The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-08-01
OLD CRUNCHER'S NIECE.

Owen Stanley, hnddied in the corner
of a thirdclass carriage, was going from
Man hester to Chatburn, where a place
in. lawyers office awaited him. The
prospect was not cheerful, but it was the
only means Owen had of earning his
bread since the unlucky misunderstood
ing with Uncle Raymond. Also, if
Uncle Raymond would never see the
rights of that miserable affair, the work
at Chatburn would be stepping stone
to better place.
As he walked aimlessly down the
street, after he reached Chatburn, he
read the name, "Cruncher, Attorney"
beside dingy Office door, with "Clerk
Wanted chalked underneath. He pre-
sented himself before Mr.. Cruncher, and,
after sharp cross-quest:oning, was en-
gagged to fill the pces vacant in the
Office.
The following Sunday the young man
had an opportunity of seeing the whole
Cruncher household in church. When
the service was over, Mr.. Cruucher
stalked grimly forth, followed by the
silent members of his family, each and
all evidently in great awe of him.
"Louise Lee, hold Tommy's right
hand tight. You stupidity let him trip
on the step last Sunday" 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 a pretty
name, and suited her. Was her life
made unhappy by that solemn brute of
IN old mau2 Owen longed for money
and power aud influence, and all the
good things of this life, to take her away
from her present bondage and give her
home fit for princess But none of
these blessings came to him, and he had
to content himself as best he might with
sesing Louise once week in church.
One morning Owen lost his way hope
lessly in the labyriuths of the hymn
book. As he was struggling to recover
himself pretty hand in a shabby glove
-Louise's hand-held toward him a
book with the place marked by scrap
OF paper. Owen was uncomfortably
conscious of blushing as he accepted the
offered civility; but it was 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 astonish.
ment read these words, evidently written
. in furtive haste: ''Look, tomorrow, in
my uncle's hat lining when he comes to
the office"
This appeared" indeed, like the be-
ginning of most interesting adventure,
and the overture made by girl, whom
he feared ignored his very existence!
How he sat etly through the sermon,
and passed the rest of the day and night
until old Cruncher appeared at his usual
post next morning, Owen never knew.
When he saw his patron deeply absorbed
in pile of letters, Owen, like coat and
umbrella thief, stole out into the passage
where such articles were deposited, and
possessed himself of the old gentleman's
sedate looking hat.
&. There, as he expected, he found
slowed away in the lining tiny little
note. With trembling fingers the now
hopeful lover laid smooth the compli-
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. To morrow evening
at Z shall not be missed for half an hour.
VIII you meet me at the end of the lane
leading past our house-where the wood
begins! L. L.
The following evening Owen was at
the place of rendezvous fully half an
hour too soon. As he was beginning
to despair of Louise's coming she ap-
peared, breathless and greatly agitated.
"What must you think of me-" she
began, making an appointment with
you, almost stranger, at dusk, IN this
theatrical manner. l have a ss:ong
motive in this case, certainly" con-
tinued Louise. Il wish to ask your
advice on matter of the utm ,st import
snce to me. have studied your face as
much as 1 dared in church'-Owcn's
heart gave a bound of delight. Then
she had looked at and thought about
him!-"and think can trust you, and
callyou my friend. have no other"
She looked so lovely with the tears in
her eyes as she said this that Owen longcd
to take her in his arms and kiss her, in
stead of declaring himself her devoted
servant IN plain words.
''Let lis sit down on this fallen tree
and l will begin my story at the begin
ming. You men of the law are i'm
patient of unnecessary preamble, /"
Louise went on, with bright SIN lie for
a moment dlspelling the melancholy
clouding her face. "I.ast Feb. uart, now
nearly four months ago, 1 was travelling
alone from here to Clover Hill on an
errand for my aunt. My companions in
the compartment were a very pretty old
lady. an ordinary looking gentleman of
about 45, and younger man, not at all
ordinary looking. lie hid large black
eyes, with wild look in them, aid his
dress and manners were quite different
from those of the people 1 was
accustomed to seeing. He sat opposite
me and soon after the train started be-
gan staring at me in a most annoying
way
"The impertinent rascal! How Iwi,h
had been there to punch his hsad -
exclaimed Owen with warmth.
"He perhaps did nothing to merit
quite such severe punishment, but he
was certainly then, and has been since
indirectly the cause of great deal of
misery to me. He amused himself for
some time with casting what supposed
were admiring glances at me, pressing
his hands to his heart and signing pro-
foundly. Then suddenly, to my utter
amazcment, he threw himself on his
knees before me, declared IN very bad
English that he loved me to distraction,
and, most startling of all, tore off his