Taking It For Granted.

stitching the pocket of a primrose-coloured vest , and looking fresh as a hundred primroses herself . " It is Sam ! " said she faintly , starting to her feet and chopping her work . It Avas Sam . Sam come at last , Avith his long-smouldering love and his tardy speaking . " You are too late ! An hour too late , "

said my aunt Augusta , Avhen he had told his errand East . "I 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 I came . "

" You didn't say anything , " returned my aunt , Avith a little pride . " HOAV Avas I to knoAV what you meant ? You never spoke a Avord . " " I took it you kneAV my mind , " returned Sam . " I never thought of

anybody else . I never should think of anybody else , and it didn't 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 Avill be right . "

" Mr . Stanton is a worthy man ; just as good as gold , clear through to the core . I have always liked him , and you never said anything , " repeated my poor aunt Augusta ; " I Avill be your friend , though , just the same "

They said no more ; there Avas nothing more to be said , and in a month Aunt Augusta and Abner Stanton were married . Sam Averill stayed till after the wedding , and then he Avent off , and had never been heard of again until to-day by Aunt Augusta ' s family .

He Avent to California , throAving his whole life into Avork ; his Avork prospered , and he had come back UOAV Avith houses and lands and gold and names—a rich man . He had come back to find Aunt Augusta , and learn IIOAV the Avorld had

fared Avith her . For in all these years of buying and selling and getting gain , he had kept the empty room in his heart that had once been filled by his love . Aunt Augusta ' s married life had not been happy . It is very dangerous for a man to take in . a mean habit temporarily , for it Avill stick to him , and Abner Stanton ' s character never recovered from the twist

those intercepted letters gave it . I don't know Avhat , but something Avas ahrays going Avrong between them . Even their children proved barriers instead of bonds . As he grew older his natural economy and thrift "became stronger and stronger , until , as my mother said , "he got so close he could sit , and seven more like him , on a three-cent piece . " Einally , 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 . I 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 . NOAV Aunt Augusta Avas living surrounded by her children and grandchildren , happy

and comfortable . Mother brought chrwn thus the story of Aunt Augusta ' s life , Avhile Mr . Averill listened , eager and excited . When she had finished he knocked the ashes from his pipe , and starting up , began to Avalk

the floor . " I Avill start for Portland to-morrOAV morning and see Avhat Augusta Avill have to say to me . I am of the same mind I always Avas . I have never hankered for a moment after any other Avoinan , and I am as ready to marry her to day as ever I

Avas . So the next day T saAv him on the Portland train , gray Avith years , but youthful Avith expectation . This time he did not Avaste his opportunity by Avaiting to make himself fine , but Avith the grime and dust of travel yet

upon him , he Avent directly to the house of Aunt Augusta ' s daughter , Avith whom she is living . " Where is Mrs . Stanton 1 I Avant to see her right aAvay , " said he , as soon as the door Avas opened .

" You will find her here ; Avalk in , if you please , " replied the housemaid , throAVing open the door of the sitting-room . Mr . Averill stepped quickly forward . Yes , there she sat , stitching aAvay as before on some kind of primrose-coloured stuff , Avith her eyes as black and bright as ever , But the primroses Avere faded in her cheeks , and she Avore a cap on her head .