The Opelousas courier., 1899-12-23
HANNAH MATILDA'S WEDDING CAKE.
BY

w ALA. coIN -uISs IElSDus us 81
opened the oven door aud looked i
| at the beans. "Guess ] may as we
9 take 'em out" she continued; ''som
, folks like their beans baked to a crisp
we like 'em brown but not oyerdone.
"I'm sure yo1r beans are Away
most delicious, Mis- Benson" an
swered her visitor. "I like'en myself
: but down to our house I most have t.
burn 'em to suit! [ suppose you
Hannah can turn her hand TO mos
anything in plain cooking?"
. "Yes, indeed! there amt nothing
in that line Hannah don't understand
plain or fancy; but a weddin' cake
why, that's kind o. different, you see,
and me and Benson made up oul
minds that u only child should have
the very best. It's going to be from
a tirst-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 q min
ute or two, then she said: well, 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 be-.
lever in such things myself, I shan't
try it for Sarah"
"Why, do tell" exclaimed Mrs.
Benson. II didn't know Sa~ah was
keepin' company with anyon, 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!'
II don't know as I said Sarah was
a-keepin' company with anyone. I
said I should make her wedding cake
myself"
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 ieal-
ousy, had implied more than she meant,
sat silent. There was now no way
out of her difficulty but to say that
Sarah was not having any attention;
and she would rather d 9 than say
that before that saucy Hannah Matilda
Hannah, who had enticcd Jerry
Rogers away from Sarah, aud who glo-
ried in the deed. Sarah's sweet, deli
cate face, with its wistful blue eyes,
rose up before her $50 different from
Hannah's), and she felt cure that il
her daughter had been the only child
of so rich a farmer as Benson, Rogers
would never have left her.
"Well?" said Hannah, impatiently.
The thought of the Benson riches
was uppermost in Mrs. Prentice's
mind and again she spoke unavisedly.
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,
crimson. 81 understands"
exclaimed; you're just pretend
.ng 80 that I won't think Sarah is
lynn OF a broken hearth"
Mrs. Benson, whose attention since
danqah's entrance had been absorbed
~ the beans, sta ted and upset half
If them. Hannah Matilda!" she
;ried, what can you be thinkin' of,
. use such words to Mis- Prentice in
his house," +,
SWELL, ma, why can't she answer,
instead O. beatin' about the bush so?
sow." to Mrs. Prentice, lis Sarah en- ,
,sged CT not?" ,
"Yes!" and for the first time in her !
ife Mrs. Prentice had told a lie.
She sat, too overcome and dazed to !
anything, as Mrs. Benson put ,
ne beans that had fallen on the table ,
nto a dish and directed Hanna.-
weep up those spilled over the floor.
for her, she was not called 8
to say much, as Mrs. Benson, NOR \
fled at Hannah's rude behavior, tried :
0 smooth things over by talking in r
essantly; and Hannah, anxious to =
how shat she was not Jealous of her ,
wal, brought out various articles 4
ON her trousssau and displayed them o
to Mrs. Prentice, advising n
er how to have this and that made a
II Sarah. Every word cut the poor A
oman to the heart, and the lie doomed
p mo Q black and fearful before her. r
she noticed the dainty en- h
roideries and laces, and the marking {,
he remembered that marking after Il
ardsl, Hannah Matilda Rogers, not i
enson. Mrs. Benson paused for a j
loment in her preparations for sup .
81. Just notice that marking, will I,
au Mrs. Prentice! She done every N
itch o. that herself; an you ses it's r,
70 French style, not that Kensington n
Look how handsome the 4 h
with all these little flowers en- is
around it! There, Matilda, q,
ats your pas step; so cut the cake a
ID we'H hare supper" n
Mrs. Prentice rose and tottered to q
door. :,
why, Mis- Prentice! What's the n
cried Mrs. Benson. -
sI guess I'd batter be go.n'." said Il
rs. Prentice in a low. choking voice. II,
Now, Mis- Prentice, You amt -
yoin' to mind what I sa;d?" asked h
annah. -
tsWhat" ..
'sYou ain't angry" 70
mo. ! don't mind anything; TIM y,
soin' home" She opened the door da
d stepped ont, bonnetiess ana cloak on
g: but Mrs. Be son ran after her Il;
i canght har by he arm. .Nary ha
sza Prentice you'll catch rou- death, he
mi bleak Marsh ~ieai yaH saaE Il.