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

the pains to do it. Mr.. Keeler, the minister
was little, lank man, as plain and gray as
door.bug, and so afraid of the pomps ant
vanities that he wouldn't wear buttons on his
coat. No sooner had his eyes fallen on Aun
Augusta, settling herself in the front pew
like variegated tulip, then he dropped th'
subject he had started upon for his sermon
and began to preach against conformity to thu
world. He was a sincere, earnest man, ant
he preached with all his might, emphasize &
and illustrating his words by pointing with
his blunt finger at the scarlet 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 fore6nger 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 Au
gusta's eyes went through it like red-hot ar
rows as he peered around at her, from behino
one of the pillars in the gallery.
The next day he came to get a vest made
The day after, he came to bring the buttons
for it; and the day after that he thoug ht, a:
he was going by, he would call and see if sht
had everything she needed, and how soon the
vest would be DONE 1t was not two days be
fore he was there again to bring letter.
81 happened to see it at the post office wher
went after my paper, and so l brought u
along. l could as we'll as not" said he.
The letter was fiom Sam Averill, telling
about the luck he had in mining, the weather
and the fact that he was WE'LL Nothing more
nothing about the home be was building II
his fancy, and the figure that was always cen
tral in his thoughts.
81 hope," said my Uncle Nathan, "you art
not foolish enough to set your mind on such
rolling stone as Sam Averill. He has no con
tinuity to him."
eff we are going to hunt for man thai
has no faults in this world, we'll have long
road of it," returned Aunt Augusta, bearing
down the heavy pressing-iron upon her seam
as though she were trying to crush the life ou
of something.
In less than week Abner Stanton called
again. He thought perhaps Miss Augusts
didn't know the swamp-pinks were out, and
so he brought her a 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 hail
at once, and another at her throat, while 40
ner Stanton looked at her with admiration III
every hair of his head.
"If you were sister of mine, you should al
WAYS sit in rocking.chair and wear swamp
pinks" said he.
"Abner Stanton is most excellent man,
ouoth Uncle Nathan, when he had gone his
way, "an esquire and head man in town
He's all wheat and no chaff He'll make a
first rate of husband, and the girl who gets
him will get prize
Aunt Augusta made some fierce clippings
with her great tailor's shears, but she said
nothing, and presently went up stairs to all
swer Sam Averil's letter.
The next day Abner Stanton called to see
Uncle Nathan on business, and she sent hel
letter to the Office by him. So the months
drifted along one after another, like pictures
in a magic-lantern Abner Stanton came Of
ten on one excuse or another, or on none. he
brought flowers and berries strung on grass
and sweet fag-root and binds eggs. 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.
call things are fair in love-" said he tc
himself So now and then he forgot to mai
or to deliver one, dropping it in the fire in,
stead. At last, as his love grew hotter and
more impatient, he kept them back altogeth'
er, and still never allowed Aunt Augusta to
lose sight or thought of himself.
Thus the time passed. and Sam Averill hav'
ing made and lost and made again his twelve
thousand dollars among the copper mines
came home to "marry Augusta and settle
down."
Suddenly one day he appeared before my
uncle Nathan, travel-worn and brown and
shaggy. My uncle received him with great
cordiality.
"Sam, I'm glad to see you," said he. How
have you Jared all this great, long time p
"Fair to middling. Where's Augusta" re-
turned Sam.
ooh Augusta. She is all right. You 60
to the tavern and fix up, and III find Angus,
ia. Twill be round in an hour or so and call
for you. Augusta will be proper glad to see
you, and soil the rest Of the folks. | don't
know when there has been such a surprise in
Coos before"
So Sam went off with his honest heart to
find razor and washbowl, and my uncle
Nathan did very mean thing. He went
straight to Abner Stanton. "Abner," said
he, going into the smithy, out of breath. Sam
Averill has come, and you must 60 right up
and get Augusta to name the day, or you will
lose her. "Ill keep him out of the way as
long as can"
Abner dropped his hammer, without saying
a word, and went up the street, rolling down
his shirt-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
nay aunt's workroom, where she sat stitching
the pocket of primrose-colored vest, and
looking fresh as hundred primroses herself
"It's Sam !' said she, family starting to
her feet and dropping her work.
1t was Sam. Sam came 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
errand East. 81 have just engaged myself tc
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 I came"
"You didn't say anything" returned my
aunt, with a little pride. "How was I te
know whatyou did mean? You never spoke
a word"
81 took it you knew my mind" returned
Sam "T never thoupht of anybodv else.