Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1888-12-08
"CRUNCHER'S NIECE

ton in a lawyers Office awaited him.
The prospect was not cheerful, but 1t was
the only means Owen had Of earning his
bread since the pnlucky misunderstood
ing with Uncle Raymond. Also, IL Uncle
Raymond never would see the rights of
that miserable affair, the work at Chat
burn would be a stepping stone to bet
ter place
Owens thoughts were decidedly
gloomy and there was nothing to en-
liven them in the contemplation Of his
fellow travellers. These were two shy,
and mighty valet of gentleman in an
other compartment, a thin young man.
with wide strip of black plaster
obliquely traversing his nose; and a
wizened little old woman in a rusty bon-
net. upon which the detected feathers
were SO arranged as to make it suggest
melting hen. During the entire jour
ney, this old lady had observed sphinx
like silence, until, as they neared the
Chatburn station, she gave vent to the
sudden and unexpected statement. ad-
dressed to no one in particular: "Crun-
: cherses lives in that red house yonder,
with them yeller chimney pots. They
say he uses that niece OF his'n orful:
a-starvin an a-beatin' of her in way
as never was. "
Nobody replied TO this gloomy revela-
ton. and the old lady relapsed into her
former silence. Mr.. Stanley smiled
grimily TO himself as he wondered if
many of his future townspeopie bore such
enviabie regulations.
''Chatburni' roared the guard, and
Owen descended. When he presented
himself at the office whittier he was
bound. he was informed that his services
were not required. Mr.. Topham, the
head of the establishment, was unex-
pectedly obliged to accompany his
daughter to a milder climate on account
of her health, and the Office was to be
virtually closed for three months. Mr..
Topham regretted exceedingly mistake
that had prevented a telegram from
being sent to Mr. Stanley telling him of
this change of plan.
This leaves me in pretty fixp' NUT
tered Owen to himself, as he turned
away. "What next2 is question fate
must answer. | have, let me see-seven
shillings, three pence and postage
stamp, in available cash-and no pros
pect of a farthing more, unless earn it.
Not enough to set up monkey and bar
rel organ. I'm too old for newsboy or
bootblack. and too big for chimney sweep
Plainly. must not be squeamish about
anything that offers"
AS he walked aimlessly down the street,
he read the name. 'Cruncher, Attorney"
beside dingy office door, with ''Clerk
Wanted" chalked underneath.
Cruncher-that was the name Of the
oyer the old gossip denounced in the
train Could this be the same man?
Here, Bob, take this letter down to
the red house on the east road; it's for
Mrs. Cruncher. The house with the vel
low chimney pots; you can't mistake it,
unless you try" called young man
from the window to country lout just
quitting the house.
No longer any doubt in Owens mind
of this being the Mr.. Cruncher accused
by the oracle in the bedraggled bonnet.
Should he take warning and shun the
place, or dismiss the old woman's maun-
behring's from Ills mind altogether2 or,
another view of the case, should he
watch if there We're perchance means of
helping a fair damsel in distress-be-
fricnding Cruncher's unlucky niece? He
presented himself before Mr.. Cruncher,
and. after sharp cross questioning, was
engaged 10 fill the post vacant in the
office. M s~
Frosa a fellow clerk Owen soon CLEANED
oil there was to gather concerning the
history of his employer. He was not
liked in the place; he and his family kept
closely TO themselves in their house out
side the town; they had no visitors, and
people let them alone There was niece,
pretty looking girl of the name of Lee;
Jackson. the clerk, had heard some tales
of her being ill treated. but he supposed
1t was idle gossip.
Owen was inclined to believe that
these rumors We're not mere gossip, since
he had had the pleasure Of making Mr..
Cruncher's acquaintance. He was q
cold, fish like man, with cruel, shallow,
light blue eye, ana manner that kept
children and dogs at discreet distance
Owen, not having much food for
thought during his leisure hours. was
prepared TO believe old Cruncher capable
of any depravity.
The following Sunday the young man
had All opportunity of seeing the entire
Cruncher household in church. When
the service was over. Mr.. Cruncher
stalked grinnly forth, followed by the
silent members of his family, each and
all evidently in great awe of him.
/. Louise, hold Tommy's right hand
tight. You stupidity let him trip on the
step, last Sundayl" said Mrs. Cruncher,
in petulant tones, with look to match,
to her niece as they passed Owen.
1t was consolation to have learned her
name Louise Lett was pretty name,
and suited her. Was her life made un-
happy by that solemn brute of an old
man? Owen longed for money and
power and influence, and all the good
things of this life, to take her away from
her present bondage and give her q home
ct for q princess. But none of these
blessings came to him, and he had to
content himself as best he might with
seeing Louise once week at church.
He hid observed that 1t was Louise's
habit, sanctioned by the elders Of the
family, to draw pictures for the amuse-
ment of the youthful Tommy during the
SefInOn--a pIdctiCe pAopsipAy Coustaoieu
more beneficial to the young gentleman
shan slumber Neither Tommy's parents
nor the Abigail took the least interest in
these works of art, and they were quietly
inspected and destroyed by Tommy only
each Sunday.
One morning Owen lost his way hope
lessly in the labyrinths of the hymn book.
As lie was struggling to recover himself
pretty hand in shabby glove-L ouise's
hand--held toward him book with the
place marked bya scrapof paper. Owen
was uncomfortably conscious of blushing
as he accepted the offered civility; but it
was so more than charming to be noticed,
even in the most commonplace way, by
her.
The bit of paper between the pages
was folded in two. He idly pressed it
apart with his thumb. and to his. aston
.ool tt,r,,1 xx.>rSJo ovidaDffv writ