The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1914-05-12
BY r. 3. WRIGHT.

SAAA Va ~ O0t IL WoS nut Va 40
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 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 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 it. Plainly there 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 off to the viii
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
ample lengths of his flannel pajamas,
and, cuddling 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 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 a man and they we're
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. He felt as though
something invisible were between
them.
He put up hand and turned her
face toward him
You do love me, don't your" he
said. And you will wait for me until
l 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 80, 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 a 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.
mo, it must not be!' Charles Au-
gustus heard her say. They would
think 1t was for his money. It is bet
ter as it is-better for him. / must
leave here as soon as l can, and, oh,
l don't want toll"
Then Miss Purvis took the letter,
kissed it, and put it in box on her
dressing table-a box with curious
patterns in mother-of-pearl on 1t, 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. 1t must be taken away. that was
all about It
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 1t under the mattress, and went
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. 1t was not the mere pos
session of the letter, then. What
was it?
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
to the exigencies of the occasion. His
father and mother we're away, SO
he could not go to them for ad-
vice.
There was only one man in Charles
Augustus confidence, and he was very
big and strong, and knew everything
Next to the goat. who was manifestly
inadequate under the circumstances,
Charles Augustus adored this man. He
lived in house by himself, long,
long way off beyond the most distant
trees.
Charles Augustus saw the man that
afternoon. He had came 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
long time to catch up with the man.
Indeed, it did not happen until the
latter had turned off into the woods,
and Charles Augustus hat had been
lost on the road and his legs much
scratched with briers. Then Charles
Augustus told his story about the let
ter, and how she had kissed it, and
yet cried, and was going away.
And she said 1 can't! can't! like
that" ended Charles Augustus. He
must never know, she said, and he
mustn't never come here"
What wasn't he to known and who
was He?-and did Mr.. Roughton
think it was a giant that was coming
to carry Miss Purvis off? Then
Charles Augustus took the letter
from his blouse-and then the man
knew
I'm afraid 1t is a giant" said Mr..
Houghton gravely, and it's lucky /
heard of this In time, because l was
going away tomorrow. But now"
But now?" said Charles Augustus
anxiously.
Now l think I'll go right back to
the house with you"
And you won't let her be token
i mean taked-away?" said Charles
Augustus
4IA