridegroom, the evening OF their re-
cepIiou, Panhel Moffatt entered the room
somewhat late. She looks very lovely.
but shouldn't think she would like to wear
flowers of the Judas tree"
"Don't you know" she asked, answering
the inquiring look of her husband, that is
the name of the tree that bears those pink
flowers | am a great botanist; don't you
know that, my darling2"
The darling colored, seeing Rachel Mof-
fatt and the pink flowers, and remembering
certain words uttered beneath the shadows
of the pink branches. Rachel Moffatt was
a 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 bloomed but once
to Medbury to live.
"George don't get on so well as | could
expect" Squire Reynolds said; and Mrs.
Reynolds hnted to halfa-doz an neighbors,
hoping it would go no farther than between
herself and the one with whom she talked,
that Georges wife was well-meaning, good
hearted little creature, but, bless her heart
she didn't know the first thing about house
keeping, and she hadn't auy knack at max
ing the most of her means.
George Reynolds wife sent for Rachel
Moffatt one day I" / wodld have come down
myself" she apologized, but really l was
not able;" aud Rachel, looking 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, "I wasn't brought up
to anything useful, and the housekeeping
don't go right, and George and have moved
out, thinking we could manage better, aud
it would be better for the baby. / re-
member 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 can't
learn 10 manage better, and make Georges
home more comfortable thought would
rather ask young person like you than
Georges mother even.'
Aud so Rachel Moffatt found herself in
George Reynolds kitchen, instructing the
child-wife in the mystery of cooking, and
trying TO impart to her some of the +" 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 horseback.
Looking up she saw man with a full
beard and good figure; stranger, she
thought him until he wheeled about and ex
claimed: " You're not running from your
shadow again, are you, Miss Rachel ?" And
the stranger was none other than Walter
Gibbs.
Rachel laughed this time without effort
go They were harmless things as you said
she replied and she inquired kindly aftel
his health and stay at Medbury.
81 presume strangers occupy the cottage
yonder," Walter Gibbs remarked, pointing
to the cottage Rachel had just left.
"George Reynolds lives there" Rache
answered. | have been up to assist Kate
Mrs. Reynolds in canning fruit"
Rachel Moffatt's face did not color or
feature change. Either her mask was per
fectly worn, or that look had ceased to be
mask.
Walter Gibbs, during his stay in Medbury
fell into his old habit of walking in Rache
Moffatt's shadow. Looking into her face a
on that evening year before, he missed tn
resignation it had worn then, for it was rea
pleasure.
One day he sought her with strang
nervousness and abstraction in his manner
Rachel was very grave, too, and Waite
| Gibbs saw that she had been weeping. H
| looked into her face with the tender solic
| tude that only men who love and wome
who have been loved know, and Rachel e,
planned hastily: Did he not know? Ha
he not heard : George Reynolds wife die
. suddenly that morning of heart disease.
f Walter Gibbs went home with the ner'
Gus abstraction all gone from his name
: and hard endurance in its stead. Geore
Reynolds was free now free to win Rach
J Moffatt If he could and she who loved hi
t once was free to accept him. al could NJ
5 be satisfied with doubtful love-" he sale
$ % will wait"
u He waited until the Judas trees were
e bloss Dm again, and then he went to Medbur
ats waiting on Rachel MoffatI, Georl
Reynolds is," one OF the Medbury gossi
J. told him, sand his wife not under the sc
e a year yet. They were old schoolmates al
d knew each other from childhood, and v
70 used TO think it would be a match before
ever married that little, helpless city girl, al
is haven't any doubt in my mind but il W
70 be match now. George Reynolds is goil
,s to have tea-party next week, and that W
If show which way the wind is blowing.
e. Walter Gibbs went to George Reynolt
y, tea-drinking. He said to his mother
would not miss it for fortune. Racl
IS Moffatt was there, walking now and tn
e, with George Reynolds, aud talking wi
i'd him ever aud anon, but then it was Rache
lg habit to be kind to every one who came
her way. Late in the evening Walter Glib
a. missed her from the parlor. He look
around for George Reynolds, but he, b
)" was gone. The Medbury gossip was righ
We he thought, " this tea-party is showing VIII
ed way the wind is blowing" He walked
H. the window and looked out, deserving Rac
Moffatt's futtering garments down wi
We ing path. George Reynolds was by her 81
and the way they took was toward the sou
,y- Away off to the north the Judas tree stretcl
ed out its pink branches in the moonlight. 90
he wind sets unfavorably," Walter Gibbs 81
up. with sigh.
he Half an hour later George Reynolds pas
Walter in the hall. His brow was clou
'as and his lips worked nervously. "He 10
ho like one on whom the north wind has blow
AN Walter Gibbs thought, and went in puri
2a- OF Rachel Moffatt.
ey- He found her standing in the moonlil
,ad her long shadow rejecting from her fig
the branch Of Judas tree she held 10
a hand. He approached her aud stood wi
of her shadow fell.
rye Rachel" he said, with all his hear
her his voice, 9" would like to walk in }
her shadow henceforth, If you are going