The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1882-07-28

/ priue aS your own 1atncr could do, and
on the strength of that old friendship
want you to make me promise
No answer, only she held her cad 4
bit higher. and looked me straight in the
face unflinchingly.
"Will you grant an old whim, AmiceY'
/ said again.
IL must wait until | hear what it is
first. Paul?'' she replied.
s.Well, it's this. I've strange fancy
to be one of the guests at your wedding.
! is this: five DAYS before your MARRIAGE
send me word to come TO it
\ She laughed merrily, her old uncon.
scious laugh, that somewhat hurt me tc
hear.
80. YOU silly old Paul. she said.
blushing slightly. lis that all you've
been making such a mystery abouts
| Well-yes, promise.
/ looked at her earnestly.
"Amice.n l said, .'you have given
me your promise, and | trust yOh. What.
ever persuasion YOU may get to The con.
trary, you give me your honest word
tthat old Paul, the pcddler, shaiiS e2A.s-
your wedding?n
Yes" she said, Il do, Paul, really
and truly
Only few months passed away before
the summons / had been fearing came.
Amice was going to be married and
wrote to bid me come to the wedding.
There were few railways in those days.
remember, so | had to start on foot and
walk day and night in order TO reach
Sandridge in time. and heavy jaunt 1t
was, for was not so young as | used TO
be.
Many greetings met my ears. and
many laugh was raised at my sorry
appearance, for l looked travel-Stained
and weary enough l warrant
At last l reached the little lych-gate
leading into the old clurchyard, and
there my spirit almost failed me, for ON
the ground lay the pretty flowers that
the children had thrown before the bride
as she walked up the path. But, nerv
ing myself for what was before me. |
entered the open door almost unnOtieed.
Then | saw Amice as she stood in her
soft gray gown with her beautiful head
dropping on to her breast | only
looked at her, 1 say, and the sight gave
me courage; no man living should harm
her while l lived to prevent it, but my
task was hard one for all that Step
ping forward through the little crowd of
villagers that looked on, open-mouthed,
to see me, | made my way toward the
group in the chancel:
.'Stopr' l called out aloud, holding
up my hand; ''this must not 90 on. y
.'For what reason am l to stOp?'' said
old ParsOn Leigh, who was a-maTTying
them, startled by my voice, and not
knowing how to act.
Because" | said, covering my eyes
with my hand to shut out Amice's face
from my sight . because that man is
my son. and he's married already"
- Is this true?' says Parson Leigh,
his voice shaking little with the sorrow
he felt.
Its just downright lie, sir,'' he
said, simply enough, - and | am ready
to prove it. My fathers here to speak
for himself, and heaven knows why any
one should want to come between Amice
and me like this -
/ looked up bewildered 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 a younger man,
and different in every way from that poor
wandering fellow. For minute some
thing seemed 10 come into my throat and
prevent me from speaking. Bat pres
emily the words came: II withdraw what
said entirely, sir, and humbly ask your
pardon for the mistake | made, which /
will explain later on"
Outside the cottage l stopped, and
beckoned the two out into the golden
sunlight.
..Amice." l said humbly enough, 81
have to ask your pardon for my behavior
toward 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 be another
soldier who was counting you. l only
thought of him, and, knowing his ways,
made up my mind to have you from him,
though he were a dozen times my son.
He has never caused me anything but
trouble since he was lad, and such
trouble should never cross your path
through one of mine. 1t is on his ac-
count that / have to tramp the country
from years end to years end, and 1t IS
on his account L dare not settle in one
place, knowing that he would only bring
disgrace on me if l did so. 1t is from
this man | tried to save you, and you
must forgive half-blind old man mis-
take, when you remember how hard IL
was for father to dcnounce his own
SON. Now goodbye, and heaven bless
you both.
Then | had to make my way oil as
quick as possible, for fear an old man
salt tears should bring ill-luck on AmIce
Wedding-Day.