The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1888-08-02
OLD CRUNCHER'S NIECE.


Owen Stanley, hudd'cd in the corner
OF third.Class carriage, was going from
Man hester To Chatburn, where a place
in lawyers Office awaited Inn. The
prospect was not cheerful, but it was the
only means Owen had OF earning his
Dread since the unlucky misunderstood.
ing with Uncle Raymond. Also, if
Uncle Raymond would never see the
rights of that miserable affair, the work
Mt Chatburn would be stepping stone
20 bettet place.
As he walked aimlc,sly down the
street, after he reached Chatburn, hc
read the name, trun, her, Attorney -
beside dingy office door with CLERK
Wanted chilkcd underneath. lie pre-.
ecntcd himself before Mir. CrunChCr aud,
after sharp cro,s-qucst.oning, was en-
gagged to I'LL tue post vacant in the
oiLCc.
The following Sunday the young man
had an opportunity OF seeing the whole
Crunchcr household in church when
the service was over, Mr.. Cruuchcr
stalkcd grimly forth, followed by the
silent members Of his family. each and
all evidently in great awe Of hun.
'louisc Ice, hold Tommys right
hand tight. You stupidity let him trip
ON the step last sunday" said Mrs.
Crunchcr in pctulant tones, with look
TO match, to her niece us they passed
Owen.
II was consolat on to have learned her
name. Louise lcc--it was pretty
name, and suited her. Was her life
made unhappy by that solemn brute of
an OLD man! Owen longcd 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 princess. But none of
these blessings came to him, and he had
TO content himself as best &c mi ght with
seeing Louise once week in church.
One morning Owen lost his way hope.
lessly in the labyrinthS of the HYMN
BOOK. AS he was struggling to recover
himself a pretty hand in shabby glove
--Louise's hand held toward him a
book with the place marked by q scrap
oi paper. owen was uucomfortabiy
conscious Of blu,h.ng as he accepted the
offered cigility; but it was more than
charming to he noticed, even il 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 astonish.
ment read these words, evidently written
IN iurtivc haste: Look, tomorrow, in
my unclc's hat lining when he comes to
the Office"
This appeared, indeed. like the be.
ginning OF most interesting adventure,
and the overture made b, a girl, whom
he feared ignored his very existence.
How he sat qu etly through the sermon,
ana passed the rest of the day aud night
HhtiI oId Cruncher appeared ut hi, usual
post next morning, owen never knew
When he saw his patron deeply absorbed
IN plle OF letters, owen, like coat and
umbrella thief stole out into the passage
where such articles were deposited, and
possessed himself Of the old gcntleman's
sedatc looking hat.
There, rs he expected, he found
slowed away in the lining tiny little
note. With trembling tingcrs the now
hopeful lover laid smooth the comph.
Gated folds Of the paper and read:
Please do not think me forward or pre-
Suming in making the following request:
am IN great trouble. Tomorrow evening
at | shall not be missed Tor half an hour
VIM you meet me at the end of tho lane
leading past our house whore the wood
begins
The following evening Owen was at
thc place of rendezvous fully half an
hour too soon. As he was beginning
10 despair OF Louisc's coming she ap.
pcared' breaihlcss and greatly agitated.
"What must you think Of me-" she
began, making an appointment with
you, almost stranger, at dusk, in this
theatrical manner. | have a strong
motive IN this case, certainly" con.
tinucd Louise. Il wish to ask your
advice on matter OF the utmost import
ance 10 me. have studied your face as
much rs dared in church"-Owen's
heart gave bound of delight. Then
she had looked at and thought about
him land think can trust vou. and
callyou my friend. have no other.n
She looked so lovely with the tears in
hcr eyes as she said this that owen longed
10 take her in his arms and kiss her, in.
stead OF declaring himself her devoted
servant IN plain words.
Let MS sit down on this fallen tree
ana VIII begin my story at the begin
hing. You men of the law are i'm
patient OF unnecessary preamble. ~
Louise went on, with bright smile for
n moment dlspelling the melancholy
clouding her face. "Last February. now
nearly four months ago, was travelling
alone from here to Glover Hill on an
errand Tor my aunt. My companions in
the compartment were very pretty old
lady, an ordinary looking gentleman of
ABOUT 10, and younger man, not at all
ordinary looking. lie had large black
eyes, with wild look in them, and his
dress and manners were quite different
from those of the people | was
accustomed to seeing. lie sat opposite
me and soon after the train started be.
gan staring at me in a most annoying
way" 's
,"Ihe impertinent rascal How Iwish
had been there TO punch his head g'
'f1s3!@sa 9Ysa witt warmth -.