Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1899-06-26
MatiIda's Wedding Cake.


''I was determined Hannah Matilda
should have the best cake to be had!"
said Mrs. Benson, as she opened the
oven door. and looked in at the beans.
Guess I may as well take 'em out,
she continued; t'some folks likes their
beans baked to a crisp, we like 'em
brown, but not Over-dOne."
I'm sure your beans are always
most delicious, Mis- Benson answered
her visitor. II like 'em myself, but
down to our house 1 most have to
burn 'em to suit! l s'pose your Han
nah can turn her hand to most any
thing in plain cooking?"
eyes, indeed! there amt nothing in
that line Hannah don't understand,
plain or fancy; but a weddin' cake, why
that's kind O. different, you see, and
me and Benson made up our minds
that our only child should have the
very best. It's going to be from a
first-rate city confectioner's and I
don't feel any doubt but it'll more
than suit"
Mrs. Prentice set her thin lips to-
gether and made no answer for a
minute or two; then she said
'Well, it amt the first time it's
been tried in these parts, a-makin'
the wedding cake out O. the house.!
Some folks think it bad luck, and,
though I'm no believer in such things
myself, I shan't try it for Sarah"
''Why, do tell" exclaimed Mrs.
Benson. ''I didn't know Sarah was
keepin company with anyone Han
nah" to her daughter, who had just
entered, "did you hear what Mis-
Prentice said? Now, Mis- Prentice, do
tell us all about it,"
''I don't know as 1 said Sahar was
a-keepin' company with anyone I said
I should make her wedding cake my
self"
We'll, but is she keeping company?
And who's the fellow?" demanded
Hannah, placing herself directly in
front of Mrs. Prentice, with her arms
akimbo.
The poor woman, who, stung by
jealousy, had implied more than she
meant, was silent. There was now
no way out of her difficulty but to say
that Sarah was not having any at
tention, and she would rather die than
say that before that saucy Hannah Ma
tilda-Hannah, who had enticed Jerry
Rogers away from Sarah, and who
glOried in the deed
"Well?' said Hannah, impatiently.
The thought of the Benson riches
was uppermost in Mrs. Prentice's
mind, and again she spoke unadvised-
ly. 81 guess whatever young man is
showing my daughter attention, she
didn't have to use money to entice
him away from another grill"
Hannah, who we'll knew that she
could not compare with Sarah in looks,
flushed crimson. FI understand" she
exclaimed, you're just pretending, so
that I won't think Sarah is dyin' of a
broken hearth"
Mrs. Benson, whose attention since
Hannah's entrance had been absorbed
by the beans, started and upset half
Of them. Hannah Matilda!" she cried,
what can you be thinkin' of, to use
such words to Mis- Prentice in this
house?"
well ma, why can't she answer, in
stead o. beatin' about the bush so?
Now" to Mrs. Prentice, sis Sarah en-
gagged or not?"
''Yes!" and for the first time in her
fife Mrs. Prentice had told a lie.
Hannah, anxious to show that she
was not jealous of her former rival,
brought out various articles from her
trousseau and displayed them proudly
to Mrs. Prentice, advising her how to
have this and that made for Sarah.
Every word cut the poor woman to the
heart, and the lie doomed up more
black and fearful before her. Dimly
she noticed the dainty embroideries
and laces, and the marking (she re-
membered that marking afterward)-
Hannah Matilda Rogers, not Benson.
BY the time Mrs. Prentice reached
home she felt a little better
F"There amt any way out of it
now" she kept saying to herself. GIVE
just got to bear it. Perhaps Sarah
will get engaged to someone before the
year is out, and then they'll never sus-
pect"
AS the days passed by Mrs. Prem
tice was struck by Sarah's cheerful
manner. She went frequently to the
woods for mayflOwers, and came back
with rosy cheeks and sparkling eyes.
'She certainly doesn't care any
more about Jerry Rogers" thought her