The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1880-03-11

! looks very lovely, but L shouldn't think
she would like TO wear flowers Of the
Judas.tree. Don't you know2' she asked,
answering the inquiring look Of her
husband, chat is the name Of the tree
that bears those pink flowers. l am q
great botanist; don't ycu know that my
darlingi
The darling colored, seeing Rachel
Moffatt and the pink flowers, and re-
membering certain words uttered be-
meath the shadows of the pink branches.
Rachel Moffat was q 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 blossomed
once when George Reynolds and his
wife came to Medbury to live.
George don't get on so well as l could
expect" Squire Reynolds said; and Mrs.
Reynolds limited to half dozen neigh.
bors, hoping it would go no further than
between herself and the one with whom
she talked, that Georges wife was
well meaning, good hearted little crea-
ture, but bless her heartl che didn't
know the first thing about housekeep-
ing, and she hadn't any knack at max
ing the most Of her means.
George Reynolds wife sent for Rachel
Mofatt one day. L would have come
down myself, she apologized, but really
l was not able;' and 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, Il
wasn't brought up to anything useful,
and the housekeeping dou't go right,
and George and l have moved out,
we could manage better, and it
would be better for the baby. ! Iremem-
Der what beautiful lady-cake you made
for our reception and the praises that
we're in every body's month about your
And now, my dear Miss Moi
fatt, would you mind showing me a lit
tie, and see if 1 can't learn to manage
better and make Georges home more
I thought 1 would rather
ask young person like you than
Georges mother even.'
And 80 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 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, a gentleman passed her on horse.
back. Looking up, she saw man with
q full beard and good figure; a stranger
she thought him, until he wheeled about
and exclaimed, You're not running from
your shadow again, are yon, Miss
RachelP And the stranger was no other
than Walter Gibbs.
Rachel laughed this time without
effort. They were harmless things, as
you said, she replied; and then she in
quired kindly after his health and stay
at Medbury.
Il presume strangers OCCUPY the cot
tage yonderP' Walter Gibbs remarked,
pointing to the cottage Rachel had just
left.
George Reynolds lives there, Rachel
answered. Il have been up to assist
Kate-Mrs. Reynolds-in canning fruit.
Rachel Moffatt's face did not color or
o feature change. Either her mask was
perfectly worn, or that look had ceased
to be mask.
Walter Gibbs. during his stay in Med
bury, fell into his old habit of walking
in Rachel Moffatt's shadow. Looking
into her face as on that evening a year
before, he missed the resignation it had
worn then, for it was real pleasure.
One day he sought her with strange
nervousness and abstraction in his man.
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 know9 Had he not heardl
George Reynolds wife died suddenly
that morning with heart disease.
Walter Gibbs went home with the
nervous abstraction all gone from his
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. Il couldn't be satisfied
with a doubtful love- he said; Il will
wait
He waited until the Judas trees were
in blossom again, and then he went to
Medbury.
It's waiting on Rachel Moffatt,
George Reynolds is one of the Med
bury gossips told him. And his wife
not under the sod year yeti They were
old schoolmates, and knew each other
from childhood, aud we used to think it
would make q match before he ever
married that little helpless city girl, and
l haven't any doubt in my mind but it
will make match now. George Rey..
nolds is going to have q tea party next
week, and that will show which way the
wind ia blowing