New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1904-07-06
He, She
And Charles
Augustus 3, F. 3
By r. B.
WRIGHT
Copyright, 1901, by
Z. C. Mcclure
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Charles Augustus had had a most
unpleasant day. It had commenced
well enough, but had clouded over soon
after he had started on his lessons
about the dog and the rat and the &C
tive cat. Then Higgins had brought
Miss Purvis a 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
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 ali pink and beau
tful, 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 as
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 it 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 60
ing bedward, 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 were 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 were be-
tween them.
He put up hand and turned her
face toward him.
''You do love me, don't you" he
said. Sand you will wait for me until
I am big?"
She kissed him and told him eyes"
She would always be his sweetheart.
But I'm afraid, dear, I'll have to go
away. Will you mindw
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 a sudden bend forward, her
face In her arms, and hear her sob.
Though he wanted to comfort her,
something told Charles Augustus that
Miss Purvis wanted to be let alone
At last she raised her tear stained face
"No, it 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. I must
leave here as soon as I can, and, oh,
don't want tor
Then Miss Purvis took the letter,
kissed it and put it in a box on her
dressing table, a box with curious pat
terms in mother Of pearl on it, and
with a 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 it.
The room was quiet; the fire died to
little glow of winking embers; Miss
Purvis was asleep. Charles Augustus
got up and got the letter. Then he hid
it under the mattress and went to
sleep with lighter heart Now Miss
Purvis would be happy again. and she
would not go away.
But the next day Miss Purvis was
not happy. True, she did not cry, nor
did she read the letter which Charles
Augustus had craftily tucked inside
his blouse, but yet she was not the
Miss Purvis Of aforetime, who laughed
and sang and romped on the lawn with
him. It was not the mere possession
of the letter then. What was it?
she must not come" 81 must leave
here" Charles Augustus remembered
those words. Some one was coming