New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-03-02
KIND-uEARTED CREECHER.

Is IN D-ll EA Ii LED ChEECI1LH
had just finished putting up my shutters
It vas getting rather late-nearly tel
O'Clock, when a splendid carriage and tw'
beautiful horses, all of lather with sweat
drew up at my door, and grave, tall
solemn looking chap comes up 10 my doo
and calls out:
ais Creccher here ~
"That's me-" says |.
''Oh, them" jump in" pointing with iiE
finger TO me to get up the steps of the car
riage, where there was a tall funky holding
open the door for me.
SAYS |. Master. where are sou bound"
ooh. never mind" says he; you'll be
well paid. Look SHARP
"But I'd ike TO beautify myself bit,
gays |. land nun tell the missis."
With that he took III, my hat that was
living on the counter. and bangs it on my
head. and pushes me into the carriage, and
away we went before you could say Jack
Robinson" Eli. but We did 90 rarely: 1t
was a dark night and frosty; and we soon
got out OF the lights Of the town. and still
tbe horses galloped on; and | could see the
stars twinkle overhead; and then it grew
colder all of sudden, and the windows of
the carriage were covered with ice in a
minute: and could see nOught but the in.
side, where ! was sitting with the strange
man. And he said never word. But still we
galIoped on and after good bit heard the
'murmur and dash Of a river hard by above
the clatter of the hoofs, and we crossed a
bridge, think for we went up and down
for q minute, as if we had been in swing.
And then the sound of hOofs died away
altogether, as if the horses were gallOping
over gravel or soft turf; and presently the
carriage stopped all of a sudden. A foot
man stood at the door; the silent man
jumped out. "Stay there ~ he cried, as be
NIT of u1jf ~ ~ CT nv
there! And there | stald, for | were
cowed- like, with being carried off like that;
and didn't know if my soul were my own.
'What'lI the old woman say - ] thought
TO myself. The carriage moved on a bit.
and stopped again.
Now then, my lad.' says the footman
opening the door.
But weren't going to be ordered about
by such cattle as he. Says |: lin on thy
masters business, and if thou doesn't speak
respectful, III smite thee in the eaT-hole."
It's well to stand on your dignity with those
chaps, you see.
"Oh, beg your pardon" says the man.
more respectful; but VIII you step into
the hOusekeeper's room 2
And with that | fell OFF the high horse I'd
been riding, for, to tell You the trHth. |
were thinking for a while | were, perhaps,
rightful son of a lord as Lad been stolen in
his youth, and that they were taking me
home to the halls of my fathers, and hap. |
pen were going to marry me to the daugh- |
ter of the usurper, u max" all square. But |
But SAYS | 'Tll stick to the old woman" |
Not but what the flesh is treacherous. and |
happen Id have changed my mind when |
Id seen the young one. But. however, all |
that was knocked on the head when heard |
the tlunky tell me TO 60 to the housekeepers |
room. 1t was only dressing job after all |
Well before I'd got wei! inside the door.
IN old chap dressed in black. catches hold
of me by the elbow.
"Creecher :" says he; "Creecherl"
"Yes. I'm Creecher." says l, what's |
your pleasure :"
"Oh, you've TO come This way d'rectly."
And away we went along passages. and
mp stairs, and down stairs: and presently
we came to "a broader corridor beautifully
Carpeted. and, the the old man tapping at
q door, and q young woman opened it. and
says she: ''Is he here ?" and the man says:
y cs." Come in" she said: my lady will
speak to you directly" And went into
little room as was beautifully furnished
with easy chairs and sOIeyes. and all the |
luxures of the season.
"Well, my dear" says 10 the maid. land
90 your missis is going to the .all. But it'll
be well nigh time to 90 home before she
gets there"
Hush" she says, putting her finger 20
her lips; and then | began TO think il was
a death job had got on hand. I've had
such jobs aiore now, when the corpse has
been young, and with beautiful hair All
and many time my fingers has itched, for.
says to myself, it's a pity such sight OF
beautiful hair should 90 down TO the worms.
when 1t might be going to enjoy itself atop
OF some other young woman's head-ah.
and | could tell you tale or two about
that! But it wasn't a lob of that kind, |
found, as | heard somebody moving in the
next room, and such soft little moan, as
IT went to my heart t. hear it--ay. lad.
And then somebody came out-a tall,
splendid lady, dressed in black satin. as
naughty as queen.
"Creecher," she says, "are you Creecher!
Don't speak but listen to what | tell you.
a lady has had an accident-has been Sc
Vercly burned. Remedies have been ap.
i,lied-plasters, what not. Her hair
D." understand my lady: you want me 10
take it off. I'll do it in .j.hy. if you'll! lend
me one Of his lordship'S razors. for | was
that hurrie! when ] came away lett mine
behind me. I've got my scissors and comb.
my lady" says |. pulling EN- out.
"Sllence. she says. "Creech"r!" looking |
1t me quite disguised: and beckonins the |
girl. she says: Take the fire shovel and
throw them things away But | wasn't |
going to lose good set of tools. SO Chaps |
en- into my pocket. and buttons up my
oar. ana SAYS L. NOW. your ItuNSllp. !
md she says: "Amelie, throw something
pver the wretch"
And with that Amelir brought white
,own with sleeves, us sm"lt As beautiful as
nosegay, and she wraps me up in 1t. and |
aught "A sight of myself in the glass. and.
kinks l. You might take me for a parson
when he's agate at the seven command
lents.
Now" she says, "Creccher hold your
ongue and listen 10 me. Whatever hap
ems, she must not lose her hair: YOU under }
tand, it must be saved at all hazards. ..
low, come, and DO your duty. .
Eth! but it were pitiful 10 sec the poor :.
lssie, halfsitting, half-lyiug. ia :: state
tween an easy chair and :. couch. Al! her
zee was covered over but her eyes. and
lev seemed to burn. Such sad and ptifu! I
res | never saw before LOT since. Shed {
ad beautiful long hair that came down to I
ar knees almost, but eli II were IN Il Il
NJ gle. all knetted, and twisted and r"Yeled c
gether with the messes and pouiuceS and o
{ kinds of things they'd put on her head II
0. there wasn't thread Of it anywhere s.