River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1899-06-22
HANNAH MATILDA'S
WEDDING CAKE
hVEs, l was determined Hannah
By Dorothy Leonard


" ES, l. was determined Hannan
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 l may as well
take 'em out" she continued; ''some
folks likes their beans baked to a crisp,
we like 'em brown but not over-done."
Pm sure your beans are always most
delicious, Mis- Benson" answered her
visitor. 81 like 'em myself, but down
TO our house | most have to burn 'em
TO suit! s'pose your Hannah can turn
her hand to most anything in plain
cooling?"
yes, 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 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 min
or two; then she said:
well, it amt the first time it's been
tried in these parts, a-maIin' 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, l shan't
try it for Sarah"
why, do tell" exclaimed Mrs. Ben
son. 81 didn't know Sarah was keepin'
company with anyone. Hannah" to
her daughter, who had just entered,
did you hear what Mis- Prentice said?
Now, Mis- Prentice, do tell us all about
it,"
81 don't know as l said Sarah was
a-keepin' company with anyone.
said l 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 akimbo.
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. Prenticc'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 grill"
Hannah, who well knew that she
could not compare with Sarah in looks,
flushed crimson. Il understand" she
exclaimed; you're just pretending, SO
that l won't think Sarah is dyin' of
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?"
well, ma, why can't she answer, in
stead o. beatin' about the bush so?
Now" to Mrs. Prentice, lis Sarah en-
gagged or 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 doomed up more
4
she noticed the dainty embroideries
and laees. 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. One can
become accustomed to almost anything
even 10 telling lies
There amt any way out of it now.
she kept saying to herself. "I've just
got to be,,r it. Perhaps Sarah will get
engaged to some one before the year is
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 mayfiowers. and came back with
rosy cheeks and sparkling eyes.
''She certainly doesn't care any more
about Jerry Rogers" thought her
mother There may be some one else
she's a-thinking of, but l don't see how
she can be so cheerful when IIannah's
marriage is so near. just feel in my
bones that it'Il all come right"
The wedding day came at last, and,
like one Ia a dream, Mrs. Prentice found
herself seated in the Bensons parlor,
neav the window, waiting for the minis
ter. She had been among the first TO
arrive, for she knew that 3srry's deser-
ton of Sarah would be the principal
theme of conversation if her back were