The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1881-11-04
Select Story.
AMICE'S WEDDING DAY.

| was always glad when my rounds
happened to lead through Sandridge by
the-Sea; ; there were many places where
| met with kind friends enough, who
were pleased to see an old peddler, who
had served them for ever so many years,
since they were children themselves some
of them, but somehow | liked the tramp
to Sandridge best of all my journeys.
1t was queer little village; one strag,
ling main street leading up from the
shore, with the tisherman's huts one
built upon another, up the cliff, until it
made you wonder how you ever got into
them at all.
1t was surprising to find how ready
the Sandridge people were to buy my
goods, too; | always took large as
sortment there, and chose the brightest
colors to please the fshergirls, who like
to be gaily dressed when they can, and
don't grudge what money they spend on
themselves neither But there was one
cottage in Sandridge where my gaudy
wares fell rather flat, but was always
sure of bright, sunny welcome, and |
usually made my way there first of all
1t was stcepish walk up the cliff to
Ben Ryders cottage, and | was always
glad when reached the top, and saw
AInice standing in the doorway laughing
at my efforts to struggle up Beautiful
Amice Ryder she was called, and rightly
enough to my mind. She wasn't pretty
like many Of the Sandridge girls were :;
she was too big and quiet looking for
mere prettiness she was just beautiful,
neither more nor less, and she didn't
need gay clothes to show it off neither.
Folks called her proud, but she was new
er proud to me, but used to laugh at me
and bid me welcome, as though ! had
been King, instead of twopenny ha
penny pcddler.
One bright spring day cameto Sand
ridge in the afternoon, and as ! neared
the place stopped to speak to an old
comrade Of mine, who was breaking
stones by the roadside,
"Any news up yon? ?" asked, when
we had passed the time of day to each
other.
News" he grunted wiping his
mouth with the back of his hand
news, you say? Well, there's more news
than care for, anyhow" and then re-
sumed work.
Come, sammy / said, laying down
my pack, you're put out bit. What,
up|
whats up," he repeated--he alway,
had such tiresome way of doing that
had Sam Penfold-"well. billct's up
Whats that" | asked,
"Why, Just this They amt got room
for the soldiers that are quartered at Ley
so they've handed them on to us; anC
neither with yer leave or by yer leave
in stalks a big six-foot fellar, right into
yer house, with p'ong of paper in hi
hand That's HIN Alet, says he, an,
there st7ys as fr'or'h you please, ,whcthe
you wantt'm
laughter, an ex-rA's grievances an,
acknowledgements c5,plepared to wall
on.
"Going tedieH Ryder's!" asked sam
with a parting grunt
"Aye,"
"Then you won't get lodgings there,
he sald, WIN grim satisfaction; Ines 60
q billet, too.
Somehow did not like the idea of
rough soldier being quartered at Ryder
house, thought was no business of mine
1t didn't seem altogether right of BE
towards his motherless girl, but p'r'ap
it wasn't amy fault of his.
| Anyhow, ! would wait before | cam
to any hasty conclusion on the subject.
| Up the cliff | toiled with my load, AN
as nearcd the top Amice came out I
meet me as usual, but whether it wa
funnyor,not lcoudnt tel, her face SCENE
to look paler and grayer than it used t
She wore her usual lishgils dress {
coarse homespun, but stuck in the frol
OF 1t was cream colorcd rose, a thing
never saw Amice wear before in my lif
She wasn't given to frippery of any sol