Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1899-11-29

insisted on leaving his horse ana
going with her to the door. Seems
to me. you're a little smarter, Mis-
Prentice, said he. ST guess the fresh
air done you good"
'fYos,I I guess itdid," she answered,
and as she said it felt fresh pang-
for it was not the truth.
AS the days passed by, Mrs. Prem
tice was struck with Sarah's cheerful
manner. She went frequently to the
woods for mayAowers and came back
with rosy cheeks and sparkling eyes.
"She certainly doesn't care any more
about Jerry Rogers, thought her
mother; "there may be some one else
she's a-thinkin of, or I don't see how
she can be so cheerful when Hannah's
marriage is so near. Just feel in my
bones that it'll all come right"
The wedding day cane at last, and
like one in dream, Mrs. Prentice
found herself seated in the Bensons'
parlor, near the window, waiting for
the minister. She had been among
the first to arrive, for she knew that
Jerry's desertion of Sarah would be
the principal theme of conversation if
her back were turned. Sarah, of
course, WAS not present; but she had
begged her mother to go, aud Mrs. Prem
tice was sure that she had seen tears
in her eyes when she babe her goodby.
''I'm so afraid she does care after all, >"
she said to herself. "i'm Just glad I
did tell Hannah Matilda that liep'
The past week had hardened Mrs.
Prentice, and she looked her neigh
bors boldly in the face and talked vol
ably about Haunah's trousseau. The
minister arrived promptly at 2 o'clock,
but still the guests sat waiting
81 guess it's a-goin' to be some
thing out of the ordinary" said one
woman at last. "Do You know,I jest
went into the other room to look at
the clock, and it's goin' on to g."
'We all know it's late enough" an
swered another woman who sat near
Mrs. Prentice in the bay window,
'but guess you amt given the right
reason. I've been a-sittin' by this
window steady ever since came in,
and Jerry Rogers amt arrived vet!
No one can make me believe he has"
The guests all started and looked
at each other in amazement, then
sought conference with her nearest
neighbor.
II shouldn't say it to others, Mis-
Prentice" whispered the one who
had spoken last, leaning over and lay
ing black-mitted hand on Mrs. Prem
tees arm, 'but I don't feel no conf
dence that he intends to turn up. T
always thought Hannah caught him
against his will, and he amt the kind
that can say no to body's face"
Mrs. Prentice turned, q white, scared
countenance upon her. "You don't
think, you don't mean" she said,
below her breath, but she never fin
ished the sentence, for the door burst
open, and Hannah Matilda stood, in
all the splendor of bridal array, before
them. Her veil was thrown back
Showing her large, plain features,
white as marble), aud her hands, in
their tight white gloves, clutched ner-
vously at the folds of her rich satin
skirt = almost as if seeking support
under some new horror. Her eyes
scanned the frightened faces before
her, one by one, until they fell on the
group in the bay window; then singing
out Mrs. Prentice she screamed: ooh,
you wicked, deceitful womanl I
wanted to know whether you had
dared to come here, before I asked my
guests to come out and try my we'd
ding cake. Here, !" extending one
hand with cfumpled paper toward
her, "yes, you'd better take and read
Lit. though you already know il we'll