Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-11-05
Rachel MOffatt's Shadow.

ceived triplet of white wedding-cards from
the hands OF their daughter Rachel, and fell
into serious chat over the bits of card
board George Reynolds, the groom, was
b"sfa xth positive Enowsdge s.N 5ogsnnd gained
Kate Maurice, the bride, was discussed with
the speculative knowledge that character
ICES remarks concerning stranger brides.
| Rachel Moffatt had left the room while
George Reynolds was under discussion, and
her mothers careful eve had observed that
there were surprise, anger, almost tears in
the girls face.
! al say, Reuben" began the good man s
wife, after Rachel had gone.
"Yes," assented Reuben Moffatt, signi-
| flying his readiness to hear what his wife
had to say.
al want to call your attention to our
Rachel"
You need not call very loud was Reu-
ben Moffatts answer. "My attention goes a
good deal that way, naturally"
"To be sure" answered Kezia Moffatt.
How could it be otherwise, and you the
father of such girl as our Rachel ? am
sure | wonder that a young man like George
Reynolds should look farther than such a
trim, handsome girl as Rachel is, and he
knows all about her housekeeping, too."
"'Look farther and fare worse, is an
old proverb, you know" said Keza Mof.
fatt, with anger in her eyes and tones. :" /
am sure hope Rachel will get over it and
go to the party"
"Get over it :" repeated Reuben Moffatt
"You don't mean that Rachel -" The
old man paused and surveyed his wife crit
ically.
Kezia Moffatt nodded her head affirm
atively.
"Oh, nonsense, Kezial' exclaimed the
old man. " You feel unpleasant like be
cause George Reynolds should prefer any
other woman to our Rachel. It's my opin-
ion that Rachel hadn't thought of George
Reynolds, except"
A shadow fell on the porch, and the old
man suddenly changed the subject of his re-
marks.
The shadow that had fallen on the porch
was Rachel Moffatt's 1t followed the young
girl across the green fields where she
walked, magnifying her sun-bonnet into an
unshapely thing, and lengthening her slight
figure into exceedingly lank proportions.
(which way, Miss Rachel? Are you
running away from your shadow" asked
young man, stepping out from an oak tree
that stood midway in the field.
her shadow, and said with an effort, w,
can't escape them any more than we can ou
thoughts"
ats lucky for us they are harmless
things" answered the young man, with
smile. q shouldn't thiuk you would wan
to escape your thoughts, Miss Rachel, Tn
sure shouldn't, and, if you have no objec
ton, will walk in your shadow, as yo
seem to be going my way"
Rachel Moffat bowed, but the young man
glancing into her face, saw that she &C
cepted his company with resignation.
al presume you have received Georg
Reynolds cards :" said the young man, afte
> pause.
"Yes," Rachel answered gravely. "The
: are very stylish, she added, with an effor
"Miss Maurice is said to be wealthy" tn
i young man continued.
, "Ah |" Rachel exclaimed with curl c
, her lips that was full of scorn.
, With delicate, intuitive sense that woul
have done honor to men in finer clothes an
/ lofter sphere, Walter Gibbs changed tn
! subject with the remark " have the boo
' of yours that | borrowed, in my pocke
:: Miss Rachel There were scraps of paper j
|. it, and some bits of faded flowers. | hay
i saved them all, and return them with tt
e book"
n "Thsnk you, it did not signify" Rach
/: replied indfferently.
d She turned the leaves Of the blue and gi
d volume with the uneasy motion of restle
h hands, and then dropped from the glide
, leaves the faded flowers. They were a
alike, mere bits of pink coloring on woods
stem-pink not so deep as the color tn
glowed on Rachel Moffatt's cheeks at sig
Of the flowers.
"a alt is the Cercis Canadensis, Judas tree
Ia her companion remarked, picking up one
"a the fallen bits aud pulling it to pieces.
n "The Judas treep echoed Rachel Mo
n fatt, all her tones full of scornful wonder.
"a "Yes," the young man said, answeriI
Nj the wonder in her tones. in the spring
N is tree of promise, with its rugged branch
aa crowded full of blossoms; but the blossor
We die, aud there is never fruit or beauty
90 fulfillment of its springtime promise. The
,e is but one in the village that | know of, al
of that is in Squire Reynolds garden"
he Looking up to see if Rachel Moffatt
ar membered the tree, Walter Gibbs becaI
Ia' painfully conscious that his remark b
n dyed her face with tell-tale bushes, and I
he tale they told was about George Reynol
ng Then he remembered how he had forced
;1 company upon her, aud his conscience sm'
him when he thought how his carel
words might have added to the trouble
the girl he lo,ed. Al least she should be
lieved from the annoyance of his socie
ol- and with sigh he remarked;
ng at was uncivil of me to join you, NJ
zee Rachel, when you came out TO walk alo
he beg your pardon, and as | have an ezra
ed down to the widow Browns, and am goi
go around that way, | will leave you here"
ou 81 would be glad of your company"
ow chel Moffatt felt constrained to say.
roe "Thauk you, but my errand is urgen
lde Walter Gibbs answered "Glad to h
,ill your company" he muttered, as he wall
ar. AWAY pretty story that and she W
My ing me ten miles away from the momeI
ne, joined her What a poor, blind fool h
hat been -
ing The woman whose happiness George 1
inc nolds had triAed with so wantonly wal
her slowly toward her home and sat down on
ish little porch, watching the moon come
you She overheard her fathers words as
will talked to her mother.
"There's as good fish in the sea as
ever caught. It's my opinion the man
gets our Rachel will find there is better I
George Reynolds caught; and rm sure
gan chel will find better fish than George
MS nolds. If he does think he is the biggest
d Is in the puddle"
has Over Rachel Moffatt's sad face flitt
lese smile that was almost merry. To thin
lher comparing Medbury to puddle, aud Ge
Tea Reynolds to the biggest toad Then
oil thoughts wandered to herself. Did
lon. father and mother suspect her liking
inst George Reynolds Aud Walter Glib
rip had her face tattled to him OF secrets
~. she fain would have kept2 Henceforti
wiie would wear mask, aud hide her seer
oia- her heart.
sud She went into the house and sat dow
ing' the lamp-light. Her mask was on, anC
'em, wondered II Mrs Reynolds had made
ior fruit-cake for the reception, or whether
had bought it OF the baker at Medbury
Mrs. Moiiatt thought that Mrs. Reyl
ichi- would make it, she was such hand to
,aru | avarvthinn dnna IN In her kitchan !. Ma,