Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1904-08-18
He, She
And Charles
Augustus By :. 3.
By F. B.
WRIGHT
Copyright, 1901, bg
7. {. Mcclure

| unpleasant day. 1t had commenced
| well enough, but had clouded over soon
after he had started on his lessons
! about the dog and the rat and the ac-
tive cat. Then Higgins had brought
1 Miss purvis letter, and with it some
thing had entered into Charles Angus
tus' life that he could by no means I'M
| derstand.
| You see, Charles Augustus loved his
governess greatly. She came next to
his father and mother and way above
the goat Charles Augustus had quite
| decided to marry Miss Purvis when he
| grew up and had even talked over the
details with the young lady herself.
The letter. when she read it, made
Miss Puryis' face go all pink and beau
| tiful, and then pale and her eyes fill
with tears. Then she put the letter
| away in the bosom of her gown. and
| Charles Augustus thought that was
the end of it. But it was not, for us
often as he looked up from his book or
slate he saw Miss Purvis reading the
letter. and each time he saw tears in
| her eyes.
What could 1t be in those scrawly
black marks to make people cry? He
cried when he was spanked or shut up
in closet or had to do something he
did not want to--but this wasn't like
that. Charles Augustus could not I'M
| derstand this silent crying. When he
cried he wanted to let the whole world
know-and usually succeeded.
Later, when lessons were over. he
saw Miss Purvis, through the window,
writing a letter, and she was crying
over that. Plainly there was some
thing in this writing business which
was decidedly unpleasant Charles Au
gustus decided then and there that he
would never write. Then when she
| had finished she went off to the village
and would not let Charles Augustus
go with her.
In that half hour of easy time which
came when Charles Augustus had
shifted from his day things into the
| ample lengths of his flannel pyjamas
and, cuddled down into the big chair
| with Miss Purvis. toasted his pink
toes before the fire preparatory to go
| ing bedvard, he came once more across
| this peculiar thing which he could not
| understand for Miss Purvis was
| strangely silent, only answering list
less yes or no to his observations on
| life and the curious ways of people
| and the idiosyncrasies of the goat. She
| did not take much interest even when
! he touched upon the many things he
would give her when he became a
| man and they We're married--the rings
| like mammals and an express wagon
and jar of ginger Though her arm
| drew him close when he told her how
much he loved her, yet Charles Angus
tus was not satisfied He felt as
though something invisible We're be-
| tween them.
He put up hand and turned her
face toward him.
| You do love me- don't your he
said And you will wait for me until
/ am bigi"
| She kissed him and told him yes"
She would always be his sweetheart.
but I'm afraid, dear I'll have TO go
away. VIII you mind"
! Charles Augustus minded very much
and said so, and the thought kept him
awake long after he had got into his
bed. Through the door he could see
Miss Purvis and the fire Then he saw
her Of sudden bend forward her
face in her arms, and hear her sob
| Though he wanted to comfort her.
something told Charles Augustus that
! Miss Purvs wanted to be let alone.
AT last she raised her tear stained face.
"No, 1t must not be-" Charles Au-
| gustus heard her say. They would
think it was for his money 1t is bet
| ter as it is-better for him. | must
| leave here as soon as can, and oh, ]
| don't want to-"
Then Miss puryis took tn letter.
kissed it and put 1t in a box on her
dressing table, a box with curious pat
terms in mother of pearl on it, and
with queer lock that only she and
Charles Augustus knew how to open.
| Charles Augustus mind started TO
work this thing out. This letter was
the cause Of Miss purvis feeling bad.
1t must be taken AWAY that was all
| about 1t.
The room was quiet; the fire died to
q little glow of winkiug embers; Miss
| Puryis was asleep. Charles Augustus
got up and got the letter. Then he hid
1t under the mattress and went to
sleep with lighter heart. Now Miss
Purvis would be happy again. and She
would not 20 away
| But the next day Miss Purvs was
not happy True, she did not cry. nor
| d!d sige reed sAv letter watch Charles
Augustus had craftily tucked inside
his blouse, hut yet she was not the
Miss Puryis of aforetime, who laughed
and sang and romped on the lawn with
him. 1t was not the mere possession
of the letter then, What was it?
"He must not come Il must leave
here" Charles Augustus remembered
those words. Some one was coming
then; some one who would carry Miss
PuryiS, the beloved, away. Chac'es
! Augustus thought of giants and cypsies
and grew horribly alive to the exigen-