The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1880-02-05


with bowed head and knitted brows.
He stuck to the Office until late into
each evening, instead of leaving, as was
his won't, at 5 o'clock, to spend his
evenings with genial companions in
various ways. Yet no one but himself
knew what the trouble was. The fact
was he was short in his cash-he had
rashly used some of his employers
money in some mad speculations which
had failed, and, to make this loss good.
he speculated again. This also proved
a failure, and he grew reckless and took
more and more. He never kept ac-
count of how much money he used, and
he was at last afraid to balance the
books to see. However, he at last
sternJy resolved to do something, even
if he must borrow money, and, in doing
so, tell the whole story.
He was the only one who need take
the books in hand, and his employ
ers would take his word entire
II as to the balance, without person
al investigation; and, after the annual
stock taking, ETC., he would have whole
year to refund the money He had a
good salary, and he would save, and
borrow from his friends, and quit this
mad and foolish practice which he had
called borrowing, but which he saw now
was nothing less than theft.
Alas, this chance was not given him.
just toward balancing time he was laid
on sick-bed and kept there for many
weeks, during which time one Of the
partners, in spirit of kindness, and to
save Ferguson additional work when he
recovered, set to work to balance the
books. Not word was said to Fergu-
son, but, soon after he was we'll enough
to attend the office, he opened drawer
and there saw sheet Of paper contain
ing names and figures, and at the head
he saw jotted in pencil, Accounts
marked off the ledger, but not in cash
book It was Saturday, a busy half
day at the works, and Ferguson went
through his duties mechanically. On
his way to the bank for the wages, he
called in at his lodgings, packed couple
of valises with a few necessaries, and
also called to say good-by to some ofhis
particular friends, saying he was going
to Manchester for few days. Having
finished his work at the Office, by 2
o'clock he was seated in the railway
train, with little cash and heavy heart.
fleeing from Milton, his friends and the
law, and going he knew not whittier.
The next weeks Milton NeoCs con-
tanned the following paragraph:
A warrant has been issued for the apprehen-
sloL of William Ferguson, lately in the employ
of Messrs. Noble & Croaker. 1t is stated that
guson was last seen at Merthyr Tydoil, in
Wales, and has been traced to Swansea.
The news came like a thunderclap on
the little world of Milton, where Fergu-
son was well known and respected. It
was the talk of the town, but like all
nine-days' wonders it died natural
death. Not SO, however, in London
home, where fond father and mother
were almost heartbroken at this news of
the son of whom they had been so proud ;
not SO IN more than one home atMilton
not SO at Thorpe Farm; and not so
at the landlords home at Hamilton. In
all these places Will Ferguson had baeg
something more than an ordinary ac-
quaintance, and in these places dwelt
his true friends friends even in his dis
grace. Annie landlord then found out
for the first time perhaps how much. she
cared for Ferguson, and the poor girl
felt the blow keenly. But she had
some natural pride, and though she
pitied the poor fellow in trouble she
felt she could never again have anything
to do with man who had to fee to es-
cape felon's cell. And 50 Ferguson's
name gradually dropped out of CONVEX
sation though not out Of mind.
When Ferguson got into Wales, he
thought he might safely take time for
breathing and looking around On that
Saturday afternoon he had, on his way
west, called In to take one more look at
and a gloomy farewell of Annie, and he
then resolved to work necessarily until
he had earned sufficient to refund what
he had taken and retrieve his position.
But in Wales he met with no success
whatever. He had no character, and no
one would engage him without. Then
he went south to Portsmouth, and
thought about enlisting in the army, but
he decided to leave that as q last re-
source. He made his way to London,
and having good voice and knowledge
of music he obtained an engagement as
a singer in the chorus at one of the
opera houses. This proved poor game
and offered no chance of increased
salary, and consequently Ferguson re-
solved to quit and cross the Atlantic
He got sufficient money from his old
grandmother, and after sorrowful fare
well to his parents he started off to try
his fortune in the New World. During
the first six months in America he
worked as a farm laborer, clerk, and
sub-editor of newspaper. Remuner-
ative employment seemed hard to OBJ
tain, but he toiled Oh patiently, hoping
for better things.
He Lad ceased to think of his at
tachment to Annie landlord, except as
secret memory to be treasured, but
SDOken Of never Yet when GhriStnoao