Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-06-29

Mrs. Prentice was sure that she haC
seen tears in her eyes when she bad,
her good-by.
I'm SO afraid she does care, afte
ALL she said to herself. I'm just glaC
| did tell Hannah Matilda that lie."
The past week had hardened Mrs
Prentice, and she looked her neigh
! bors boldly in the face and talked
yolubly about Hannahts trousseau
| The minister arrived promptly at
o'clock, but still the guests sat wait
| ing
81 guess it's a-goin' to be something
out of the ordinary" said one woman
at last. do you know, jest went into
the other room to look at the clock
and it's goin' on to three"
eve all know it's late enough" an
swered another woman, who sat neal
Mrs. Prentice in the bay window, "but
I guess you amt given the right rea-
son. I've been a-sittin' by this win
dow steady ever since | came in, and
Jerry Rogers amt arrived yet! No
one can make me believe he has"
The guests all started and looked at
each other in amazement, then sought
conference with their nearest neigh
Dor.
81 shouldn't say it to others, Mis-
Prentice" whispered the one who had
spoken last, leaning over and laying a
black-mitted hand on Mrs. Prentice S
arm, "but | don't feel no confidence
that he intends to turn up. I always
thought Hannah caught him against
his will and he amt the kind that can
say no to a body's face"
Mrs. Prentice turned a white scared
countenance upon her. "You don t
think, you don't mean" she said, be-
low 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, p1a1r features,
white as marble, and er hands, in
their tight white gloves, clutched
nervously at the folds of her rich satin
sl1irt-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:
20, you wicked, deceitful woman. [
wanted to know whether you had
dared to come here, before [ asked
my guests to come out and try my
wedding cake. Here!" extending one
hand with crimpled paper towards
her, Eyes, you'd better take and read
it, though you already know it well
enough. And just blame you more
an | do Sarah-yes, I dol"
Her voice rose to a scream, and the
minister forced his way through the
crowd Of women, some of whom were
sobbing with fright, and laid his hand
upon her arm.
Miss Hannah" he said, kindly, but
firmly, you forget yourself in speak
ing so to this good woman"
Hannah Matilda turned toward him
like child with no idea of conceal
ment.
"See!" she said, her lip beginning to
tremble, this notes just been eft at
the back door. It's from Jerry Rogers,
and he and Sarah Prentice left on the
$50 train for Boston, cause he
couldn't speak out plain to bodys
face. And that woman knew and
planned it ALL that's what l mind"
4 II wi
and Mrs. Prentice was quite forgot
ten. She now tottered forward,
stretching out her trembling hands.
It's that falsehood I told. Q, if I
had never told it she wouldn't think I
had known. o." she went on, catching
her breath, 81 told you, Hannah Ma
tilda, as Sarah was a keepin' COM
pany cause I was so Jealous And o,
what I've suffered this week. I
wouldn't live through it again for any
money"
Hannah turned her eyes upon Mrs
Prentice, and her expression seemed
to soften little, but she made no re-
ply. For few seconds there was a
breathless silence, then Hannah
turned toward the others
Il want you all to come out and
have slice of my wedding cake" she
said, adding with some spirit, sit came
from a first-rate city confectioner's
and it'll taste just as good as if there
were a dozen Weddings
Mrs. Prentice allowed herself to be
led out and helped in without a word,
and the minister had unfastened his
horse and was just climbing in, when
he was startled by a cry: Wait!
wait,"
He turned quickly and saw Hannah
Matilda running down to the gate.
| her ample train over her arm. "Here,"
she gasped. Here, Mrs. Prentice,"
and she thrust a parcel, wrapped in a
napkin, into her lap. Its some of the
wedding cake she added softly, "and
there's a piece in there for Sarah"
She turned and hurried back as
abruptly as she had come, and the
minister saw her tall white figure dis
appearing in at the door as he drove
away.-DOrothy Leonard.
4 SacrifiGn nm the Altar 0f nya.