e as there is in yours, and I'm a man before I'm a
preacher. I'll go with you, dancing or no dancing, and see the thing
through.' And Hamilton laughed, and says he, 'It's not a dance you're
going to; it's a wedding.'

"Well, he and the young preacher set out for the country place where
Miss Amaryllis was stayin', and got there jest as the fiddlers was
tunin' up for the first dance and all the men was choosin' their
partners. Hamilton had on his ridin'-clothes, but no matter what kind
o' clothes he had on, he always had a grand sort of a look, and they
said when he come into the big room, everybody turned around and
stopped talkin'. And he stood still a minute, lookin' for Miss
Amaryllis, and as soon as he saw her, he walked straight up and took
hold of her hand, and says he, 'The next dance is mine.' And the young
man that was standin' by Miss Amaryllis he fired up and says he,
'You're mistaken. Miss Amaryllis has promised me this dance.' And
Hamilton, he bowed and says he, 'Five years ago, sir, she promised me
the next dance, and I've been traveling night and day for a week to
have that promise kept.' And he looks down at Miss Amaryllis and says
he, 'Isn't that so?' And she smiles at the young man and nods her
head, and jest then the music struck up and she danced off with
Hamilton.

"And when the dance was over he kept hold of her hand and led her over
to where her cousin was standin', and says he, 'Madam, the minister is
in the next room, and with your leave there'll be a wedding here
to-night.' And Miss Amaryllis tried to pull her hand out of his, and
she was laughin' and blushin', and everybody come crowdin' around to
see what was the matter, and she says, 'Let go my hand, Hamilton. Wait
till I go home, and I'll marry you.' And he laughed and says he, 'You
haven't any home to go to. The Cedars belongs to me, and we might as
well be married here.' And she says, 'Well, let me go up-stairs and
put on a white dress.'

"They said she had on a yeller silk, jest the color of her hair, with
white lace on the waist and sleeves and a string o' pearls around her
neck. And Hamilton jest held on to her hand still tighter. And she
says, 'Hamilton, you hurt my hand; please let go.' And he says, 'I
wouldn't hurt you for worlds, but I'm going to hold your hand till the
minister pronounces us man and wife.' And he put his thumb and finger
together, jest so, around her wrist like a bracelet, and says he,
'That can't hurt you. Now