Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1921-05-04
A Recipe for
Happiness
By ROSE MEREDITH.

&c. 1921. By Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate }
Everett found Nancy copying a
recipe from an old brown book. She
was seated at her own desk in a corner
of her fathers library and she rose 10
greet him with oIftstretched hands and
an amazing color in her fair cheeks.
Are you very busyT" lie asked with
mock anxiety.
"Yes, indeed, but not too busy TO be
glad TO see you. There's the telephone.
Excuse me moment, Bob
She fitted across The room to the
telephone and Bob picked up the old
brown book and read the recipe: ..1e
Brides Cake" just as he finished and
laid the book gently down Nancy came
flying across the room, her cheeks scar
let and her gray eyes stormy
why, you should not look at that -
she cried. "Its-personal." She caught
up the book and her copy of the recipe
and thrust them into a drawer, which
she closed and locked with vigOr In
splred by anger.
Il didn't realize that you would care
and. oh Nancy, darling, you don't
mean to shy that you object TO my do
ing it-why. thought-this very day
! came TO ask you
Nancy was pale now, and one could
see the hidden fear behind the stormy
eyes-that is, any one save one who
loved her. Bob Everett saw only that
he had mortally offended the girl he
loved above all others. What was the
harm in his finding her with the copy
of a recipe for brides cpke-unless--.
His face whitened, too, and he stepped
back.
"of course | saw what recipe you
were copying he said stifliy, "and
assume from your displeasure that
am not Interested" he floundered
helplessly.
'InterestedT Nancys tone was
freezing. II am not engaged to marry
you, Bob Eyerettp p
THAT is not my fault" he declared
eagerly. II came today, Nancy dar-
ing"
who gave you permission to adj
dress me In that wayT" asked Nancy
haughttly
NO one--I ask your forgiveness, and
/ will take myself away at once
didn't know that there was any other
man-that is, | didn't know you were
going to be married"
II am sorry" hesitated Nancy. with
dropping eyes.
Let me wish you happiness-ali the
Joy in the world" muttered Bob and.
snatching up his hat, he dashed out Of
the room, out Of the house, out Of the
city and he would have left the cont
1ent but his firm required his services
then for hazardous trip into Mexico.
He started on this trip In a logged
hopeless way, resolved to put all his
thoughts of Nancy Marsh away. to for
get all his dreams of marrying her, but
Nancy had encouraged him and his
hopes had become firmly rooted.
When Bob Everett had gone and the
front door had closed behind him with
dull echolng, sound Nancy stood pet
ritied at the calamity she had wrought
in her own life. II Bob had not seen
that foolish reclpe--if she had only
kept her head, controlled her nasty an
ger, she might have been engaged to
Bob this very moment instead of break
ing her heart about him.
But, she argued, how could she have
explained TO him that Grandmother
Marsh, seeming an engagement In the
air. had sent her favorIte granddaugh.
ter her own precious recipe book with
injunctions to copy the recipe for max
Ing the famous Marsh bridal cakel
And Nancy. her heart and pretty
head full Of nothing but Bob Everett
aud the mutual love which had not vet
been confessed openly-though Bob
had tried to propose to her several
Nancy, dreaming Of her mar
riage to Bob had been caught copying
down the recipe and had denied all In.
terest I'm Bob; had even allowed him To
believe that she was going to marry
another man 1t was enough to make
any girl cry her heart out. Nancy grew
pale and thin and declared that she
wanted TO pay Grandmother Marsh a
Compromised visit.
'Well. my dear" said old Mrs. Marsh
as they sat before the fire that evening
of Nancy's arrival, "how Is my old IA.
vorite. Bobby Everett2"
u don't know" said Nancy in a qua,
vering voice.
"Tell me all about IT," said the old
lady tenderly, as she saw hot tears
falling on the ancient recipe book. Sc
Nancy put the book in the wrinkleJ
hands and her own bright head in
grandinother's ample lap and sobbeC
out the whole foolish story.
When she had finished Mrs. Marsh
patted the brown book and laid Il
aside ''Your grandfather used TO cal
that cake recipe our recipe for happi
ness she said quantity. "He de
clared that the flour and eggs ant
butter were the rich foundation of hap
piness, blended skillfully aud combined