Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1874-02-23

Aunt Augustus married life had not
been happy. 1t is very dangerous for
man to take in mean habit temporari-
ly, for it will stick to him, and Abner
Stanton's character never recovered from
the twist those intercepted letters gave
1T. l don't know what, but something
was always going wrong between them.
Even their children proved barriers in
stead of bonds. As he grew older his
natural economy and thrift became
stronger and stronger, until, as my moth
er said, she got so close he could sit.
and seven more like him, on three-cent
piece. Finally, one day, under some
provocation, he told aunt Augusta about
the lost letters.
''You oughtn't to have told me that,
Abner, said she. "You ought not to
have told me. can never forgive you"
She never did. Always after, there
seemed to be something separating them,
cold and hard and transparent as ice,
until at last they agreed to live apart.
And so they did until the death of Mr.
Stanton. Now aunt Augusta was living
surrounded by her children and grand
children, comfortable and happy.
Mother brought down thus the story
of aunt Augustus life, while Mr.. Aver
i'll listened, eager and excited. When
she had finished he knocked the ashes
from his pipe, and starting up, began to
walk the floor
81 will start for Portland tomorrow
morning and see what Augusta will have
to say to me. 1 am of the same mind l
always was. | never hankered for a mo-
ment after any other woman, and [ am
as ready to marry her to-day as ever l
was.'
So the next day | saw him on the
Portland train, gray with years, but
youthful with expectation
This time he did not waste his oppor-
tunity by waiting to make himself fne
but with the CRIME and dust of travel
- - L; LA l;nAaa1-- l. IL
house of aunt Augusta's daughter, with
whom she is living
"Where is Mrs. Stanton I? [ 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, open
ing the door of the sitting room.
Mr.. Averill stepped quickly forward
Yes, there she sa., stitching away as be-
fore on some kind of primrose-colored
stuff, with her eyes as black and bright
as ever. But the primroses were faded
in her cheeks, and she wore a cap on her
head
81 have come for you again, Augusta
Am L too late this time ?" cried the i'm
patient lover.
The roses came back to aunt Angus.
ta's cheeks. and the red-hot arrows shot
out of her eyes once more.
BLESS us If it isn't Sam Averill,
nose and all !" 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 tri-
umphantly at you from the looking glass
saying, Here l 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
Averill's gray hairs and wrinkles were
as good as looking glass to remind my
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 well as myself"
But Mr.. Averill was not to be divert
ed by any side issues.
Augusta, said he earnestly, Il made
a serious mistake once. 1t was not
mistake about my own mind, however
that remains the same it always was.
Every woman I've ever seen seemed like
tallow candle beside the sun when /
think of you. ! have made my fortune,
and all | want now is you to come and
share it with me. 1t is you, or nobody,
just as it always was
Maybe aunt Augustus heart throbbed
little with the old yearning toward the
love Of her youth, but she shook her
head with unhesitating decision, as she
put out her hand to stir the cradle where
her youngest grandchild lay asleep.
cit can never be, SAM" said she. IL
won't deny that it was all mistake my
marrying Stanton. He didn't turn out
to be the man ! took him for. He prov
ed contrary and ornery, and beside he
wrote letters in disguise. But that is
all over and past, and can't be undone.
And now am in the midst of my chill
dren with my grandchildren growing up
about me. and am in my right place.
/ shouldn't be contented TO leave every
thing and 60 off TO a new country to be-
gin the world over again, as it we're.