The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1881-11-04
{, PA, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1881.

tered the open door almost unnoticed.
Then saw Amice as she stood in her
soft gray gown with her beautiful head
dropping on to her breast, ! only looked
at her say, and the sight gave me cour-
age no man living should harm her
while ! lived preventit, but my task was
hard one for all that. Stepping for
ward through the little crowd of villa
gers that looked on, open-mouthed, to
see mo, ! made my way toward the
group in the chancel.
"Stop!" called out aloud, holding up
my hand This wedding must not 60
on.
Amice, / know, looked up at me with
a look ] shall never forget, but it was too
late to heed that now.
For what reason sm to stop" said
old Parson Leigh, who was a-marrying
them, startled by my voice, and not
knowing how to act
Because" | said, covering my eyes
with my hands,to shut Amicc's face from
my sight, "because that man is my son.
and he's married already"
ais this true" says Parson Leigh, his
voice shaking little with the sorrow he
felt for the girl, whom he had known
since she was baby, and turning to the
man who stood before him
'it's just a downright lie, sir" he said,
simply enough, "and I'm ready to prove
it. My fathers here to speak for him
self, and Heaven knows why any one
should want to come between Amice and
me like this"
looked up bcwildcred as the man
spoke, and then in an instant the awful
mistake | had made flashed across my
mind this was not the man had seen
coming up to Ben Ryder's house at all;
this was not my son,but younger man,
but different in every way to that poor
wandering fellow. Far minute some
thing seemed to come into my throat
and prevent me from speaking. But
presently the words came: ~ with
draw what I said entirely, sir" said,
solemnly "and humbly ask pardon for
the mistake | made, which | will explain
later on"
Then falling back into the ranks of
the astouishcd lockers on, I listened to
the words that made Amice Ryder
Il happy wife. wondering, with sad
heart, whether she would ever forgive
the blunder / had made in my effort to
secure her happiness.
She was very pale and still and tear
trembled on her cheek, but she made her
answers in low, clear voice, that seem
ed full of trust and hope. At length the
bells in the old tower rang out, and the
wedding party began to prepare for start
ing. but hung back, ashamed to meet
Ben Ryder or his daughter, and still
more ashamed to meet the gossiping
folk who had heard all I said But
Amice had not forgotten me, she saw me
watching her from the back of the church,
and came forward directly on her hus-
bands arm.
"Come home with us, Paul, she said
gently, 81 want you" And notwith-
standing the queer looks given me by
her soldier, | followed them at dis.
tance toward the old home.
Outside the cottage | stopped, and
beckoned the two out into the golden
sunlight.
''.. 80" "Amice, | said, humbly enough, 81
have to ask your pardon for my beha-
vior towards you and yours this day.
The man who lodged at your fathers
house was my son, and it never entered
into my stupid head that it might he an
other soldier who was courting you. |
only thought of him, and, knowing his
ways, made up my mind to save you
from him, though he were a dozen times
my son. He has never caused me any
thing but trouble since he was lad, and
such trouble should never cross your
path by one of NINE 1t ia on his ac-
count | have to tramp the country, from
years end to years end, and it is on his
account dare not settle in one place,
knowing that he would only bring dis
grace on me if did so. 1t is from this
man tried TO save you, and you must
forgive a half-blind old mans mistake,
when You remember how hard it was
for a fathers heart to denounce his own
son, Now, goodbye, and heaven bless
you both
The tears stood in Amice's eyes she
always had a feeling heart, and she saw
now ! was well nigh overdone. She
would not have me say good bye, but
pressed me to join them at their simple
wedding feast But / said no, and kept
to it. Somehow it would have Jared on
me to be there. had had happier days
myself,b but they were gone and the shad
ows that fell round me should have nc
place amid their innocent mirth. So
shouldered my pack and walked of
down the hill towards the town. Once
looked back and saw my girl following
me with her eyes full of pity, so l turn
ed and waved my hat cheerily enough
then she spoke word to her soldie
husband, and he nodded his head ant
laughed, so she just ran after me, anC
putting her arms around my neck, KISSED
my weatherbeaten cheek gently. Thel
| had to make oft as quick as possible
for tear an old mans salt tears should
bring i'll luck to Amices wedding day
| UOUsaIoL1 IVol,ys