Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-03-19
After a few wears he found himself pos

den and Russia ana every "Hete' cr
he came home at last it was with only III
IL dollars in his pocket. So next ne Went
out among the copper mines OF Lake gu,
perior, and in time was again poSseSse''
of twelve thousand dollars.
NOW will come home and marry Au'
ous,a. and settle down." said he to HIM
self. But he didn { say 1t to ANYBODY else
II never occurred to him that it was nee
essary.
Meantime my Aunt Augusta had not
stood like rose in pot, waiting for the
Gardener to come and pick it. She cast
out her roots and threw up her branches
and bloomad as though it was enough to
fulfill the laws of being and beauty Tor
their own saAes $3.50
In that simple neighborhood work was
supposed to be the chief end of everybody;
So amt Augusta learned vest making, ana
then she went to Coos, where her brother
Nathan lived. and set up for herself
Coos was a little crumb OF a town IN
those davs: but it held up its head ana
had its stores and its mills, and its shops
and its great white meeting house on !,
hill. with galleries on three sides ana
square pews and high box pulpit.
The first Sunday after aunt Augusta
went there, she climbed the hill, OF course
and went in the front pew with uncle Ma
than and his wife. She was fashlonabiy
dressed in black gown, 4 scarlet shaw
and white silk bonnet with PINK roses
inside. Her cheeks were as PINK rs nef
roses, and her eyes were rs blac" as hel
gown.
There was no need that Mr.. keeiei
should point her out to the young men
but he took the pains to do it. Mr.. Keel
el. the minister, was a little lank man, as
plain and gray as dor-bug, and SO AFRAID
of the pomps and vanities, that he wouldn /
wear buttons on his coat No sooner had
his eyes fallen on aunt aunt Augusta set
Ting herself in the front pew like varie-
gated tulip than he dropped the suhiec,
he had started upon for his sermon, ana
began to preach against conformity to the
world. He was /; sincere, earnest man,
and he preached with all his might, EN-
phasizing and illustrating his words by
pointing with his blunt finger at the scar
let shawl and pink roses. SO if anybody
had neglected to look at them before. they
looked then.
Among those who were obedient to the
ministerial forefinger was Abner Stanton.
the village blacksmith.
Abner Stanton's heart was good deal
like his iron-not easily melted-but when
it once had been hammered into shape,
there it was, fixed and steadfast. And
to-day aunt Augustus eyes went through
it like red-het arrows as he peered around
at her from behind one of the pillars in
the gallery.
The next day he came TO get vest
made The day after, he came to bring
the buttons for it; and the day after that
he thought, as he was going by. he would
call and see If she had everything she
needed, and how soon the vest would be
done. 1t was not two tlays more before
he was there again to bring Il letter.
81 happened to see it the post office
when / went after my paper, and so
brought it along. | could as well as not,
said he
The letter was from sam Avcrill, telling
about the luck he had in mining, the
weather, and the fact that he was we'll
Nothing more nothing about the home he
was building in his fancy, and the figure
that was always central in his thoughts.
II hope said my Uncle Nathan, you
are not foolish enough to set your mind on
such a rolling stone as Sam Averiii, lie
has no continuity TO him."
''If we are going to hunt for a man that
has no faults in this world, Wen have a
long road of it," returned Aunt Augusta,
bearing down the heavy pressing up
on her seam as though she was trying 10
crush the life out of something.
In less than a week Abner Stanton called
again. He thought perhaps Miss Augusta
didn't know the swamp-pinks were out,
and so he brought her handful, that he
got on the way over from Cowesett.
Aunt Augusta had weakness for flowers
she and my mother are alike about that
and she put cluster of the blossoms in
her hair at once, and another at her throat,
while Abner Stanton looked at her with
admiration in every hair of his head.
IF you were sister of mine, you
should always sit in a rocking-chair and
wear swamp pinks! !" said he.
"Abner Stanton is most excellent
man." quoth Uncle Nathan, when he had
gone his way, ian esquire and head man
in town. He's all wheat and no chaff.
He'll make a first-rate of a husband, and
the girl who gets him will get prize"
Aunt Augusta made some fierce clip
pings with her great tailor's shears, but
she said nothing, and presently went up
stairs to answer Sam Averill's letter.
The next day Abner Stanton called to
see Uncle Nathan on business and she sent
her letter to the Office by him. SO the
months drifted along one after another like
pictures in a magic-lantern. Abner Stan.
ton came oftener on one excuse or another
or on none. He brought flowers and Der
ries straight on grass, and sweet flag root
and birds egg. He was never intrusive
with his love, but he made Aunt Augusta
conscious Of it every step she walked and
with every breath she breathed. 1t was
below her, above her. and all around her
He often brought her letters from Sam and
carried hers for him to the Office
IAN things are fair in love-" said he to
himself. So now and then he forgot tc
mail, or to deliver one, dropping it in the
fire instead. At last, as his love grew hot
ter and more impatient, he kept them back
altogether, and still never allowed Aun
Augusta to lose sight or thought of himself
CONTINUED TOMORROW.