, 1888-06-10
|"CRUNCHER'S NIECE"

Owen Stanley, huddled In the corner
# a third class carriage, was going from
Manchester to Chatburn, where a posi-
ton in a lawyers office awaited him.
The prospect was not cheerful, but it was
the only means Owen had of earning his
bread since the unlucky misundersJand-
ing with Uncle Raymond. Also, II Uncle
Raymond never would see the rights of
that miserable affair, the work at Chat
burn would be a stepping stone to a bet
ter place.
Ovens thoughts were decidedly
gloomy, and there was nothing to en-
liven them in the contemplation OF his
fellow travellers. These were two shy,
awkward, country maidens; the high
and mighty valet of a gentleman in an
other compartment a thin young man,
with a wide strip Of black plaster
obliquely traversing his nose; and a
wizened little old woman in n rusty bon
net, upon which the detected feathers
were SO arranged as TO make it suggest n
melting hen. During the entire jour
ney. this old lady had observed n sphinx
like silence, until, as they neared b
Chatburn station, she gave vent to the
sudden and unexpected statement, ad-
dressed to no one in particular: "Crun-
cherses lives in that red house yonder,
with them yeller chimney pots. They
say he uses that niece of his'n orful:
a-starvin' an a-beatin' Of her in a way
as never was"
Nobody replied to this gloomy revela-
ton. and the old lady relapsed into her
former silence. Mr.. Stanley smiled
grimily to himself as he wondered If
many of his future townspeopie bore such
enviable regulations.
''Chatburnl'' roared the guard, and
Owen descended. When he presented
himself at the office whittier he was
bound, he was informed that his services
were not required. Mr.. Topham, the
mead Of the establishment, was uneN-
pectedly obliged TO accompany his
daughter to a milder climate on account
of her health, and the office was to be
virtually closed for three months. Mr..
Topham regretted exceedingly q mistake
that had prevented a telegram from
being sent to Mr.. Stanley telling him of
this change of plan
This leaves mi in n pretty fixl" NUT
tered Owen to himself, as he turned
awny. ''What nextl is n question fate
must answer. / have, let me see-scven
shiilings. three pence and a postage
stamp. in available cash-and no pros
pect of n fdrthing more, unless l earn it.
Not enough to set up n monkey and bar
rel organ. I'm too old for a newsboy or
bootblack. and too big for chimney sweep.
Plainly. j must not lie squeamish about
anything that oilers"
As he walked uimlessly down the street,
he read the name. "Crunchcr, Attorney"
beside a dingy office door, with 'Clerk
Wanted" chalked underneath.
Cruncher-that was the name Of the
oyer the old gossip denounced in the
train. Could this be the same man?
Here, Bob, take this letter down to
the red house on the east road; it's for
Mrs. Cruncher. The house with the yell
low chimney pots; you can't mistake 1t,
unless you try" called a young man
from the window to n country lout just
quitting the house..
No longer any doubt in Owens mind
OF this being the Mr.. Cruncher accused
by the oracle in the bedraggled bonnet.
Should he take warning and shun the
place, or dismiss the old woman's maun-
behring's from his mind altogether or,
another view of the case, should he
watch II there were perchance means of
helping a fair damsel In distress-be-
friending Cruncher's unlucky niece1 He
presented himself before Mr.. Cruncher,
and, after q sharp cross questioning, was
engaged to fill tho post vacant in the
office.
From a fellow clerk Owen soon CLEANED
all there was to gather concerning the
history of his employer. He was not
liked In the place; he and his family kept
closely to themselves In their house out
side the town; they had no visitors, and
people let them alone. There wa n niece,
a pretty looking girl of the name of Lee
jackson, the clerk, had heard some tales
of her being i'll treated, but no supposed
1t was idle gossip.
Owen was inclined to believe that
these rumors were not mere gossip, since
he had had the pleasure OF making Mr..
Crupcher's acquaintance. He was
cold, fish like man, with a cruel, shallow,
light blue eye, and q manner that KEEP
children and dogs at n discreet distance
Owen, not having much food fo
thought during his leisure hours, wa
prepared to believe old Cruncher capabl,
of any ~depravity.
The following Sunday the young maj
had an opportunity Of seeing the entir
Cruncher household in church. .Whei
the service was over, Mr.. Crunche
stalked grimly forth, followed by tn
silent members of his family, each an,
all evidently in great awe of him.
Louise, hold Tommy's right ham
tight. You stupidity let him trip on tn
step, last Sundayl' said Mrs. CruncheI
in p~etulant tones, with a look to match
to her niece as they passed Owen.
1t was consolation to AVE learned he
name. Louise Lett was q pretty name
and suited her. Was her life made Ut
happy by that solemn brute Of an oil
man? Owen longed for money an
power and influence, and all the goo
things of this life, to take her away fror
her present bondage and give her a hon
fit for q princess. But none of thes
blessings came to him, and he had
content himself as best he might wit
seeing Louise once a week at church