The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1920-10-22
Wedding Cake
BY RALPH HAMILTON

the decree Of adverse fortune. II
helped the bearing of his burdens ia
have q wife who contributed some.
thing to the sparse family income by
baking cakes for special occasions, re-
ceptions, christenings. weddings, for
she was a perfect cook and Alice,
aged eighteen, was dainty, artistic
assistant.
Robert Page had lost business and
fortune overnight In a great confiagra-
ton. After he had liquidated his
debts there was left few hundred
dollars and the house where Alice
had been born.
Beginning all over again." encour-
aged Mrs. Page. 1T will keep us
from being dull"
"And idle" smiled Alice. "Tve
thought 1t all out, father, dear. For
a year at least we won't try any am
bilious flights. The doctor says you
need and must have absolute rest"
"But how will we liver"
"Oh! have arranged for that" de-
clared Alice buOyantly. "If you will
help me with the sweet peas, the
roses and the asters, will guarantee
to sell every one of them at profit.
Mr.. Randolph, who owns the news
stand next to the postoffice, agrees to
give me window to display the flow
ers In their season, and his boy will
attend to customers for a small COM
mission"
swell, 1t won't hurt my pride to
carry the baskets down to the store"
spoke Mr.. Page courageOusly.
II have planned also to turn my
culinary skill to some real advantage"
spoke his wife. 'The Ladies' Ex-
change can get me orders"
Thus lightly and pleasantly mother
and daughter heartened the husband
and father.
Two miles down the river were some
large mills, and somehow In the work.
ing community the perfection Of Mrs.
Pages famous cakes gained several
customers, and the humble folk from
overseas became q settled element In
the baking proposition. There was
q wedding nearly every Saturday night
among the mill workers, and 1t got
10 be so that q nuptial feast without
Q fancy wedding cake was a rarity.
Alice had made an arrangement with
confectioner's supply house In the
city which sent her cake ornaments
on order. Thus, some romantic swain
from fair Italian shores could have
his wedding cake surmounted by
frosting piece showing sugared castle
turrets, or shepherdesses, or dancing
fairies, but the most popular ornament
was a royal canopy over an altar, at
which In satin sheen knelt the white
veiled bride, her affianced beside her
in immaculate dress suit.
There was one of the mill workers,
% dark eyed, swarthy man Of about
thirty, who acted as translator and
agent for his fellow countrymen, and
several times he had come to the
Page home bringing the order for
some special occasion. Alice distrust-
ed and disliked the fellow, who at
tempted no familiarity because he
dared not, but whose piercing glance
viewed her with an admiration he
could not repress.
Dallas Blake, who was the only
young man Alice allowed to call more
than once a week, wa: present on one
of these occasions, and he openly re-
scented the presence of a man he in
fuitively discerned was greatly at
tracted by Allce's beauty.
The man, Raphael, appeared late
one afternoon In a great fluster. The
hour of q wedding for which the
cake had been ordered. he claimed,
was to be two hours earlier than ar
ranged. He had taxi at the door.
Would Miss Page bring the cake and
the ornaments and, az usual with her,
attach the same on the table where
no Jar would disturb or injure them?
Unsuspectingly Alice agreed. Dusk
came on while they were going in the
direction Of the mills. 1t was fully
dark when the machine turned into
an obscure lane, circled into an old
barn and, throwing a scarf over the
face Of Alice, her companion Raphae-
III, tore her from the machine and
carried her into house beyond. A
hideous old hag greeted him as he
brought the affrighted Alice into her
presence.
"The cake shall celebrate our we'd
ding, yours and mine," declared Ra-
phaeIi. "Ah! have loved you long.
i 80 for friends and priest. Marta,
az she resists-the drug. She shall
he mine this day."
He FASTENED from the place. AS he
came out at the barn exit he was sur
pr,sed to view there strange automo-
bile. From 1t sprang Dallas Blake.
"You scoundrel ~ he shouted. u
got lust a glimpse of you and Miss
Page as you flashed along the street.
What have you done with her"
The swift CLEAN Of stiletto an
swered, but before the murderous
blow could be dealt the chauffeur
sprang bodily upon the assailant,
bearing him bleeding and senseless to
the ground.
"You shall dismiss all that danger
-t.....ot,v doola rod Dallas Rlake.