Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1888-12-08

the overture made by girl whom he
feared ignored his very existencel How
be sat quietly through the sermon, and
passed the rect 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 a coat and UNI
brella thief, stole out into the passage
where such articles were deposited, and
possessed himself Of the old gentleman
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 complicated folds
of the paper and read;
Please do not think me forward or presuming
In making the following request: am In great
trouble Tomorrow evening at shall not be
missed for half an hour. WIN You meet me at
the end of the lane leading past our house-where
the wood beginss LII.
For the first time since the young
mans arrival at the Office Mr.. Cruncher
had occasion to complain of his inaccu-
racy and inattention in his work The
headof the establishment was, however,
guarded in his reproof, for Stanley was
valuable assistant, in the main, and
seemed content with astonishingly little
pay.
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 appeared,
breathless and greatly agitated.
''What must you think of me-" she
tysr1 {V,<v \
you, almost stranger, at dusk, in this
theatrical manner"
.sI'm sure the motive for all your ac-
tons is good, replied Owen, CALAMITY.
II have strong motive in this case,
certainly" continued Louise. 81 wish
to ask your advice on matter of the ut
most importance to ME. have studied
your face as much as dared in church,
Owens heart gave bound of delight.
Then she had looked at and thought
about him land / think / can trust
you, and call you my friend. have no
other"
She looked 80 lovely with the tears in
4 her eyes, as she said this, that Owen
longed to take her in his arms and kiss
her, instead OF declaring himself her de-
VOISI servant III pam WORDS.
''Let us sit down on this fallen tree
and will begin my story at the begin
ming. You men of the law are impatient
of unnecessary preamble" Louise went
on, with bright smile for moment
dispelling the melancholy clouding her
face. Last February, now nearly four
months ago, was travelling alone from
here to Clover Hill on an errand for my
aunt. Ny companions in the compart-
ment were very pretty old lady, an
ordinary looking gentleman of about FIVE
ordinary looking. He had large black
eyes, with wild look in them, and his
dress and manners were quite different
from those of the people was accus-
toned to seeing. He sat opposite me, and
soon after the train started began staring
at me in q most annoying way"
1.-The impertinent rascal How I wish
had been there to punch his headv' ex-
claimed Owen, with warmth.
HE perhaps did nothing to merit quite
such severe punishment; but he was GER
tainly then, and has been since, indirectly.
the cause of great deal of misery to me-
He amused himself for some time with
casting what l supposed were admiring
glances at me, pressing his hands to his
heart and signing profoundly. Then sud-
denly, to my utter auazement, 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 very handsome watch and
chain and flung them into my lap"
''The man was mad, of course"
Eyes; we learned of this for fact
afterward. l looked at our travelling
companion-the middle aged man already
mentioned-in helpless fright He
thought admirable presence of mind, ex-
claimed, angrily, How dare you insult
my wife, sir2'
This strong language had the desired
effect, and the man seemed to shrink
into himself and become quiet as lamb.
suppose believing me to be the wife of
somebody else shattered his hopes - q
Here again the rare, sweet smile lent
q new charm to Louise's face.
TRY as might" she continued, II
could not prevail upon him to take back
his watch, and at the next station the
gentleman who called me his wife gave
my admirer, with his watch, into the
hands of policeman, as mad. That
was the last we ever saw of him. but we
heard later that he was Pole and in
curably insane The old lady in the
coupe with us looked inquiringly at my
rescuer, who laughed and murmured
something l did not understand.
thanked him as descended at ms desti-
nation, never dreaming that he was to
cross my path again"
Here Louise broke off, and the rest Of
her narrative was told less glibly.
''You perhaps know, Mr.. Stanley, that
am an orphan. dependent ON my uncle
TOR everything, and consequently in his
power for good or evil.
s.More evil than good, / fancy" Owen
wished to say, but refrained till he should
nave heard the end Of the story. If he
could sit thus forever on the NOISY old
og. listening to Louise's sweet voice.
end watching her charming play Of ex-
preston, how happy he believed he
would bel
''Some weeks ago, one afternoon, my
uncle called me from mending Tommy's
stockings, and told me friend wished
70 SEQ in the drawing room. I, who had
40 friends, was much surprised; nor did
this surprise lessen when was presented
to the man who had silenced the crazy
Pole that day in the train. His name
was Mitchell, and he turned out to be an
old friend of my uncle's- Rich as Croe-
sus and bachelor, my uncle said to
me, with a knowing wink, when our
visitor had departed.
81 took great dislike to Mr.. Mitchell;
in manner and appearance he was most
repugnant to me. But l thought very
little about him one way or another
why should l interest myself in man
older than my father2-undl, week
later, Uncle Thomas informed me that
Mr.. Mitchell wished to marry me-
''Preposterous. exclaimed Owen.
81 don't often laugh in the presence of
Uncle Thomas, but when he told me this
/ laughed heartily. This made my uncle
very angry. Why should make game
IF the rfrar of q man of whom 7 rniOht