The Southern herald., 1914-03-27
he, SHE, and CHARLES
BY F. B. WRIGHT.

aOOn after ne nAu BLdTOeu Ou Lib ASU
sons about the Dog, and the Rat, and
the Active Cat. Then Higgins had
brought Miss Purvis letter, and with
# something had entered into Charles
Augustus life that he could by no
means understand.
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 her
self
The letter, when she read 1t, made
Miss Purvis' face go all pink and beau
tifu, 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 loked 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 un-
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 q letter, and she was crying
over it. Plainly there was something
in this writing business which was
decidedly unpleasant. Charles Angus
tus decided then and there that he
would never wrike. Then, when she
had finished, she went off to the vii
lage and would not let Charles Angus
tus go with her.
In that half hour of easy time which
came when Charles Augustus had
shifted from his day things into the
sdhtplo iCnBLu6 VI 1Ab hdhhOA P0JtNAhesSi
and, cuddling down into the big chair
with Miss PurYis, 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 Pur-
Wis was strangely silent, only answer
ing listless yes or no to his observ-
ations 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-5the 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 Augustus was
not satisfied. He felt as though
something invisible were between
them.
He put up hand and turned her
face toward him.
fou DO love me, don't your ne
said. And you viii 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. Will 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
ne saw her of a sudden bend forward
her face in her arms, and heard hel
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, 1t must not be!' Charles Au
gustus heard her say. They woult
think 1t was for his money. 1t Is bet
ter as 1t is-better for him. mus
leave here as soon as / can, and, oh
don't want tot"
Then Miss Purvis took the letter
Kissed 1t, and put 1t in a box on hel
dressing table-a box with curious
patterns in mother-ofpearl on 1t, anC
win queer lock that only she anC
Nharles Augustus knew how to open.
Charles Augustus mind started tt
work this thing out. This letter wal
'tne cause Of Miss Purvis' feeling bad
" 1t must be taken away, that wa
all about it
me room was quiet, the fire died t
lttle glow Of winking embers, Mis-
Furvis was asleep. Charles Augustus
got up and got the letter. Then HI
nid 1t under the mattress, and wen
70 sleep with a lighter heart Now Mis-
Furvis would be happy again and sht
would not go away.
But the next day Miss Purvis wa
not nappy True, she did not cry, no
alu she read the letter which Charlie
augustus had craftlly tucked insid
nls blouse, but yet she was not tn
MISS Purvis Of aforetines; who laugh
y, and sang and romped on the law
WIN him, It was not the mere pos
session Of the letter then. Wha
vas 1t?
ne must not come" Il must leav
sH'e' Charles Augustus remember