The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1901-09-03
A MODERN
MAUD MULLER

wheatfeld that stretched beyond the or
gray eyes, and when a gentle voice called
her by name the girl started.
"What is it, motherP' she answered as
the delicate little lady who paused in the
doorway leading from the dining room re-
peated her name a second time
Aren't you almost through fixing up
your preserves? Your father said that he
would like you to bring out pitcher Of
lemonade to the stile. Judge Weldon
has just driven over to talk a little bust
ness, and there is lady in the carriage
with him."
A crimson wave swept over RachePs
! face. Hastily she stood up, pulled down
| her sleeves and buttoned them about her
wrists. Eyes, mother, l will, right
away" she said as she united her ging-
ham apron and hung it on a peg behind
the door, Very quickly a clear glass
pitcher was filled with an icy drink and
ready to serve.
! What Judge Weldon saw as he sat in
his carriage on the highway that ran by
the farm was a slim, sweet girl in a light
cotton frock, with fair oval face lighted
! by pair of expressive eyes and a small
| head crowned with soft brown hair COM
| ing down the rose bordered walk holding
in one strong young hand a pitcher and in
the other a small tray with glasses. He
| leaned back in his seat and watched the
| girl as she approached The woman be-
side him leaned forward. She had heard
of Rachel Sheldon good deal of late and
so studied carefully the little fgri rs it
came nearer and nearer. Racine paid no
heed to either the judge or h.s companion
until she directed one swift glaa9e at her
father which showed that HIS face vas
troubled. Then Rachel bowed . the
Judge.
''Here father" she said as she handed
him the pitcher and put the little silver
waiter with its burden down on the stiie
and was about to turn away.
"Wait a moment, Miss Rachel" called
Judge Weldon; Il want to introduce u
| to Miss Seaton."
Rachel bowed in her queenly little way
in acknowledgment of the Introduction,
and a scornful smile played around the
corners of the older woman's mouth,
which Rachel would easily have detected
had she been looking up. As her father
stood quietly by and did not fill the glass
es, as Rachel expected him to do, she
| promptly became the hospitable hostess
and took his place.
She handed a trimming glass to the
| Judge, who leaned forward and took it.,
passing it in to Miss Seaton. That lady
held it aloft in her small and shapely
hand and waited until the judge was sup
piled and then said in a voice that was
! more tinged with sarcasm than pleas
antry, although the quotation was accom-
panied with ripple Of laughter;
Thanks" said the Judge, "a sweeter draft
From fairer hand never quaffed."
Rachel smiled a forced little smile and
! fancied she saw a shadow of frown on
the judges face.
"What a beautiful place you have
here" said Miss Seaton-''an ideal farm
house and such lovely roses! l suppose it
has taken a great many years to improve
a country place so much as this is"
"Yes," Rachel said; 1--WE have lived
here always-longer than l can remem-
Der. 1t was my grandmother's place.
'IndeedW And Miss Seaton raised her
brows questoningly.
Oh, how Rachel hated the woman. She
knew that she hated her wickedly and
wondered how Miss Seaton dared to as
sumo that she was ignorant Of the partic-
ulars of the place when it was all due to
her persistent efforts to secure the old
farm that she and her father were SO
deeply troubled. The delicate little moth
er as yet knew nothing of the possibility
of their losing all they had because of a
| flaw in the title and claim that the land
| belonged to the heirs of a wealthy, old.
! misery bachelor who had died many
years before her grandfather bought the
place. Rachel was her fathers standby
and confdant. 1t would be time enough
to tell the little mother all about it when
worse came to the worst.
Judge Weldon represented Miss Sea-
ton in the matter, though he was fair
and generous man and had assured RAJ
! chefs father that he would not push the
claim of his client unduly.
As the judge drove down the road to-
ward his beautiful country place mile
or two to the west, Rachel slipped her
arm through her fathers, and together
they walked slowly to the house.
"Well, little girl, we will not worry.
Judge Weldon is an honest man, and we
may trust him to act fairly"
But that woman, father; l hate her,
and they say that Judge Weldon is tc
marry her shortly, and, of course, you
know, he will consider her interests be-
fore ours"
"Tut, tut, childr' said the kindly man
beside her. 1--WE must never be too harsh,
and we need not believe all we hear
either"
at was teatime next day. RacheIs
father stood on the side porch instructing
several farmhands in the work he want
ed them to do the next day. Rachel sat
on the steps at his feet Coming over the
stile Just then was the tall strong and
loosely hung figure of Judge Weldon. At
his heels was graceful young grey
hound. Rachel sat STILL with her hands
tightly clasped. She was sure there was
something new to disturb her father.
The Judge came toward Rachel with an
outstretched hand, and as Rachel put
forth hers he helped her to arise, with a
pleasant little laugh, and there was such
a suggestion of strength in his grasp the
girl felt sure at that moment that he was
the handsomest and most noble looking
man of 40 she had ever seen.
at was so pleasant after the rain that
/ thought l would walk over and bid you
| ull SOCuDys dS ACdNS AOi A4uAoPS 'AS N'''
after tomorrow.
Rachel's heart gave a little jump. She
knew instinctively that it was to be a
wedding Journey
The Judge seated himself on the steps,
and Rachel resumed her place. Her IA
Their sat in a wicker chair at the edge OF
the porch, and Rachel leaned her head
against his knees. Somehow she felt that
when she was close to him the very touch
of her would halp him to bear any hard
ship that might develop. But the judge
had not come to talk business. All of this
that he touched upon was to say that Mr.
Sheldon need not worry about that little
matter they were both concerned in that
everything would remain just as it was
until his return from Europe in yeal
from that day.
When the little lady mother appeared
at the hall door to announce supper, tho
judge responded that he believed he
would when asked to join the family.
: He praised the fiaky white biscuits an(
the new strawberry preserves that Ra
chel had made and directed pleasant re
: marks to the sweet, slim girl who flitte(
, about the table attending to every
body's wants.
When he had gone that night, Rache
missed something There seemed to be
no relief for the little tight Juggling al
her heart strings but tears, and so sh'
cried until she fell asleep.
But before she went to sleep she haC
, reached determination. Next day aftei
breakfast she told her father and mother
what it was. Her mother protested, bu
J her father knowing of an impending mis-
fortune. realized that Rachel was wise
and 50 told her that her head and hear
were her best guides.
And so it was that Rachel went to thu
city and learned to be nurse.