Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1904-12-08
He, She
} And Charles
Augustus b, q,
WRIGHT
I. c. Mcclure !
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

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 il some
thing had entered into Charles Angus
tus' life that he could by no means un-
derstand.
You see, Charles Augustus loved his
govcrness 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 Zen talked over the
details with the young lady herself.
The letter, when she read it. made
Miss Purvis' face 20 all pink and beau
! ttful, and then pale and her eyes NIL
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 1t 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 cryf 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 Ike
that Charles Augustus could not un-
derstand this silent crying. When be
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 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 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 a hand and turned her
face toward him.
You do love me, don't your" he /
said And you will wait for me until |
/ am big:"
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 mindT
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 4 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. |
mo, ii must not be- Charles Au- |
gustus heard her say. They would |
think it was for his money. Ii is bet |
ter as II is-better for him. | must |
leave here as soon as | can, and oh. / |
don't want to-
Then Miss Purvis took the letter !
kissed IT and put it in 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 IL.
The room was quiet; the fire died to
little glow OF winking emDers Miss
Purvis 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 go away.
But the next day Miss Purvls 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. 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
Purvis, the beloved, away. Charles
Augustus thought Of giants and gypsles
and grew horribly alive to the exigen-
cies of the occasion. His father and
mother were away, so he could not go
10 them for advice.
There was only one man in Charles
Augustus confidence, and he was very
big and strong and knew every thing
Next TO the goat, who was manlfestly
inadequate under the circumstances,
Charles Augustus adOred this man.
He lived In a house by himself, a long,
long way off beyond the most distant
trees.
Charles Augustus saw the man that
afternoon. He had come to call, but
Miss Purvis had excused herself. She
had a headache, she said. Now. the
man, whose name was Mr.. Houghton,
was going down the drive with great
strides, and so intent on his own
thoughts that he did not hear Charles
Augustus call to him. 1t took him a
long tipOa tn ga fab ha