Taking It For Granted.

thought , as he was going by , he would call and see if she had everything she needed , and IIOAV soon the vest -would be clone . It AA as not tAVo clays more before he ivas there a gain to bring a letter . "I happened to see it at the post-office when I Avent after my paper , and so I brought it along . I could as well as not , " said he .

The letter was from Sam Averill , telling about the luck he had had in mining , the Aveather and the fact that he Avas well Nothing more ; nothing about -the home he was building in his fancy , and the figure that Avas always central in his

thoughts . "I hope , " said my uncle Nathan , " you are not foolish enough to set your mind on such a rolling stone as Sam Averill . He has no continuity to him . " " If we are going to limit for a man

that has no faults in this Avorkl , we'll have a long road of it , " returned Aunt Augusta , bearing doAvn the heavy pressing-iron upon her seam as though she -were trying to crush the life out of something . In less than a Aveek Abner Stanton

called again . He thought perhaps Miss Augusta didn't know the swamp-pinks were out , and so he brought her a handful , that he had got on the Avay over from CoAvesett .

Aunt Augusta had a Aveakness for floAvers—she and my mother aTe alike about that—and she put a cluster of the blossoms in her hair at once , and another at her throat , while Abner Stanton looked at her Avith admiration in every hair of his head .

" If you were a sister of nrhie , you should always sit in a rocking chair and Avear SAvamp-pinks ! " said he . ' "Abner Stanton is a most excellent man , " quoth Uncle Nathan , when he had gone his Avay , " an esquire and a head man in town

. He ' s all Avheat and no chaff . He'll make a first-rate husband , and the girl Avho gets him will get a prize . " Aunt Augusta made some fierce clippings with , her great tailor ' s shears , but she said nothing , and presentlwent -stairs

y up to answer Sam Averill ' s letter . The next clay 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

Stanton came often on one excuse or ( mother , or on none . He brought flowers and berries strung on grass , and SAveet flag root and birds' eggs . He Avas never intrusive Avith his love , but he made Aunt Augusta conscious of it every step she

Avalked and Avith every breath she breathed . It Avas beloAv her , above her , and all around her . He often brought her letters from Sam , and carried hers for him to the office .

"All things are fair in love , " said he to himself . So noAV and then he forgot to mail or deliver one , droj > ping it in the fire instead . At last , as his love greAv hotter and more impatient , he kept them back altogether , and still never allowed Aunt Augusta to lose sight or thought of

himself . Thus the time passed , until Sam Averill , having made and lost and made again his twelve thousand dollars among the copper mines , came home to " many Augusta and settle down . "

Suddenly , one day he appeared before my uncle Nathan , travel-worn and brown and shaggy . My uncle received him Avith great cordiality . " Sam , I ' m glad to see you ! " said he . " How have you fared all this great long time % "

"Pair to middling . Where ' s Augusta ? returned Sam . " Oh , Augusta ! She is all right . You go to the tavern and fix \ xp , and I'll find Augusta . I Avill be around in an hour or so and call for you . Augusta Avill be proper glad to see youand so'U the rest of

, the folks . I don't knoAV Avhen there has been such a surprise in Coos before . " So Sam ' went off with his honest heart to find a razor and a Avash boAA'l , and my uncle Nathan did a very mean thing . He Avent straight to Abner Stanton . "Abner "

, said he , going to the smithy , out of breath , " Sam Averill has come , and you must go right up and get Augusta to name the day , or you Avill lose her . I'll keep him out of the Avay as long as I can . " Abner dropped his hammerAvithout

, saying a word , and Avent up the street , rolling doAvn his shirt-sleeves as he Avent . An hour after Uncle Nathan came home Avith Sam Averill .

" Here is an old friend you will be glad to see , Augusta , " said he , opening the door of my aunt ' s Avorkroom , Avhere she sat