The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1914-04-16
~ ?. q WRIGHT.

soon auer ne no0 started on his les
sons about the Do, and the Rat, and
the Active Ca Then Higgins had
brought Miss Pusvis Q letter. and with
Il something had catered into Charles
Augustus life that he could by no
means understanA
You see. Chassss Augustus loved his
governess greatly. She came next to
his father and mother and way above
the goat Charhss Augustus had quite
decided to marry Misc Purvis when
he grew Up. and had even talked over
the details with Tie young lady her.
sell.
The letter. when she read II. made
Miss Purvis' face % all pink and beau
uful. and then pale. aud her eyes oil
with tears. Thsn she put the letter
away in the bosom Of her gown. and
Charles Augustus though, that was the
end of II. But II was not For as
Often as he loksd up from his book or
slate he saw Mics Purvis reading the
letter, and each time he saw tears In
her eyes.
What could II b In those scrawly
black marks to make people cryf lie
cried when he vas spanked or shut up
in q closet. or had TO do something he
did not want to-but this wasn't like
that. Charles Augustus could not I'M
dersiand this silent crying When he
cried he wanted 70 let the whole world
knov-and usually succeeded.
Later, when lassons were over. he
saw Miss Purvis through the window.
writing q letter. and she was crying
over H. Plainly thsre was something
In this writing business which was
decidedly unpleasant Charles Angus
tus decided then and there that he
would never write Then. when she
had finished. she went OF to the vii
lAse and would not let Charles Angus
tus 60 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 paIamas.
and, cuddling down into the big chair
with Miss Purvis, toasted his pink
ing bedward. he came once more
across this peculiar thing which he
could not understand. For Miss Pur
Wis was strangely silent only answer
ing q iistless yes or no TO his observ-
atoms on life, and the curious ways
OF people. and the idiosyncrasies of
the goat. She did not take much In
terest even when he touched upon the
many things he would give her when
he became man and they were
married-the rings like mammals
and an express wagon. and a jar of
ginger. Though her arm drew him
close when he told her how much he
loved her. yet Charles augustus was
not satisfied. lie felt as though
something invisible we're between
them.
He put UP a hand and turned her
face toward him.
"Yoa do love me. don't you7" ne
said. And you will walt for me until
am big"
She kissed him and told him Yes
she would always be his sweetheart.
But I'm afraid. dear. Ill have 10 go
away. Win you mind?'
Charles Augustus minded very much
and said so. and the thought kept him
awake long after he had gotten 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 heard her
sob.
Though he wanted to comfort her.
something told Charles Augustus that
Miss Purvis wanted to be let alone
At last she raised tear-stained face.
NO, Il must not bel" Charles Au-
gustus heard her say. They would
think II was for his money. II Is bet.
ter as II is-beiter for him. must
leave here as som as can, and. oh.
l don't want to-"
Then Miss Purvis took the letter,
kissed II, and put II In box on her
table-a box with curious
patterns In mother-of- pearl on IL. 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
ly. II must be taken away. that was
all about II.
The room was quiet. the fire died to
a 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 a 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 aforetimes; who laugh
ed, and sang and romped on the lawn
with him. II was not the mere pos
session of the letter. then. What
was III
HE must not come" Il must leave
here" Charles Augustus remember.
ed those words. Some one was com
Ing, then; some one who would carry
Miss Purvis. the Beloved. away.
Charles Augustus thought OF Giants, |
and gypsies. and grew horribly alive |
Il a.