The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1908-03-28
A TRAINED NURSE.

Rachel had been preserving straw
Bsrli~s- She pasted the last littIs
slip of white on the last small jar with
vigorous pat, dropped her hands in
her lap and let her gaze wander for q
moment out through the wide kitchen
window to the wheatfeld that stretch
ed beyond the orchard. There was
pensive look in her gray eyes, and
when a gentle voice called her by
name the girl started.
"What is it, mother? - she answer
ed, as the delicate little lady who
paused in the doorway leading from
the dining-room repeated her name a
second time.
Aren't you almost through fixing
up our preserves? Your father said
that he would like you to bring out a
pitcher of lemonade to the stile.
Judge Weldon has just driven over
to talk little business, and there is
lady in the carriage with him."
A crimson wave swept over Rachel S
face. Hastily she stood up, pulled
down her sleeves and buttoned them
about her wrists. "Yes, mother, l
will right away" she said as she un-
tied her gingham apron and hung it
on a peg behind the door. Very
quickly 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 slim, sweet girl
in light cotton frock, with fair
oval face lighted by a pair of express
sive eyes and a small head crowned
with soft brown hair coming 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 bis seat and watch
ed the girl as she approached. The
woman beside him leaned forward.
She had heard of Rachel Shelton
good deal of late and so studied care
fully the little figure as it came nearer
and nearer. Rachel paid no heed to
either the judge or his companion
until she directed one swift glance at
lace lace war Was trSaBied. SaBjfied zhnHisah Hish f RacKef f
bowed to the judge.
tHere. father" she said as she
handed him the pitcher and put the
little silver waiter with its burden
down on the stile and was about to
turn away.
"Wait moment, Miss Rachel, F."
called Judge Weldon II want to
introduce you to Miss Seaton."
Rachel bowed in her queenly little
way in acknowledgment of the intro
duction, and scornful smile played
around the corners of the older wo-
mans mouth, which Rachel would
easily have detected had she been
looking up. As her father stood
quietly by and did not fill the glasses,
as Rachel expected him to do, she
promptly became the hospitahle hos
tess and took his place.
She handed brimming 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 supplied and then said in
a voice that was more tinged with sar-
casm than pleasantly, although the
quotation was accompanied with a
ripple of laughter !:
"Thanks," !" said the Judge, "a sweeter draft
From fairer hand was never quafed."
Rachel smiled a forced little smile
and fancied she saw shadow of a
frown on the judges face.
"What beautiful place you have
here" said Miss Seaton-"an ideal
farmhouse, and such lovely roses. I
suppose it has taken great many
years to improve a country place so
much as this is.
eyes" Rachel said 1--WE have
lived here for years. 1t was grand
mothers place."
"Indeed?" And Miss Seaton rais-
ed her brows questioningly.
Oh, how Rachel hated the woman.
She knew that he hated her wickedly
and wondered how Miss Seaton dared
to assume that she was ignorant of
the particulars 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 mother as yet knew
nothing of the possibility of their
losing all they had because of flaw
| in the title and claim that the land
belonged to the heirs of wealthy,
old, miserly bachelor who had died
many years before her grandfather
bought the place. Rachel was her
fathers standby and confident. 1t
would be time enough to tell the lit
tie mother all about it when worse
came to the worst.
Judge Weldon represented Miss
Seaton in the matter, though he was
fair and generous man and had as
sured Rachel's father that he would
not push the claim of his client un
duly.
As the judge drove down the road
toward his beautiful country place,
mile or two to the west, Rachel slip,
ped her arm through her fathers
and together they walked slowly tc
the house.
"Well, little girl, we will no
worry. Judge Weldon is an homes
man, and we may trust him to ac
fairly"
"But that woman, father; l hat'
her, and they say that Judge Weldon
is to marry her shortly, and, of course
you know, he will consider her inter
ests before ours"
"Tut, tut, child !" said the kiIdl
| f(VYYz II