The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-07-08
ON CRUICHERS MICK


Owen sxsnsey hzadied ID tie corner
of = third class carriage. wss rmng
from Manchester 70 Chzf6ufn- where
) x1aee In . lawyers ofsce axa1fed
hir.- The prospect VS. not cneerIui,
bot Is was the only means owtn nau
Of earning his hrend since the nnincky
misunderstanding with Uncte BAY,
nsnd- AE@o, Il Lnc1e kAynsond
would never SO the rights Of thax
miserable a6air. the work It ChAfburn
wogia be ssePpirg -ssOne 70 nsffer
place
A. he walked aimIezziy down the
street. after be reached Chafecxn. ne
read the name Crunxher, Afsorney.
beside dingy of;ce door. with t5e-k
wanted ckaiked underneath He
presented himself before Nr.Cyuncher-
and, after sharp crosz-quesflonIng !,
was engaged 70 6ll the post vacant IN
the Once
The following Sunday the yoang
man had an Opportunity OF seeing the
euf;rr Cruucher household In church.
When the service WAS over. Mr.
Crunchey stalked grirniy forth. fol-
ioxe-i by the silent members Of his
family. each and all evidently IN great
awe Of him
Louise Lee, bold Tommy's right
hand tight. You stupidity let him trip
on the step last Sunday, Sid Mrs
Cruncher In petuiant tones, Win
look % match, 10 her niece, as they
passed Owen
II was consolation " ha-e se6yned
her name. Louise Lee-is v As pretty
name, and suited her. Was her life
made unhappy by that solemn brute
al an CID nanf Owen Iouked for
money and power and influence, and
all the good fhings OF this life, 70 take
her away from her present bondage
and give her home lit for . princess
But none OF these blessings came TO
him. and he had 10 content himself as
hest he might with seeing Louise once
a week in church
One morning Owen lost his way
hopeiessiy in the iabyrinths OF the
hyrnn-book- As he was struggling To
recover himself a pretty hand In q
shabby glove Loui>e's hand-held to
ward him a book with the place mark
ed by . scrap OF paper. Owen was I'M
Comfortably conscious OF biushing a
he accepted the offered civility; bat il
was so more than charming TO be no
ticesf, even in the most commonplace
way, by her.
The bit OF paper between the pages
| wa, folded In tive. He idly pressed il
apart with his thumb, and to his aston
| ishruent read these words, evidently
written in furtive haste: Look, TO
| morrow. in nly uncie's hat lining when
he comes TO the Office
This appeared. indeed, ike the be
ginning Of . most interesting adven
lure and the overture made by CIR
| who. he feared, ignored his very exist
ence, How he sat quietly through tbs
sermon, and passed the rest of the day
and night until old Cruncher appeared
al his usual post next morning, Over
never knew. When he saw his patros
deeply absorbed in pile OF letters. he
like a coat and umbrella thief. stole ou
| into the passage where such articles
were deposited. and possessed himsei
OF the Old gentleman sedate-lookint
hat.
There. a. he expected, he fount
slowed away in the lining tiny littl,
note. With trembling fingers thu
| now hopeful lover laid smooth the
complicated folds OF the paper ana
read.
Please do not think me forward or pre-
| Stunning In making the following request
arl In great trouble. Tomorrow esenine
| II seven shall not be missed for half al
hour. Win yon meet me at the end Of tas
lane leading past our honse-where The
woci beg;nse LII.
The following evening Owen was al
| the place of rendezvous fully half an
hour too soon. As he was beginning
to despair OF Louise's coming, she
appeared, breathless and greatly agi-
| tatea.
What must you think OF me- she
began, making an appointment with
YOU, almost a stranger, at dusk. IN
this theatrical manner? i have a
strong motive in this case, certainly, /"
continued Louise. Il wish TO ask
your advice on matter Of the utmost
inheritance to me. | have studied
yolrr face as much as dared in church
Owens heart gave a bound of delight.
Then she had looked at and thought
about him -" and think can trust
you and cali you my friend. have
no other"
She looked so lovely, with the tears
lin her eyes as she said this, that
Owen longed to take her in his arms
and kiss her, instead of declaring
himself her devoted servant in plain
words.
"iet us sit down on this fallen tree
and | will begin my story at the be-
ginning. You men of the law are
impatient OF unnecessary preamble,
Louise went on, with a bright smile
| for a moment dispeiling the meian-
choly ciouding her face. - Last Feb
ruary, now nearly four months ago, !
| was travelling alone from here to Clover
Hill on an errand for my aunt. Ny
companions in the compartment were
very pretty old lady. an ordinary
looking gentleman OF about 10, and
| Younger man not at all ordinary look.
ing. He had large black eyes with q
| wild look in them, and his dress and
manners were quite different from