Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-08-20

those years OF buying and selllng anu geItltt
gain, he had kept the empty room in hear
that had once been filled by his love.
Aunt Augusta's married life had not beer
happy. 1t is very dangerous for man t
take in a mean habit temporarily, for it vii
stick to him, and Abner Stantons character
never recovered from the twist those inter
cepted letters gave it. I don't know what
but something was always going wrong be
tween them. Even their children proved
barriers instead of bonds. As he grew Older
his natural economy and thrift became stron
ger and stronger, until as my mother said
"he got so close that he could sit, and sever
more like him, on three cent piece" Fl
nally, one day, under some provocation, he
told Aunt Augusta about the lost letters.
"You oughtnt to have told ME that, Alb
ner," said she. "You ought not to have tole
it. can never forgive you"
She never did. Always after, there seemed
to be something separating them, cold and
hard and transparent rs ice, nntil.at last the5
agreed to live apart. And so they did unit
the death of Mr.. Stanton Now Aunt Au
gusta was living surrounded by her children
and grandchildren, happy and comfortable.
Mother brought down thus the story o
Aunt Augusta's life, while Mr. Averill listen
ed, eager and excited When she had fin
ished he knocked the ashes from his pipe, and
starting up, began to walk the floor.
81 will start for Portland tomorrow morn
ing and see what Augusta will have to say to
me. I am of the same mind l always was
I've never hankered for moment after any
other woman, and I am as ready to marry
her to-day as ever [ was"
So the enext day saw him on the Portland
train, gray with years, but youthful with ex
pectation.
This time he did not waste his opportunity
by waiting to make himself fine, but with the
grim and dust of travel yet upon him, he
went directly to the house Of Aunt Augusta
daughter, with whom she is living.
"Where is Mrs. Stanton? 1 want to see
her right away" said he, as soon as the door
was opened.
"You will find her here; walk in, if you
please" replied the housemaid, throwing open
the door of the sitting-room.
Mr.. Averill stepped quickly forward. Yes
there she sat, stitching away as before or
some kind of primrose-colored stuff, with hel
eyes as black and bright as ever. But the
primroses were faded in her cheeks, and she
wore cap on her head.
81 have come for you, again, Augusta
Am too late this time?" cried the impatient
lover.
The roses came back to Aunt Augusta's
cheeks, and the red.hot arrows shot out Of hel
eyes once more.
"Bless us! Ifit isn't Sam Averill, nose
and al! !! she said, holding up her hands
From twenty to fifty is but as watch in
the night, then the years are past; and it is
only when an old lady mods triumphantly al
you from the looking-glass, saying, "Here
am, my dear!' or when children that you
have nursed in your arms come around with
the rights and duties Of full-grown men and
women, that you remember one is no longer
young at fifty. But the sight of Sam Averll's
gray hairs and wrinkles were as good as q
Iooking-glass to remind Aunt Augusta.
"Sit down, SAM" said she, "and let me
look at you. 1t seems like the real old times
to see you once more. You look wonderful
natural, but dear me, how you have changed
You've grown old as we'll as myself
But Mr.. Averill was not to be diverted by
any side issues.
Augusta" said he, earnestly, II made 8
serious mistake once. 1t was not a mistake
about my own mind, however ; that remains
the same as it always was. Every women
I've ever seen seemed like tallow candle be-
side the sun when I think Of you. have
made my fortune, and all want now is you
to come and share it with me. 1t is you, OF
nobody, just as it always was"
Maybe Aunt Augusta's heart throbbed q
little with the old yearning toward the love OF
her youth, but she shook her head with un'
hesitating decision, as she put out her hand tc
to stir the cradle, where her youngest grand
child lay asleep.
"It can never be- SAM" said she, II won't
deny that it was all mistake my marrying
Stanton. He didn't turn out to be the man
1 took him for. He proved contrary and
ornery, and besides he wrote letters in dis
guse. But that is all over and past, and
can't be undone And now am in the midst
of my children, with my grandchildren grow
ing up about me, and am in my right p lace
shouldn't be contented to leave everything
and 20 off to new country to begin the world
over again, as it we're. am too old an oak
to be transplanted."
Well, after that Mr.. Averill might have
talked till he was at the age Of Methuselah,
Aunt Augusta had made up her mind, and
an earthquake couldn't shake it.
So Mr.. Averill went away alone
"Well, Amelia, Augusta wont have word
to say to me, said he, walking in upon moth
er and me, as we sat at supper few evenings
after, mot word"
II want to know if that is so !" cried moth
er, futtering up after another plate and knife.
"Lay your overcoat right off and sit right by
and have cup of tea with us. Augusta al
ways was decided, and you couldn't turn her
after she got her mind fixed. She wouldn't
keep you waiting very long for your answer,
either. Well, tits likely it is for the best; we
will hope So pursued mother, reaching over
to put an extra lump of sugar in Mr.. Averill's
cup, as though to sweeteu life, if possible, for
/ him.
"It serves me right in taking it for granted
that Augusta understood my intentions. |
must have been self.conceited, inconsiderate
fool But it seems hard that body can't
work his way out of blunder in whole life
time"
Mother looked full of sympathy, and drop
ped another lump of sugar in Mr.. Averill's
cup. To my establishment, he seemed to rel
ish it the better, as if life was growing sweeter
and sweeter.
/ Mother and Mr.. Averill sat up late that
night; so late that as l had had hard day
l went off to bed and left them talking over
old times and purring like couple of cats by
! the kitchen fire.