The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-02-17
TRI-W EEKLY EDITION,

| dyed her face with tell-tale bushes, and
the tale they told was about George Rey-
| nods. Then he remembered how he had
forced his company upon her. and his care
| less words might have added to the trouble
of the girl he loved. At least she should be
| relieved from the annoyance of society, and
with sigh he remarked:
"lt was uncivil of HE to Join you, Miss
Rachel, when you came out to walk alone.
l beg your pardon. And rs have an cr-
rand down to the Widow Browns, and am
going around that way, l will leave you
here"
81 would be glad to have your company"
Rachel Nloffatt felt constrained to say.
"Ihank you, but my errand is urgent"
Walter Gibbs answered. "Glad to have
your company" he multcrcd, as he walked
away-''a pretty story that, and she wish
ing me ten miles away from the moment |
joined her! What Il poor blind fool have
bCGn."
The woman whose happiness George
Reynolds had triflcd with so wantonly
walked slowly toward her home and sat
down or the little porch, watching the
moon come up. She overheard her fathers
words as he talked to her mother.
'Ihcrcs rs good fish in the sea as was
over caught. It's my opinion the man who
gets our Rachel will find there is better
than George Reynolds TO be caught; and l
am sure Rachel will find better fish than
George Reynolds, if he does think he is the
biggest toad in the puddle"
Over Rachel Moffatt's sad face fitted a
smile that was almost merry. To think of
comparing Mcdbury to Il puddle, and George
Reynolds to the biggest toadI Then her
thoughts wandered to herself Did her
father and mother suspect her liking for
George Reynolds And Walter Gibbs
had her face tattled to him of secrets that
she fain would have kept? Hcnceforth she
would wear a mask, and hide her secret in
her heart.
She went into the house and sat down by
lamp light. Her mask was on, and she
wondered if Mrs Reynolds had made the
trult-cakc for the reception, or whether
they bought it at the bakery ut Mcdbury.
Mrs. Moffatt thought that Mrs. Reynolds
>would make l.. She was such hand to
have cvcrythin done up in her kitchen.
Maybe" he added, ''Mrs. Reynolds
would like yM help in making lady cake,
you know, Rachel. Supposing she should
express herself that way, what should say
to here"
| Rachcl's mask threatened to fall. TO go
into George Reynolds home and help to
prepare for the reception of his bride was
blow for which she was not prepared. Only
a moment and the tottcring mask was up.
Certainly, If Mrs. Reynolds should ask
my help would co." Rachel answered.
VI would be glad to Co." she added mo-
ment after, as if she was giving tho mask a
final securing touch.
| And so Rachel NlofIatt found herself beat
ing eggs and stirring butter and sugar in
Mrs. Reynolds kitchen, listening to the
woman's garrulous chat. "Lady cake it
will be, l expect" she said pauslng in the
midst of her culinary operations to watch
the whites of eggs rising in a foam under
Rachel Motfatt's deAtcrous manipulations
"And expect she's a very fine lady we're
making it for; but it's matter that would
like to go no further than between us two
that I'd been satisfied if George had picked
out wife nearer home; l am sure l
wouldn't have said word if she who is
making the cake and she who would cat
the cake had been the same identical ind-
vidual"
Rachcl's mask shook little, but she was
brave girl. ooh, Pm sure Georges wife
will be nice lady, and dare say we will
al! like her very much" she answered.
Rachel Moffatt's words were fully verri-
fed. 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 thoroughly
amiable and lovely.
''Who is that lady in white, with the pink
flowers in her hair2" asked the bride OF the
bridegroom, the evening of their reception,
as Rachel Meffatt entered the room some
what late. "She looks very lovely, but l
shouldn't think she would like to wear
flowers of Judas tree. Don't you know2"
she asked, answering the inquring look of
her husband. ''rhat's the name of the
tree that bears those pink flowers. am a
great botanist; don't you know that, my
darlng2"
The darling colored, scoing Rachel Mof-
fatt and the pink flowers, and remembering
certain words uttered beneath the shadows
of the pink branches. ~. ...
Rachel A1offatt was a study to another
man at George Reynolds reception Wal
ter Gibbs eyes followed her wherever she
moved, and he went home thinking of the
mystery of wOnanEo0d as it revealed it.
self in Rachel Alofratt and pink flowers.
The Judas tree had never bloomed but
once when George Reynolds and his wife
came to McdDury to live.
George don't get along so well as I
could expect" Squire Reynolds said; and
Mrs. Reynolds limited to half dozen neigh
bors, hoping that it would 60 no further
than between herself and the one with whom
she talked, that Georges wife was we'll
meaning, good-hcartcd little creature, but
bless her hcartl she didn't know the first
thing about housekeeping, and che hadn't
any knack at making the most of. her means.
George Reynolds wife sent for Rachel
Moffatt one day. II would have come
down myself" she apologized, "but really
/ was not able;" and Rachel looking into
her face, saw that the pink had all faded
out, leaving only the wlitcness of the pre-
vious year "You see, DEAR" she went
on with winning frankness, 81 wasn't
brought up to anything useful, and the
housekeeping don't 80 right, and George
and | have moved out thinking that we
would manage better, and il. would be better
for the baby. remember what beautiful
j lady cake YOU made for our rcccption, and