Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Anacortes, Wash. Ter.) 1882-1887, 1883-08-25
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AMICE,S WEDDING-DAY.


Twas always glad when my rounds
happened to lead through Sand
ridge by the sea; there were many
places where l met with kind friends
enough, who were pleased to see the
old peddler, who had served them Tor
so many years, since they were chill
dren themselves some of them, but
somehow liked the tramp to Sand
ridge best of all my journeys.
One bright spring day L came to
Sandridge in the afternoon, and as l
neared the place 1 stopped to speak
to an old comrade of mine, who was
breaking stone by the roadside.
ANY news up yon?" 1 asked, when
we had passed the time of day to
each other.
''Newsr' he grunted, wiping his
mouth with the back of his hand;
''news, you say? Well, there's more
news than 1 care for, anyhow and
then resumed his work.
"Come, Sammy" l said, laying
down my pack, you're put out bit.
What's up?'
whats up?" he repeated--he al
ways had such tiresome way of do
ing that, had Sam Penfold well, a
billets up.
whats that?" 1 asked.
why, Just this: they amt got
room for the soldiers that are quar-
tered at Ley, SO they've handed them
on to us; and neither with your
leave or by yer leave, in stalks great
six-foot Teller, right into yer house,
with a piece of paper in his hand.
That's his billet, says he, and their
stays as free So you please, whether
you want him or not"
1 laughed at Sammy's grievances,
and reshouldering my pack, prepared
to walk on.
''Going to Ben Kyder's" asked
Sam, with parting grunt-
aye"
"Then you won't get lodgings
there" he said, with grim satisfac-
ton; "he's got billet, too"
Somehow I did not like the idea OF
a rough soldier being quartered at
Ryder's house, though it was no bus
mess of mine. 1t didn't seem Just
right of Ben toward his motherless
girl, but p'r'aps it wasn't any fault OF
his Anyhow, / would wait before i
came to any hasty conclusion on the
subject.
Up the cliff toiled with my load,
and as 1 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 to look paler and
graver than it used to be. She wore
her usual fish girls dress of course
home spun; but stuck in front
of it was a cream colored rose, a
thing never saw Amice wear before
in my life. She wasn't given to "trip
pery 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 l was
not altogether wanted there that day,
or at least / thought so. However,
sitting down in the porch, l 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, 1 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" asked suddenly.
For the first time in my life saw
Amice angry. She did not vouchsafe
any answer to my question, but, ris-
ing from her seat, she turned alb
ruptly away and busted herself in
the house, getting some refreshment
for me, which I hardly deserved af
ter my impertinence.
As smoked my peacefully in the
porch, thought it all over, and made
up my mind that it was nothing to
me if Amice had lover. Her father
could look after her interests better
than 1 could; only soldiers were
such chaps; they 80 often pretended
what they never meant, and l was too
fond of Amice to see her treated
that way.
Suddenly, rs I sat in the quiet
spring sunshine, saw man toiling
up the ascent that led to Ryder's cot
tage. His red coat hanging on his
arm showed him to be soldier. His
hat was of, and could see his face
distinctly.
"Amlce," I called out loudly,
"Amice, come here" Then, as she
neared me, I continued: SIS you
the man that is quartered here, at
your fathers house"
For moment she looked out a
little anxiously; then said quickly
ayes, that's him, Paul"
Without another word left her
and walked down the steep road to
within a short distance of the ap-
preaching figure; then 1 stopped
dead, and waited for the man to
como toward me. He was looking
down on the ground az he swung
himself up the steep way: Sudden
ly he raised his eyes and they met
mine full. All me, how his face
changed as he did so.
.sVVhat do Won want nOW?" he