Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1899-06-15
HANNAH MATILDA.S
WEDDING CAKE
By Dorothy Leonard.

take EN- out, she continued; some
folks likes their beans baked TO crisp.
We Ike en- brown but not oxer-done.-
Z sure your beans are always most
delicious, Mis- Benson answered her
visitor i Ike 'em myself, but down
TO CUR house l most have 10 burn 'em
70 suit ! ; pose your Hannah can turn
her hand TO most anything in plain
9oeking2-'
Yes. indeed. there amt nothing in
that line Hannah don't undertand,
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-rafe
city eoafectioner's- and ] don't feel any
1oubT but i1'l more than suit
Mrs Prentice set her thin lips to-
gether and made no answer for min
or two; then she said:
Well il amt the first time its been
tried IN these parts. a-nakin' the wed
ding cake out o the house, Some folks
think Il bad luck and, though I'm no
believer in such things myself. shan-f
Try il for Sarah"
why. do tell,' exclaimed Mrs Ben
son i 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
1T"
Il don't know as / said Sarah was
-a-keepin' company with anyone
said should make her wedding cake
myself"
We'll, 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 5eal-
-oUsy- had implied more than she meant.
was silent There was now no way out
of he- difficulty but 10 say that Sarah
vas not having any attention, and she
would rather die than say that before
that saucy Hannah Matiida-Hannah.
who had entieed Jerry Rogers away
from Sarah, and who gloried in the
deed.
Ne1l2" said Hannah. impatientiv.
The thought of The Benson riches
was uppermost IN Mrs Prenticc-s mind.
and again she spoke unadvisedly Il
guess whatever young man Is showing
ny daughter attention. she didn't have
10 use money to entice him away from
another girl
Hannah, who well knew that she
could not compare with Sarah IN looks,
flushed crimson Il understand she
exclaimed; you're just pretending. 50
that / won't think Sarah is dyin' OF a
broken heart
Mrs. Benson whose attention s7nca
Hannah's entrance had been absorbed
by the beans, started and upset half OF
them Hannah NatiIda,- 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 Q beatin' about tie bush So
Now" 10 Mrs Prentice. lis Sarah en-
gagged OF not@-
Yes and for the first time in her
Efe Mrs Prentice had told a lie
Hannah anxious 10 show that she
was not jealous Of her former rival.
brought out various articles from her
1rousseau and displayed them proudly
40 Mrs Prentice. advising her how 10
have this and that made for Sarah
Every word cut the poor woman 10 the
heart. and the lie doomed up more
black and fearful before her Dimly
she noticed the dainty embroideries
and laces, and the marking fshe re-
membered that marking afterward D
Hannah Matilda Rogers. not Benson
BIZ the time Mrs Prentice reached
home she felt little better. One can
become accustomed 20 almost anything
even 10 telling lies
There amt any way out of IL now"
she ktI.t SAYING TO herself I've jest
got 10 be-r II. Perhaps Sarah viii GIT
engaged 10 some one before the year Is
out. and then they'll never suspect
As the days passed by Mrs Prentice
xas struck By Sarah's cheerful man
ner. She went frequently TO the woods
for mayf7owers. 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-fhinking of. but don't see how
she can be so cheerful when Hannah's
marriage is 50 near i just feel IN my
bones that i'll all come right"
The wedding Gay came at last and.
Ike one in a dream. Mrs Prentice found
herself seated in the BeDsons Parlor-
near the window, waiting for the minis
Ter. She had been among the first TO
arrive. for she knew that Jerry deser-
-f;op OF Sarah would be the principal
theme of conversation If her hack were
turned. Sarah of course was rot pres
-eEt: but she had begged her mother TO
90. and Mrs. Prentice was sure that she
had seen tears in her eyes when she
babe her good-by-
I'm so afraid she does care, after
all she said 10 herself. I'm just glad
did tell Hannah Matilda that lie"
The past week had hardened Mrs
Prentice. and she looked her neighbors
boldly in the face and talked Volubly
about Hsnnah's trousseau- The min
lister arrived promptly al two O'Clock,
but still the guests sat waiting
Il guess it's a-goin' 10 be something
out o. the ordinary, said one woman at
last. DO you know, jest went into
the other room to look IT the clock, and
it's goin' on 10 three"
~Ee all know it's late enougS an
szwered another woman. who sat near
Mrs. Prentice In the bay window, but
/ guess YOU amt given the right rea-
son. I've been a-sittin' by this win
dow steady ever since / came IN. and
Jerry Rogers amt arrived yet. No one
can make me believe he has
The guests all startled and looked at
zach other in amazement- then sought
- ~