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

matter?" cried Mrs. Benson.
81 guess I'd better be goin'," said
Mrs. Prentice in low. choking voice.
"Now, Mis- Prentice, you amt
a'goin' to mind what said?" asked
Hannah.
"What?"
''You amt angry?"
''No, I don't mind anything; I'm
a-goin' home" She opened the door
and stepped out, bonnetless and cloak
less; but Mrs. Benson ran after her
and caught her by the arm. "Mary
Eliza Prentice you'll catch your death,
in this bleak March wind! You know
Benson was goin' to dive you back
after supper, but if you want to go
now, come get your things on and sit
and get warm while they hitch up. ,"
She allowed herself to be led back and
seated by the stove, while Hannah
ran to the bedroom for her wraps and
Benson went out and gave orders to
the hired man to harness as quickly
as possible.
Cant you drink this cup O. tea?"
asked Mrs. Benson, anxiously. "Why
you're a-trembling all over! What is
the matter?"
"It's nothing but n spell, Mis- Ben
son." said the poor woman, hoarsely.
81 can't take any teal must be get
tin home" Hannah helped her on
with her wraps and led her to the
door.
1t seemed years to Mrs. Prentice
since she had crossed that same
threshold, an honest, truthful woman,
to spend the afternoon and take tea
with her friend; she passed out now
with the burden of lie upon her
soul.
81 guess I wouldn't try to make her
talk any, pa" said Benson's wife to
him, ''just drive her home as quick as
you can"
81 can't make out what took her so
sudden" she said to her daughter as
they went back into the house.
81 don't know, I'm sure" replied
Hannah, "but I'm glad she was able
to get home. 1t would have been
dreadful awkward, with Jerry coming
this evening, to have to keep her
here"
By the time Mrs. Prentice reached
home she felt little better. One can
become accustomed to almost anything
even to telling lies. "Ihere ain't t
any way out of it now," she kept say
ing to herself. ''Ive just got to bear
it. Perhaps Sarah will get engaged
to someone before the year is out, and
then they'll never suspect"
Benson helped her out carefully, and
insisted ON leaving his horse and
going with her to the door. Seems
to me you're little smarter, Mis-
Prentice, said he. II guess the fresh
air done you good.
"Yes,I guess it did," she answered,
and as she said it felt fresh pang-
! for it was not the truth.
AS the days passed by, Mrs. Prem
tice was struck with Sarah's cheerful
manner. She went frequently to the
woods for mayfowers aud 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-thinkin' of, or 1 don't see how
she can be so cheerful when Hannah's s
marriage is so near. just 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 fol
the minister. She had been among
the first to arrive, for she knew tha
Jerry's desertion of Sarah would be
the principal theme of conversation i
her back were turned. Sarah, O
course, was not present; but she ha6
begged her mother to go, and Mrs. Prem
tice was sure that she had seen tears
in her eyes when she babe her goodby
II m so afraid she does care after all,
she said to herself. ''i'm just glad
did tell Hannah Matilda that lie!'
The past week had hardened Mrs
Prentice, and she looked her neigh
bors boldly in the face aud talked vol
ably about Hannah's trousseau. TIL,
minister arrived promptly at o'clock
but still the guests sat waiting
II guess it's a-goin' to be some
thing out of the ordinary" said on
woman at last. ''Do you know,I jes
went into the other room to look a
the clock, aud it's goin' on to 30
'We all know it's late enough" an
!; swered another woman who sat nea
! Mrs. Prentice in the bay window
"but I guess you amt given the righ
reason. I've been a-sittin' by thi
: window steady ever since I came in
J and Jerry Rogers amt arrived vet
/ No one can make me believe lie has.
The guests all started and locke
at each other in amazement, the
sought conference with her neares
, neighbor.
~ shouldn't say it to others, Mis-
, Prentice" whispered the ono VIII
had spoken last, leaning over and lay