The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1899-06-22
BY Dorothy Leonard
Ssss1sss,sss1stsf

our only child should have the very
best. It's going to be from first-rate
city confectioner's, and 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 min
or two; then she said:
"Well, it amt the first time it's been
tried in these parts, a-makin' the we'd |
ding 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. Ben
son. II didn't know Sarah was keepin'
company with anyone. Hannah" to
her daughter, who had just entered,
Ibid you hear what Mis- Prentice said?
Now, Mis- Prentice, do tell us all about
It'll"
II don't know as | said Sarah was
a-keepin' company with anyone. 1
said should make her wedding cake
myself"
"Well, but is she keeping company?
And who's the fellow ?" demanded Han
nah, placing herself directly in front of
Mrs. Prentice, with her arms admbo.
The poor woman, who, stung by jeal-
ousy, 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 attention, and she
would rather die than say that before
that saucy Hannah Matilda-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 unadvisedly. II
guess whatever young man is showing
my daughter attention, she didn't have
to use money to entice him away from
another grit"
Hannah, who well knew that she
could not compare with Sarah in looks,
flushed crimson. "I understand" she
exclaimed; you're Just pretending, 80
that won't think Sarah is dyin' Of a
broken heart!"
Mrs. Benson, whose attention since
, Hannah's entrance had been absorbed
by the beans, started and upset half of
|
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 OF not?"
"Yes!" and for the first time in her
life Mrs. Prentice had told 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 loomed 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 little better. One car
become accustomed to almost anything
even to telling lies.
"There amt any way out of it now,
she k,p, saying to herself. "Ive JUS
got to be..r it. Perhaps Sarah will ge1
engaged to some one before the year i.
out, and then they'll never suspect"
AS the days passed by Mrs. Prentice
was struck by Sarah's cheerful man
ner. She went frequently to the woods
for mayflowers, and came back will
rosy cheeks and sparkling eyes.
"She certainly doesn't care any mor
about Jerry Rogers" thought he
mother. ''There may be some one els
she's a-thinl<ing of, but don't see hov
she can be so cheerful when Hannah
marriage is so near. l just feel in m,
bones that it'll all come right"
, The wedding day came at last, and
like one in dream, Mrs. Prentice foun'
, herself seated in the Bensons parloI
, near the window, waiting for the minis
, ter. She had been among the first t,
arrive, for she knew that Jerry's dese1
ton of Sarah would be the principa
theme of conversation if her back wer
turned. Sarah, of course, was not pres
eut; but she had begged her mother t
' go, and Mrs. Prentice was sure that sh
T had seen tears in her eyes when sh
l bade her good-by.
I'm SO afraid she does care, afte
: all" she said to herself. I'm just gla
! l did tell Hannah Matilda that lie!"
!, The past week had hardened Mrs
J. Prentice, and she looked her neighbor
boldly in the face and talked volubl
5 about Hannah's trousseau. The mir
lister arrived promptly at two O'Clock
1 but still the guests sat waiting.
II guess it's a-goin' to be somethin
cut O. the ordinary" said one woman a
t last. "Do you know, jest went int
\ the other room to look at the clock, an
it's goin' on to three"
!. "We all know it's late enough" al
g swered another woman, who sat nea
). Mrs. Prentice in the bay window, "bu
guess you amt given the right res