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

"You arc not running from your shadow
again, Miss RacheR' And the stranger
was no other than Walter Gibbs
Rachel laughed this tmc without effort
"They were harmless things, as you said, "
she replied; and then she inquired kindly
after his health and stay at Mcdbury.
81 presume strangers occupy the cottage
yondcr2" Walter Gibbs remarked, pointing
to the cottage Rachel had Just left
George Reynolds lives there" Rachel
answered. 81 have been up to assist Kate
Mrs. Raynods-in canning Fruit
Rachel NIoifatt's face did not color or a
feature change. Either hcr mask was
perfectly worn, or that look had ceased to
be a mask.
Walter Gibbs, during his stay in Med
bury fell into his old habit of walking in
Rachel Motfatl's shadow. Looking into
her face as on that evening year before,
he missed the resignation it had worn then,
for it was real pleasure.
One day he sought her with strange
nervousness aud abstraction in his manner
Rachel was very grave, too, and Walter
Gibbs saw that she had been weeping. lie
looked into her face with the tender soIici-
tudc that only men who love, md women
who have been loved know; and Rachel cx-
planned hastily. Did he not know2 Had
he not heard2 George Reynolds wife died
suddenly that morning with heart disease.
Walter Gibbs went home with the ncr-
vous abstraction all gone from his manner,
and hard endurance in its stead. George
Reynolds was free now, free to win Rachel
Moifatt if he could, and she who loved him
once was free to accept him. 81 couldn't
be satisfied with doubtful love-" he said;
81 will wait"
He waited until the Judas tree was in
blossom again, and then he went to Med
bury.
''It's waiting on Rachel Mofratt, George
Reynolds is, one of the NIcdburv gossips
told him; "and his wife not under The sod
year yet! They were old sclloolmatcs,
and knew each other from childhood, and
we used to think it would make a match
before he married that little helpless city
girl, and haven't any doubt in my mind
but 1t will make match now. George
reynolds is going to have party next
week, and that he will show what way the
wind is blowing.
Walter Gibbs went to George Reynolds
tea-drinliing. He said to his mother he
would not miss it for fortune. Rachel
Aloffatt was there, walking now and then
him ever and anon, but then il was Rachcls
habit to be kind t. every one who came in
her way. Late in the evening Walter Gibbs
missed her from The parlor lie looked
around for George Reynolds, but he, too,
was gone. "Thc Mcdbury gossip was
right" he thought. "The tea party is show
ing which way the wind is blowing" Hc
walked to the window and looked out, de-
scrying Rachel Moffatts iluttcring garments
down winding path. George Reynolds
was by her side, and the way they took was
towards the south. Away off to the north
the Juens-trcc stretched out its pink
branches in the moonlight. "Thc winds
sets unfavorable," Walter Gibbs said, with
sigh.
half an hour later George Reynolds
passed Walter Ill. the hall. His brow was
cloudcd and his lips worked ncrvously.
'He looks like one on whom the north wind
has blown Walter Gibbs thought and went
in pursuit of Rachel Motfatt.
lie found her standing in the moonlight,
her long shadow rejecting from her figure
the branch of Judas tree she held in her
hand. lie approached her and stood where
her shadow fell
"Rachcl, -" he said, with all his heart in
his voice, 81 should like to walk in your
shadow Eenceforth, if you are gong that
way"
Rachel Moffatt looked up with startled
eyes into the face above her; the pink flow
ers with their fatal significance fell from her
hand, and the irregular outlines of two con
fused shadows, never hcnccforth to be parted
lay upon the green sward. In the frosts of
tho following winter the Judas tree died,
and the place thereof knew it no more.