Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1874-03-11

uncle Natnan ulu NeTy uioau 'hihs' ii0
went straight to Abner Stanton. "Ab-
ner. said he, going into the smlthy' out
of breath. "Sam Averill has come, and
you must go right up and get Augusta to
name the day, or you will loose her. I'll
keep him out ofthe way as long as l can."
Abner dropped his hammer, without
saying a word, and went up the street,
rolling down his snirt-sleeves as he went,
An hour after Uncle Nathan came home
with Sam Averill.
"Here is an old friend you will be glad
to see, Augusta" said he, opening the
door of my aunt's workroom, where she
sat stitching the pocket of primrose
coored vest, and looking fresh as hun
dred primroses herself.
"It is Sam" said she family, starting
to her feet and dropping her work.
1t was Sam. Sam come at last, with
his long-smouldering love and his tardy
speaking.
"You are TOO late An hour too late,
said my aunt Augusta, when he had told
his earant East II have Just engaged
myself to another man."
you haven't done right. Augusta,
said Sam. "You belong to me you
have always belonged to me, and you
ought to have waited till came"
"You didn't say anything" returned
aunt, with little pride. "How was l tc
know what you meant? You never
spoke word"
81 took it you knew my mind" re-
turned SAN. 81 never thought Of any
body else. l never should think OF any
body else, and it did not occur to me that
you would. You must marry this person
now you have promised him, Of course
But it isn't right and it never will be
right"
"Mr. Stanton is worthy man; /; JUS
as good as gold, clear through to the core
l have always liked him, and you never
said anything" repeated my poor aun
Augusta; "I will be your friend, though
just the same"
They said no more there was nothing
more to be said, and in q month Aunt Au
gusta and Abner Stanton were married
Sam Averill stayed till after the wedding
and then he went off, and had never beer
heard of again until to-day by Aunt Au
gustas family.
He went to California, throwing hi
whole life into work his work prospered
and he had come back now with houses
and lands and gold and mines-a rich
man. He had come back to find Aun
Augusta, and learn how the world hat
Jared with her. For in all these years o
buying and selling and getting gain. III
had kept the empty room in his lear
that had once been filled by his love.
Aunt Augustus married life was no
happy. 1t is very dangerous for mai
to take in mean habit temporarily, fol
it will stick to him, and Abner Stanton
character never recovered from the twis
those intercepted letters gave it. | dom
know what, but something was always 60
ing wrong between them. Even thei
children proved barriers iustead Of bonds
As he grew older his natural econom,
and thrift became stronger and stronger
until, as my mother said, she so clost hi
could Sit and seven more like him, on {
three-cent piece" Finally, one day unde
some provocation, he told Aunt August'
about the lost letters.
"You oughtn't to have told me that
Abner," said she. "You ought not tt
have told me. [ can never forgive you.
She never did. Always after, ther
seemed to be something separating them
cold and hard and as 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 livinI
surrounded by her children and grand
children, happy and comfortable.
Mother brought down thus the story 0
Aunt Augusta's life, while Mr.. Averil
listened, eager and excited. When sh
had finished he knocked the ashes frou
his pipe, and started up, and began t.
walk the floor.
IL will start for Portland tomorrow
morning and see what Augusta will hav
to say to me. | am of the same mind
always was. I've never hankered for
moment after any other woman, and | ar
as ready to marry her to-day as ever
was"
So the next day saw him on the Port
land train, gray with years, but youthful
with expectation.
This time he did not waste his oportu
nifty by waiting to make himself fine, bu
with the CRIME and dust yet upon him, h
went directly to the house Of Aunt Au
gusta's daughter with whom she is living