The Crittenden press., 1920-08-10
Wedding Cake
By RALPH HAMILTON

Very submisslvely Robert Page at
sixty had bowed his sIlvered head to
the decree OF adverse fortune. 1t
helped the bearing of his burdens to
have wife who contributed some
thing to the sparse family income by
baking cakes for special occasions, re-
ceptiOns, christenings, weddings, for
she was perfect cook and Alice,
aged eighteen, was q dainty, artistic
assistant.
Robert Page had lost business and
fortune overnight In great confagra-
ti0n. After he had liquldated his
debts there was left few hundred
dollars and the house where Alice
had been born.
Beginning all over again." encOur-
aged Mrs. Page. ut will keep us
from being dull"
"And idle" smiled Alice. "I've
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. I will guarantee
TO sell every one Of them at a profit.
Mr.. Randolph, who owns the news
stand next to the postoffice, agrees to
give me a window to display the flow-
ers In their season, and his boy will
attend to customers for a small com.
mission"
swell, II 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"
Tins 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 a settled element In
the baking proposition. There was
q wedding nearly every Saturday night
among the mill workers. and It got
to be 50 that a nuptial feast without
10 fancy. wedding cake was o ,nflty.
| Alice had made an arrangement with
q 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 royal canopy over an altar. at
which. In satin sheen knelt the white
yelled bride, her afiianced beside her
In immaculate dress suit.
There was one of the mill workers,
q 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 dlstrust-
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 week, was present on one
OF these occasions, and he openly re-
sented the presence Of man he in
tuitively dlscerned was greatly at
tracted by Alice's beauty.
The man. Raphael, appeared late
one afternoon In great fiuster, The
hour Of 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 as usual with her.
attach the same on the table where
no jar would disturb or lnjure themf
Unsnspectingly Alice agreed Dusk
came on while they We're going In the
direction Of the mills. II was fully
dark when the machine turned into
an obscure lane. circled into an old
barn and. throwing scarf over the
face OF Alice. her companion. Raphae.
II, tore her from the machine and
carried her into house beyond A
hideous old hag greeted him AS he
brought the afrrighted Alice into her
presence.
"Tie cake shall celebrate our wed.
ding. yours and NINE" declared Ra.
phaeli. "Ahl r have loved you long.
go for friends and a priest. Marta.
II she resists--the drug. She shall
be mine this day.
He hastened from the place. As he
came out at the barn exit he was sur
prlsed TO view there strange automo-
bile. From Il sprang Dallas Blake.
"You scoundrelw he shouted II
got just a glimpse Of you and Miss
Page us you flashed along the street
What have you done with herr
The swift CLEAN OF a stlletto an.
swered. but before the murderous
blow could be dealt the chauffeur
sprans bodily upon the assallant.
bearing him bleeding and senseless to
the ground.
"You shall dismiss all that danger
ous clientele" declared Dallas Blake.
when he had restored the half pros.
trated Alice to her home. There
need be no more slaving and contriv.
Ing TO get along for you two women,
for, a. you know, ] have the means ia
place you both beyond want. Mother
he added softly to Mrs. Page. have