The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1903-06-11

ought to be able to do it," she assured
herself II simply must" she went on
emphatically. "And | won't say any
thing to Rob about it; l don't want
him to know what little goose am. :
Then she closed the cookbook and be-
gan to get supper
1t was less than month since Rob
Archer brought his bride to the old
homestead; but she was already well
enough acquainted with their thrifty
neighbors to know with what scorn the
acknowledgement that she could not
cook would be received. The fact that
she had spent all her time clerking in
a store since she left school, would
seem no excuse to them
There had been one other sociable
since she came to the neighbOrhood;
but fortunately her mother was visit
ing her that week and it was she who
made the angel-food cake that had Gre
ated such favorable comment. Mar
garet could cook vegetables very cred
itably; so with the pies and cakes that
her mother had left baked up when she
went home, she had gotten along very
we'll so far. But what was she to do
now? She must manage in some way
to live up to the reputation that that
angel-food cake had given her. Her
cheeks grew hot as she saw, in imagin-
alton. the critical looks that were be-
slowed upon each cake as it was cut.
She never could face those excellent
housekeepers again if her cake failed
to bear the test; and she must take
one, for they were depending upon her.
The next morning, as soon as Rob
was out of sight, she got the cook book
down again. 1t opened readily to the
right page this time. Margaret fas-
tened it's leaves open on the kitchen
table.
Zone and one-half cups sugar; one
cup flour; whites of ten eggs" She
read slowly on through the directions.
at doesn't look very hard" she
thought cheerfully, and her heart grew
lighter. Very carefully she put the in
gradients together The eggs were
beaten until her arm ached; the sugar
was sifted again and again. At last the
frothy mass was ready for the oven.
She put an armful of wood into the
stove. slipped the cake into the open,
and then began to clear Off the break
fast dishes. She glanced up at the
clock. 1t was half past nine! She had
been two hours getting that cake to-
gether ''Well, I don't care for that If
it is only good; and 1 really believe it
will be-" she thought complacently.
''I've got all day to do the work in
anyway, for Rob is helping the Smiths
thresh, and he won't be home to din
ner.' Che began to hum a little tune,
as she swiftly cleared the table.
She kept close watch of the clock.
Three-uuarters of an hour for baking
the cookbook said. She would have
time to run out and gather the eggs.
She tied on her sun-bonnet and hasten
ed out to the barn.
Fifteen minutes later she came back
with her apron full of eggs, and was
met at the door by strong smell OF
something burning. She rushed to the
stove, threw open the oven door, and
was nearly choked by the smoke that
rushed out. Her cake was burnt to a
black cinder!
She jerked 1t out of the oven, and
carrying it to the door. she scraped it
out into a pail. Then she looked rue
fully at the empty tin. II must have
hea too hot a fire. she concluded. I'll
have to make another"
The oven had time to cocs down be-