The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1882-07-28
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 the old peddler, whC
had served them for so many years
since they Were children themselve.
some of them, but somehow L liked the
trampto Sandridge best of all my jour
neys. n
One bright spring day. came TO Sand
ridge in the afternoon, and as l neared
the place | stopped to speak to an old
comradc OF mine, who was breaking
stone by the roadside.
ANY news up yon?n | asked, when
we had passed the time of day to each
other.
"NewsI' nc granted. wiping his
mouth with the back of his hand; news,
Won say9 Well. there more news than
l carefor, -aayhow;r and then resumed
his work.
rCome, StmmnrI said. laying down
my pack, you're put out a bit What 5
up?''
What's app he repeated always
had such a tiresome way of doing that,
had Sam Pcnfold -..Syell. a billetSs up
What's that?',i / asked.
'sNhw lust this: they amt got room
for the soldiers that are quartered Mt Lev,
SO they've handed them on To US: and
neither with Your leave or by yer leave,
in stalks y great six foot feller, right into
Yer house. with piece of paper in his
hand That's his billet says he, and
there stays as free as you please, whether
you want him or not.''f ~
| laughed at Sammy grievances, and
reshouldering my pack. prepared to
walk on.
"Going to Ben Ryder's" asked Sam,
with parting grunt.
- ssAye.rt tt-
'Then you won't get lodgings there
he said, with grim satisfaction; hes
got billet, too
Somehow did not like the idea of
rough soldier being quartered at Ryder's
house. though it was no business of mine.
1t didn't seem just right of Ben toward
his motherless girl, but p'r'aps it WASH t
any fault of his Anyhow, / would wait
beforel came to any hasty conclusion on
the subject.
Up the cliff l toilcd with my load, and
ash neared the top. Amice came out to
meet me as usual, but whether it was
fancy or not L couldn't tell, her face
seemed 10 look paler and graver than it
used to be. She wore her usual fish
girls dress. of coarse home-spun; but
stuck in front of it was a cream colored
rose, q thing l never saw Amice wear
before in my life. She wasn't given to
fripperyo of any sort.
''Come in. Paul" she said, holding
out her hand toward me. :. You're as
tired as you can be, I'm sure
just the same welcome as ever; but
there was something in the ring of her
voice that told me that / wasn't alto
gethef wanted there that day, or at least
i thought so. However, sitting down in
the porch, | stopped on for some little
time, making her tell me all the gossip
of the village OF course, the arrival of
the soldiers came up among other things,
and by the flush that overspread the
girls pale cheek, as she told me this bit
of news. felt sure that the mischief was
done, and that Amice Ryder was heart
whole no longer.
=. Did your soldier give YOU that rose,
my lass?h / asked suddenly
For the first time in my life / saw Am
ice angry. She did not vouchsafe any
answer to my question. but, rising from
her seat, she. turned abruptly away and
busted herself in the house. getting some
refreshment for me. which l hardly de-
served after my impertinence.
As smoked my pipe peacefully in the
porch, thought it all over, and made
up my mind that it was nothing to me
if Amice had a lover. Her father could
look after her interests better than
could; only soldiers were such queer
chaps; they so often pretended what they
nevermeant, and / was too fond of Am
ice to see her treated that way.
Suddenly. as / sat in the quiet spring
sunshine, / saw man toiling up the
ascent that led to Ryder's cottage His
red coat hanging on his arm showed him
to be soldier. His hat was of, and
could see his face distinctly.
ssAnsice,'' called out loudly, s.Amice.
come here Then as she neared me, /
continued: .:Is yon the man that is quar-
tered here, at your fathers house?"
For a moment she looked out little
anxiously; then said, quickly:
- Yes. that's him, Paul. -
Without another word / left her and
walked down the steep road within a
short distance of the approaching figure;
then stopped dead and waited for the
man to come toward me. He was look
ing down on the ground as he swung
hilnselt. up the steep way Suddenly he
raised Iris eyes aud they met mine full.
Aifme. how his face changed as he did
60
What do you want now?' he gasped
out.
sOnly to let you know that L am here,
and can guess the game you are play
ing.' returned. .As long as you re-
member. that. you're safe from me.
Forget it, and shall keep silence no
longer
With a rough laugh he turned and left
me standing alone; then i slowly re-
mounted the rocky path with heavy
weight at my heart, and prepared myself
for what could say to the girl who was
waiting for my return above. She stood
watching me from the porch, where the
roses we're growing in their wild beauty.
and / could see wondering sort of look
in her face as came near her; but she
never spoke word or asked single
question. was bit out of breath after
my tug uphill, and as what had to say
wanted all the calmness and quietness
could muster, waited silent for time;
then took her hand in my withered one.
"Amice, my lass, said, s.Pve known
you since You were a wee thing toddling
about here. and seen you grow up into
the woman you are with near as much