The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1888-06-28

Owen was inclined TO believe that
these rumors were not mere gossip
since ne had had the pleasure Of max
ing Mr. Cruncher's acquaintance. He
was a cOld. fish-like man. with a cruel.
shallow. light-blue eye. and manner
that kept children aud 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.
pravity.
The following Sunday the young
man hal az opportunity Of seeing
the entire Cruncher household IN
church Pfter aud matsrfdHtiids. 3
seowling. cross eyed little boy Of four.
an elderly Abigail and. Of most I'm
poriance in Owens 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. A. ne had a kind Of
haunting conviction that he would. he
began 10 love her from the moment
their eyes met in that one quick. com
prehensive look which sees so much.
| The pew in which Oven sat was NJ
right angles with Mr.. Crunehers so.
without dislOcaiion 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
cd By the silent members uf his family.
each and all evidently in great awe OF
him. H. vOuchsafed not the shadow
Of a recognition to Owen. who was no
more 10 him than any other piece OF
ofiicr-furniture. The young man had
| cherished dreams of a possible intro
| duction 10 the object # his admiration.
but he now saw how idle such fancies
were.
Louise hold Tommy's hand tight
You stupidity let him trip on the step,
last Sundayr' said Mrs. Cruncher. in
peiulant tones, with look 10 match.
10 her niece as they passed Owen.
Il was some consolation TO have
learned her name. Louise Lett was
a pretty name. and suited her. Was
her life made unhappy 10y that solemn
old brute Of a man? The thought was
torture to Owen. Could any one who
was not very unhappy have such sad
look about mouth and eyes? Aud the
tone Of the old woman in addres ing
her was harsh and unkind. The state
Of affairs for the poor girl seemed as
bad. if not worse. than the gOssIpS re-
| ported. Owen longed for money and
] power and influence, and all the good
things of this life, 10 take her away
from her present bondage and give
her a home fit for a Princess. But
none Of these blessings came TO him,
and he had to content himself rs best
he might with seeing Louise once a
week at church She never appeared
elsewhere and in the gloomy red
house was inaccessible rs the Sleep
ing Beauty before the arrival Of the
Prince A zeal for regular attendance
at church. hitherto foreign 10 him.
seized upon Owen, making him an OBJ
ject Of praise Of more than one moth
erlY old lady and eligible spinster in
the place.
He had observed that it was Louise $
habit. sanctioned by the elders Of the
family, 10 draw pictures for the amuse-
meni Of the youthful Tommy during
the sermon-a practice probably con-
sidered more beneficial to the young
gentleman than 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
hopelessly in the labyrinths 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 a scrap Of paper. Owen
was uncomfortably conscious Of blush
ing as he accepted the offered civility;
but 1t was so more than charming Il
be noticed. even in the most common.
place way. by her
The bit Of paper between the page:
was folded in two. H. idly p essed II
apart with his thumb. aud 10 his as.
constituent read these words, evi.
IDENTIFY written in furiive haste: Look
tomorrow. in my uncle's hat-lining
when he comes to the office.
This appeared. indeed. like the be-
ginning Of a most interesting advent
ure, and the overture made by a cir
whom be feared ignored his very eX
istence! How he sat quietly through the
sermon. and passed the rest Of the day
aud night until old Cruncher ap
peared at his usual post next morn
ing Owen never quite knew. WheI
he saw his patron deeply absorbed il
a pile Of letters. Owen. like a coat
and-umbrella thief stole out into th,
passage where such articles were de
posted. and possessed himself Of thu
old gentleman's sedaie-looking hat
There. rs he expressed. he founC
slowed away in the lining a tiny LITTLE
note. With trembling fingers the nov
hopeful lover laid smooth the compli
Gated folds Of tho paper and read:
Please do not think me forward or presum
/ ing in making the following request: am II
| great trouble. Tomorrow evening az seven
shall not he missed for half an houT. VIII y0l
meet me a. the emf Of The lane leading past on
house-where the wood begins l. L.
For the first time since the youn!
mans arrival nj the office Mr. Crunch
or had occasion 10 complain of his I'm
accuracy and inattention in his work
The head Of the establishment was
however, guarded in his rrproof FOL
Stanley was a valuable ass 5 ant, II
the main. and seemed content with as
tonishingly little pay.
The following evening Owen was a
the place Of rendezvous fully half al
hour too soon. As he was beginning
TO despair Of Louise coming she ap
peared, breathless and greatly agiiat
ed.
What must you think Of me, )" shl
began. making an appointment wit
you. almost a stranger. at dusk. il
this theatrical manner"
I'm sure the motive for all you
actions is good" replied Oven. gal
/ lantly.
Il have a strong motive in this case
cerfainfv ~ continued Inuise. q.