Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1888-06-20

Cruncher- was the name of
the ogre the old gossip denounced in
the train. Could this be tho same
mans?
Here, Bob. take this letter down
to the red house on tho east road; it's
for Mrs. Cruncher. Tho house with
the yellow chimney-pots; You can't
mistake it, unless you try" called a
young man from the window, to a
country lout just quitting the house.
No longer any doubt in OWENS
mind of this being the Mr.: Crunoher
accused by the oracle in the bcdrag-
gled bonnet. Should he take warning
and shun the place. or dismiss the old
woman's maunderings from his mind
altogetherp or. another view of the
case. should he watch if there wero
perchance means of helping n fair
damsel in distress -. befriending
Cruncher's unlucky niece? Then he
laughed at his own ohivalrous non.
sense. He could imagine the type of
young lady the ono in question would
be; addicted to jet beads and loud
ribbons; fond of a yellow backed
novel, and considered finished must.
clan by herself ard friends. owing to
her taking manner of rafting off four
or five waltzes and tho airs most az
fected by the barrel-organs. In those
halcyon days before the quarrel with
Uncle Raymond, Owen had known a
higher type of womanhood than he
was likely to be thrown with now,
and lie miled bitterly at his interest
in the probably fictitious misery of
Cruncher's niece. Why should he
give two thoughts to the veal or woe
of a girl he had never seene He was
astonished himself
Nevertheless. he presented himself
before Mr.: Cruncher, and after a
sharp cross-ques tioning. was engaged
to fill the post vacant in the off CO.
From fellow-clerk Owen soon
CLEANED all there was to gather con-
corning the history of his employer.
He was not liked in the place; he and
his family kept closely to themselves
in their house outside the town; they
had no visitors, and people lot them
alone. There was niece, a pretty
looking girl 81 the name of Lee; Jack
son, the clerk. had heard some tales
of her being ill-treatod. but he sup
posed it was idle gossip.
Owen was inclined to believe that
these rumors were not mere gossip.
since he had had the pleasure OF max
ing Mr.: Cruncher's acquaintance. He
was cold. fish-like man, with a cruel,
shallow, light-blue eye, and manner
that kept children and dogs at dis
Greet distance. Owen. not having
much food for thought during his
leisure hours. was prepared to believe
old Cruncher capable of any de-
! Dravity.
The following Sunday the young
imam had an opportunity of seeing
the entire Cruncher household in
! church. Pater and p.aterfam,lias. a
scowling, cross eyed little boy of four.
an elderly Abigail. and. of most i'm
portance in OVENS eyes, an ex-
ceedingly pretty girl of about
twenty. She was very shabbily
dressed. and had a weary, sad look, quite
unsuited to her age; still. hers was to
Owen the sweetest, loveliest face he
had ever seen. As he had kind of
haunting conviction that he would. he
began to love her from the moment
their eyes met in that one quick, COM
prehensive look which sees so much.
The pew in which Owen sat was at
right angles with Mr. Cruncher's. so,
without dislocation of his neck. the
young man could study the form and
features of this girl who already had
such strong influence upon him.
When the service was over, Mr..
Cruncher stalked grimly forth, follow.
ed by the silent members of his family.
each and all evidently in great awe of
him. He vouchsafed not the shadow
of recognition to Owen. who was no
more to him than any other piece of
oftice-furniture. Tho young man had
cherished dreams of i possible intro
duction to the object OF his admiration,
but he now saw how idle such fancies
were.
Louise. hold Tommy's hand tight.
You stupidity let him trip on the stop.
last Sunday!' said Mrs. Cruncher; in
petulant tones, with look to match.
to her niece as they passed Owen.
1t was some consolation to have
learned her name. Louise Lett was
pretty name. and suited her. Was
her life made unhappy by that solemn
old brute of manp The thought was
torture to Owen. Could any one who
was not very unhappy have such a sad
look about mouth and eyes? And the
tone of the old woman in addressing
her was harsh and unkind. The state
OF affairs for the poor girl seemed as
bad. if not worse, than the gosslps re-
ported. 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 a home fit for a Princass Rnt