Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-11-02

ing black-mitted hand on Mrs. Prem.
tice's arm, ''but don't feel no conf.
dence that he intends to turn up. ]
always thought Hannah caught him
a9ainst his will, and he amt the kind
that can say no to body's face"
Mrs. Prentice turned 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), and her hands, in
their Night 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 befure
her, one by one, until they fell on the
group in the bay window; then singing
out Mrs. Prentice she screamed: "Oh,
you wicked, deceitful woman! !
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 crumpled paper toward
her, Eyes. you'd better take and read
it, though you already know it well
enough. And just blame you more
an I do Sarah-yes, 1 do! To come
sneaking here the other day. pretend
ing sick!" Her voice rose to 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 speaking so to
this good woman"
Hannah Matilda turned toward him
like child with no idea of conceal
ment ''See!' she said, her lip begin
ming to tremble, 'this notes just been
left at the back door. It's from Jerry
Rogers, and he and Sarah Prentice
left on the 2.30 train for Boston, cause
he couldn't tspeak out plain to a body's
face. And that woman knew and
planned it all; that's what I mind. )"
The strain she had Put upon herself
had been already too much, and the
last words were hardly above whis
per. All eyes were turned toward
her, and Mrs. Prentice was quite for
gotten. She now tottered forward,
stretching out her trembling hands.
''Its hat lie told! It's that lie!
Oh, if I'd never told it, she wouldn't
think I had known! Oh" she went
on, catching her breath, II told you,
Hannah Matilda, as Sarah was a-keep-
in company cause 1 was 50 jealous.
And, oh, what I've suffer ed this week!
wouldn't live through it again for
any money"
Haunah turned her eyes upon Mrs.
Prentice, and her expression seemed
to soften a little, but she made no re-
ply. For few seconds there was a
breathless silence, then Hannah turned
toward the others. 81 want you all
to come out and have a slice of my
wedding cake," she said, adding with
some spirit. sit came from first rate
city confectioner's and it'll taste just
as good as if there were dozen we'd
dings."
"Oh, my child, my child" sobbed
Mrs. Benson, who had crept up behind
her, ''don't talk so!' Hannah paid no
attention to her, but turned and led
the way to the dining room followed
by all except Mrs. Prentice and the
minister, who saw that he was no
longer needed.
81 think the best thing for You and
me, Mrs. Prentice" said he kindly,
is to be getting home. My
buggy is waiting for me, and l can
leave you on my way"
She allowed herself to be led out
and helped in without word, and the
minister had unfastened his horse and
was just climbing in when he was
startled by cry: "Wait! wait!" He
turned quickly and saw Hannah Ma
tilda RAINING down to the gate, her
ample train over her arm. ''Here!'
she gasped. Here, Mis- Prentice!'
and she thrust parcel, wrapped in a
napkin, into her lap. "It's some of
the wedding cake" she added softly,
'and there's piece in there for
Sarah" She turned and hurried
back as abruptly as she had come, and
the minister saw her tall figure disap-
pearing in at the door as he drove
away. Atlanta Constitution.
Hiding Places for Money.