LVIII An Early Caller

ALICE'S wedding day dawned clear and cold, and Bettina realized with a start all that was before her. She had as house guests two school friends of Alice's, gay and charming girls who were, nevertheless, somewhat difficult visitors, as the little bungalow was soon strewn with their belongings and as they were completely indifferent to such a thing as punctuality. "S'pose Geraldine'll be in to borrow my mirror in a minute," grumbled Bob. "How long'll they stay?" "'Till tomorrow morning, dear. Hurry! You know we have to rehearse at ten o'clock." "Ushers and all?" "Of course. You wouldn't know what to do without a rehearsal, would you?" "I suppose not. But what if I can't get away from the office?" "You'll have to, Bob, for Harry's sake. Surely you can manage it for once."

Bob went on grumbling about the foolishness of "these fancy weddings" until Bettina consoled him with the promise of waffles for breakfast. "And we'll simply have to call Geraldine and Lenore," said she. "They are going to the rehearsal with me, and I must have my morning's work done before we start. You see I shall have them here for luncheon, and we won't be back 'till noon."

Bettina, with some effort, managed to reach the church with her guests shortly after ten o'clock. The nervous and excited wedding party stood about in chattering groups, and when summoned, went through their parts with many mistakes and giggles. "How can it ever seem beautiful and solemn," thought Bettina in despair, "when we all do it so stupidly? I'm afraid we are going to spoil the wedding!"

BETTINA'S RECIPES

(All measurements are level)

MORE BRIDAL DINNER RECIPES

Sautéd Halibut (Twelve portions) 2½ lb. halibut steak ¼ t-pepper 1 t-salt 1 T-lemon juice 1/8 t-onion juice 4 T-egg-yolks 1 T-water 1½ C-cracker crumbs

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4 T-fat 2 T-melted butter

Mix the pepper, lemon juice, onion juice, salt, butter, egg and water. Wipe the halibut with a damp cloth and then cut into strips two and a half by four inches. Dip each strip into the above mixture and roll in cracker crumbs. Place the fat in a frying-pan, and when hot add the halibut. Brown thoroughly on each side and garnish with lemon and parsley. Potato Rosettes (Twelve portions) 3 C-mashed potatoes 3 T-milk 1 t-salt ¼ t-paprika 2 T-butter

Mix potatoes, milk, salt, paprika and butter. Beat one minute. Place the hot potato mixture in a pastry bag and press rosettes on a flat buttered tin pan three inches apart. Set in a moderate oven twenty minutes to brown. Remove from the pan with a spatula. Cabbage Relish in Green Pepper Cases (Twelve portions) 12 green peppers 3 C-finely chopped cabbage 3 T-pimento, cut fine 1 green pepper, cut fine 2/3 C-vinegar 2 T-"C" sugar 1 t-salt 1 t-mustard 1 T-olive oil

Mix the mustard, oil, salt, sugar and vinegar. Add the green pepper, pimento and cabbage. Fill the peppers with this mixture. The peppers are prepared by cutting off the stem end, removing the seeds and washing thoroughly. Glazed Sweet Potatoes (Twelve portions) 6 sweet potatoes 1 C-brown sugar ½ C-water 3 T-butter

Wash, pare and boil the sweet potatoes. When tender, drain, cut in lengthwise slices one-half inch thick, and lay in a buttered pan. Cover with a syrup made by cooking the brown sugar, water and butter for two minutes. Baste frequently. Bake twenty minutes in a moderate oven.

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CHAPTER LXXXII

AFTER THE WEDDING

THE stately wedding ceremony had taken place in the big church, and Bettina, climbing into the automobile for the drive to the reception, had, for all her own part in the affair, only a confused memory of music, lights and faces, soft lavender and soft pink, and Alice and Harry murmuring their vows. "Wasn't it lovely, Bob? Wasn't it stately and impressive?" "Say, aren't you cold?" was his prosy reply. "That church was too warm; take my coat!" "No, indeed; I don't need it! Oh, wasn't it a beautiful wedding! Did Lillian and I walk slowly enough?" And she chattered on about all of the details until the house was reached.

The bride and groom were already there, and gay congratulations followed from the many guests. The dining-room, where the dainty wedding supper was served, was elaborate with palms and high baskets of roses. Tables about the room held six, and in the center, a large round table, decorated with a broad, low mound of violets and roses, was arranged for the bridal party. Here also was the bride's cake, and the small boxes of wedding cake which the guests received upon leaving the room.

When Alice cut the bride's cake, the thimble fell to Ruth, which occasioned much merriment, while the dime was discovered by Harry in his own piece. The ring went to Mary, who emphatically denied that the omen spoke truly. But when Mary also caught Alice's bouquet of lilies-of-the-valley, the young people refused to listen to her protests. "Dear Alice," said Bettina, as she helped the bride into her traveling suit, "may your whole life be as beautiful as your wedding!"

The wedding supper consisted of: Chicken and Mushroom Patties Fruit Jelly Hot Rolls Olives Pickles Ice Cream in Individual Slipper Moulds Violet Decorated Cake Salted Pecans Fancy Candy in Tiny Baskets Coffee

BETTINA'S RECIPES

(All measurements are level)

THE WEDDING RECIPES

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