Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1874-02-24

when | went after my paper. and SO
brought it along | could as well as not,
said he.
The letter was from Sam Averill, tell
ing about the luck he had had in mining.
the weather. aud the fact that he WAS
well. Nothing more; nothing about the
home he was building in his fancy, aud
the figure that WAS always central in his
thoughts.
81 hope" said my uncle Nathan. "you
are not foolish enough To set your mind
on such rolling stone rs Sam Averill.
he has no continuity to him.
III we are going 10 hunt for n man
that has no faults in this world, we'll
have long road OF it," returned Aunt
Augusta, bearing down the heavy preSS
ing iron upon her seam as though sac
were trying TO crush the life out ol
something.
In less than week Abner Stanton
called again. lie thought perhaps Miss
Augusta didn't konw the swamp pinks
were out, aud SO he brought her hand
lul, that he got on the way over from
/ Cowescu.
Aunt Augusta had weakness Tor
flowers-she and nay mother are alike
about that and she put i cluster vi the
blossoms in her hair at once, and hnoih
cr al ncr throat. while Abner Stanton
looked al her with admiration in every
hair of his head.
III you we've - sister OF mine, you
should always sit ia rocking chair and
wear swamp piuks" said he.
"Abncr Stanton ia most excellent
man." quolh Unc.c Nathan, when he had
gone his way, IAN esquire and u head
man in town. HY's all wheat aud no
chafi. He'll make tirst rate OF u hus
band, aud the sirl who gets him will get
prize"
Aunt Augusta made some hcrco clip
pings with her great tailUr's shears, but
she said nothing, aud presently went up
stairs 10 answer SAN A,erill's letter.
The next day Abner Stanton called 10
see Uncle Nathav uu business. and she
sent her letter To the office by him. So
the months drilIed along one alter anOlh
er. like pictures IN magic lantern -
Abner Stanton came often on one excuse
or another, or on none. lle brought
flowers and berries strung on grass, and
sweet Gag root aud binds eggs. lie WAS
never intrusive with his love, but he made
Aunt Augusta conscious of it every step
she walked, aud with ovcry breath she
breathed. II was below her. above her.
and all around her. lie often brought
her letters from Sam, and carried hers
for him to the office.
"Ail things are fair in love-" said ho 10
himself So now aud then hc forgot TO
mail. or TO deliver one, dropping II into
the fire instead. At last, - his love glew
hotter and more impatient. he kept them
back altogether, and still never allowed
Aunt Augusta 10 lose sight or thought of
himself
Thus the time passed. until Sam Aver
i'll having made and lost aud made again
his twelve thousand dollars among the
copper mines, came home 10 "marTy
Augusta and settle down"
Suddenly one day he appeared bci, re
my uncle Nathan, travel worn and brown
and shaggy. Ny uncle received him
with great curdillity.
"Slm. I'm glad to see you!" said he.
"How have you Jared MI This great long
time ?n
Fair to middIing. Where's Augusta.
returned Sam.
"Oh, Augusta She is all right. You
60 to the tavern and fix up. and I'll find
Augusta. will be around in IN hour or
so and call lor you. Augusta will be
proper glad 20 see you, aud SOIL the rest
of the folks. don't know when there
has been such surprise IN Coos before. "
So Sam went of with his honest hear
| 10 find razor and wash bowl. and my
uncle Nathan did very mean thing.
He went straight 10 Abner Stanton.
"Abner." said he. going into the smiIhy,
out of breath. Sam Averill has come,
and you must go right up and get Augusta
TO name the day, OF YOU will lo:e her.
I'll keep him out OF the way as long as
can.
Abner dropped his hammer. without
saying word. and went up The street,
rolling down his shirt sleeves a' he went.
An hour after Uncle Nathan came home
with Sam Averill.
Here is an old friend you will DC 6 lad
10 see, Augusta" said he. opening the
door OF my aunt's woTkroom. where she
sat stitching the pocket Of aprimrose col
ored vest, and looking fresh As u hun.
dred primroses herself.
at is Sam = said she family, stating
| 10 her feet and dropping hei work.
1T was Sam. Sam come NJ last. with
his long sm oldering love and his tardy
speaking.
"You are too late! An hour loo late. v
said my aunt Augusta. when he had told
his errand East. Il have just engaged
myself 10 another man"
You haven't done right, Augusta,
said Sam. You belong TO me; YOU
have always belonged to me, and you