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

Il 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 | may as well take 'em out, .
she continued; some folks likes their
beans baked TO crisp, we like 'em
brown, but not oVer-done."
I'm sure your beans are always
most delicious, Mis- Benson" answered
her visitor. Il like em myself, but
down to our house | most have to
burn EN- to suit! | 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 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
frst-rate city confectioner's and l
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:
We'll, 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, | shant try it for Sarah"
why, do tell" exclaimed Mrs
Benson 4 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.!
Il don't know as | said Sahar was
a-keepin' company with anyone. l said
| should make her wedding cake my
self"
Well, 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 ont 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-FIannah, 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 unadyised-
EIy. Il guess whatever young man is
showing my daughter attention, she
didn't have to use money to entice
him away from another girl"
Hannah, who we'll knew that she
could not compare with Sarah in looks
flushed crimson. Il understands: she
exclaimed, you're just pretending, so
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 them. Hannah Matilda!" she cried,
what can you be thinkin' of, to use
such words to Mis- Prentice in this
house,"
We'll, ma, why can't she answer, in
stead o beatin' about the bush so?
Now to Mrs. Prentice, lis Sarah en-
gagged or not?'
'1es." and for the first time in her
life 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
There amt any way out of il
now" she kept saying to herself. Eve
just got to bear it. Perhaps Sarah
will I engaged to someone before the
year is out, and then they'll never sus-
pect"
As the days passed by Mrs. Prem
tice ~-as struck by Sarah's cheer
!. Mariner. She went frequently to ttc
woods for mayfowers, and came bac,
with rosy cheeks and sparkling eyes
she certainly doesn't care an1
more about Jerry Rogers thought hel
mother. There may be someone else
she's a-thinking of, for I don't see
how she can be so cheerful wher
Hannah's marriage is so near. I JUS
feel in my bones that it'll all come
right
The wedding day came at last, and
like one in a dream. Mrs. Prentice
found herself seated in the Bensons
parlor, near the window, waiting TO
the minister She had been amons
the first to arrive, for she knew tina
Jerry's desertion of Sarah would b;
the principal theme of conversation i
her back back were turned. Saral
of course, was not present; but sh,
had begged her mother to go, anC