River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-10-14
I'LL.


father had died. They had always
avoided the room, and now they won
dered at their presence in it. Some
strange fascination was upon them.
They we're growing mOrbidly supersti-
tious of late. A candle sputtered on a
table between them. Illuminating feebly
the darkness. The white covering of
tie bed on which the miser died Ioomed
family in the shadows and looked not
unlike a crouching GnOst about TO
spring from the gloom. Harold gazed
iutently at the blurred drapery until
the whole scene flashed on him again;
he could see his fathers face distorted
IN death agony, and hear the whispered
words drop from his lips: He sprang
TO his feet, eNclaiming harshiy: ION,
on" Then turning TO his startled sis
ter. asked:
''IIettie. can't you think what father
would have said after on? See if you
can't put your head to work. This is
the point at which we should have
started long ago"
After thinking, with knit brow, in
silence for a spell, he began: "On, on
top-On. on, on-On, upon the On top
Of the On. on what, sister? On the top
of the what? We ought to guess what
would come next. On, on" he looked
searchingly about the rOOm-"On the
the clock" he cried. springing to his
feet as his eyes stared into the face of
an old, silent cuckoo clock in the cor
ner. Its there. Hettie; don't you re-
member how father stared at the clock
when he was dying? Yes, we'll find
some clev- on the clock. j have pre-
sentiment that our disappointing quest
is at an end" he continued, nervous
Is mounting chair. His sister stood
at his side. holding aloft the Pickering
candle. Harold was feeling ir the dust
and cobwebS when the old clock gave
groan. the cuckoo came to the door and
repeated its hollow note; there was
harsh screechiug. and the dilapidated
timepiece tumbled in a heap. There
was a shrek: the candle fell splutter-
ing 10 the floor, and the two ran like
guilty thing from the room. They
stood in the empty hal for a moment,
painting with fright and peering fur
lively into the dark; then FASTENED 10
their apartments.
Morning was stealing gray an had
owy through the quiet old building
when Harold stole down the stairway
To where Law scattered the wreck OF the
old clock. He searched amid the debris.
and brought 10 light 4 bit of yellow,
time-stained paper. lie brushed the
dust from it and read, in cramped
handwriting. the words: ITO my wife"
At last There was no hurry now.
Harold was perfectly calm as he pushed
the paper in lis pocket and stepped
TO the stairway 10 call his sister. She
came hurrying down presently. her
heart all a-fiutter with agitation.
Harold. have YOU found it?' she
asked. huskily.
lie bowed his head. and the glow Of
triumphant satisfaction on his face was
pitifuI He led lis sister gently along
the hall to the old rotting stOop. Here
they sat down in the crimson glow of
sunrise. and Harold opened the paper
and read:
Dear Wife: In trying TO atone for one
sin I have been guilty OF anOther-peT haps
a greater. But. when you know all, am
sure YOU will forgive me. ! VIII be brief.
When child I was left an orphan. a
wealthy and chudless couple adopted me
I was reared IL luxury. and when old
enough I was ssnt on to college. While
there | made the acquaintance OF some
iisspated youns men. and soon learned
10 drink and gamble. IL was not long until
I was deeply involved in debt-dehts OF
honor. rs 'h-N were called was ashamed
10 ask my fcster-father for the large sums
I needed. hut being threatened with ex-
posture I promised to satisfy my creditors
on my return from vacation. II they would
wait
Banks were not as common then as row,
and I had learned tha my father kept nis
money In an iron box I'm the study. His
keys he always carried with him. The
night before ! was TO return 10 school
I stole 20 his room and secured them.
had intended TO take only a sufficient sum
20 pay my debts. but when the chest with
- treasure lay open before my eyes
wicked impulse overmastered me and /
decided that Il all should be mine. packed
the money IN my portmsntesu. locked the
box. fastened the study door. returned the
KEYS 10 my fathers pockets. and. returning
20 M room. waited impatiently the COM
ing u day. II CHANGED the following morn
ing. ID being a busy season. that servant
could not be spared 10 drive me over TO
the railroad. ! was to go over alone and
the cam sent for later
There was a swollen stream on my
route. and as drove 81 sight scheme oc-
CURED TO me that / had not thought Of
stopped the buggy at the waters edge.
and. lifting my grip to the roadside. cast
the reins over the dashboard. and then
gave the horses a cutting lash. The
plunged with a bound into the muddy
water I watched them until they reached
the further shore. and then concealed my
self in the woods Thev would think me
drowned and mourn me as dead.
That night l walked 20 a distant sta
ti0n and took a train for the west. After
years Of afmless wandering. ever stung
with rcmorse. I came 10 this place and
opened my farm 7 resolved 10 make what
restitution was possible. the larger part
# my iu-Cotten wealth by this time hsv-
ing been sQuaudered So scant was the
living that ! took from my farm that
soon became known as Miser Furgis. / was
clad. for IL made me more secure in my
purpose and my concealment I sent the
proceeds Of each years crop 10 the widow
~ my f0ster-father. for he had died soon
after my flight I have. AT last. returned
every dollar 4 the stolen money. and the
farm. free from incumbrance. is yours.
This Is my story. I need not speak OF the
remorss. the fear. the suppressed love that
hav, fei, all the sad years Forgive me.
ami think OF me your loving husband.
-. H FURGIS.-