The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-15

 there are flowers kept continually during the summer Who places them there is known to but few, but yearly poor Char lotte's grave is thus decorated. For Char lotte Temple was an actual person and the story Mrs Rowson wrote about her Is, as the author calls It. "a story of fact, " Charlotte Temple" was published in 1790 and was extremely popular. Our grandmothers and our reat-grandmoth- CTS have wept over it. It is "old- fashioned' story written at a time when the malign influence of Dr. Johnson had not yet been cast off by writers of Eng fish, and therefore in style it is suited, pompous and verbose. But it Is good story with a good moral to it: it is healthy reading and ought to be read more.
 TT was In the days when his august
 majesty the third George, found to 4 his surprise that his prophecy con- corning the Americans, "They will prove very meek if we but take the resolute part" had not been a true one, and that he had a war on his hands that this story opens. The policies, the prejudices and even the pleasures of rulers have far reaching effect upon the lives and for
 
 true that great oaks grow from little acorns 1t Is equally true that from the giant monarch of the forest drops the acorn. So the policy pursued by his most sacred majesty toward his American sub jects created the circumstance which de- sided the gate of simple boarding school girl and began the piteous story of Char lotte Temple.
 At Portsmouth lay a British fleet of men-of-war and transports ready to en- bark endorsements for the royal army in America, which had just taken possession of New York Two lieutenants of the army Montraville and Belcour, both young men scarcely past their ma jority, had taken leave of their friends and were journeying to Portsmouth to join their regiment. Beleour was the old CT and the more experienced of the two and had long exerted an evil influence over his companion. The officers had stopped at Chichester to dine, and find ing that they had plenty of time. and it being Sunday, determined to take a stroll through the town and view the Chiches- ter ladies as they returned from their afternoon devotons-
 They had sufficiently satisfied their cur iosity and were preparing to return to the inn when Mme. Du Pont, at the head of the teachers and young ladies of her boarding school, descended the church steps As the assem mblage of youth and innocence passed the officers involuntarily pulled off their hats, and one tall beauti- Il utItr Montraville and blushed He instantly recognized her as Charlotte Temple, whom he had met some time before when she was a mere child at a dance at Portsmouth. She was now in her six teenth year, and as she had been thought very beautiful child. so now she had developed into most charming young woman whose good looks were enhanced by the purity and innocence off her heart
 Though Montraville was not without feeling thrill of enjoyment at beholding her, 1t was largely vanity which caused him 60 think that the sight of him had perhaps occasioned her bushes and that same vanity was the predominating fac tor in the other emotions which made him determine to see her again. She is the sweetest creature in the world" said he to Belcour. "She has contrived to make me feel devilish odd about the heart" "Poohr' returned Belcour, "a shot from our friends the Americans will make you feel worse in less than two months q never think of the future.r replied Montraville, but am determined to make the most of the present."
 The orders for the sailing of the fleet were delayed, and the tyo young officers haunted Chichester the meantime. Both found attractions there. Montraville hay Ing met Charlotte out walking with one of the teachers, a Mademoiselle La Rue. had saluted her upon the strength of their previous meeting and had contrived to slip letter into her hand, after which he took his departure. Now this Made moiselle La Rue was a young woman of pleasing features we'll educated and with the outward bearing of gentlewoman. She had had considerable experience of life. and this experience had not been en- hrely to her credit. In fact, she had eloped from French convent school with an officer, who had afterward deserted her in England, and after some adven- lures in that country of dubious nature had professed reformation and been taken up by kind lady with more charity than discretion, who had recommended her to Mime. Du Pont, and believing in her refor- nation, had concealed the details Of her past life.
 La Rue had contrived to win the con- hdence of Charlotte, and, with that spite- full malignity which characterizes the feelings of those who are conscious of their own viciousness toward those whom they realize to be innocent and guileless she made it her business and pleasure to attempt to drag the girl down to her own level. She had seen the advances of Montravlle and had resolved to fur ther his designs. She had had secret meetings with him on this matter and had met Belcour, to whom she took A fancy and determined to make him her own lover. She was tired of the hum drum life of goodness at the school. She would make him marry her-and if not that she would fly with him anyway.
 ''Oh. Mademoiselle," said Charlotte. when the two were alone together in the formers room, 'I fear we have done wrong. What shall I do with this let ter?' ''Why, read it, of course." replied La Rue. T am afraid ought not" re- piled Charlotte, ''my mother has often told me that should never read let