The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-07-26

done it. l can't talk without organs of speech, but, hang it, I've already done it."
 Well, this beats anything l ever heard of. Say, tell me something about death. Where is your soul r
 "Oh, never had any soulpsrticularly. was physician and"
 "Lcok here, yon don't mean to say that physician has no soul, do your"
 Mot necessarily. Some have and some have not About the same in all professions"
 "Tell me one thing is there an actual devil?"
 "Yes."
 "Of what form is he?"
 "Well, he's shaped pretty much like a mule"
 "You don't tell me so."
 "Yes, l do; and that is why mules are so devilish."
 For time the doctor sat deep in a meditation that perplexed him. In vain did he summon his powers of cool reason ing to combat the absurdity of the situ- ation, for there stood the grim, heshless Hannibal he was called-ready with the grinning mouth of the past to answer question of the present. The we'll balanced mind of materialistic belief, a mind which had strongly grappled with physics, and which had capered nimbly " with metaphysics, had received a blow against which years of study would have proved no adequate preparation.
 "I don't understand this," he said aloud, although addressing his own mind.
 Probably not" the skeleton replied. Adam thought that he was a remark able man and he was one of the most remarkable men of his day-yet the creation of Eve astonished him. Doctor, we, the skeletons, have decided that your treatment of us is unjust. We long for the peace of the grave, as a tired man longs tor a nights rest. For years we have, without word of complaint, borne this treatment, but, sir, we have decided to no longer submit to a foolish whim, on your part, which imposes upon us a sea- son of long-continued unrest. l mot only speak for myself, but for the entire com pany."
 "We have requested him to address you," said the musical voice of woman, and the doctor, startled beyond expres- sion, turned and gazed at a small skele- ton that stood near the mantlepiece.
 "Who are you % the physician gasped.
 am an ill-used lady, sir, that's who am."
 Madam, or miss, 1 humbly peg your pardon for any imposition which you may have suffered at my instance"
 "Your words bespeak gallantry, but your actions, must say, do not illustrate the conduct of gentleman. Why do you not bury us and let us sleep in peace until the sounding of the great judgment clarion. Oh, sir, implore you bury us this night. You need not go to the ex- pense of providing cofins, for cofins to us are useless. Take us to the little field beyond the house, and bury us under the great oak.'
 It shall be done at once," exclaimed the doctor, arising. {" 1 will summon my hired men and have the graves ready within two hours."
 Thank you," said Hannibal.
 Thank you" said the lady.
 "Oh, we are deeply indebted to you," exclaimed little fellow who stood near the door.
 CHAPTER II.
 At the breakfast table, the following morning, Mrs. Vandergill remarked
 My dear, you do not rise this morn- ing with your u,ual freshness and good humor. You must have worked all night at the bedside of aangerously-ill patient"
 did not go to bed until nearly day. light" the doctor replied, but was not called away on professional business. My dear, slipping his coffee, "I medi- tated over your words with regard to those skeletons, and thinking that might have shown a sel6shness which l have never entertained, 1 decided to prove my deep love for you by removing the features of your unhappiness. The skele- tons are all buried"
 "Oh, you dear man." she exclaimed, in tones of delight. And did you bury them on account of love for me !'
 "Yes; l was determined that nothing. not even the pride which have ever taken in anatomy, should tend to ruffie the smooth current of our household en- joyment."
 am sure, doctor, that you will never regret your generous action. It is de- lightful to think of being loved with such devotion"
 Several months after the burial, when the skeletons were almost forgotten save by the old doctor, whose mind was still troubled, Mrs. Vanderbilt remarked one evening as she and her husband sat in the library:
 How pleasant and cheerful this room is now"
 "Yes," replied the doctor. rather dryly.
 Are you quite sure, dear," approach ing him, and seating herself on his knee, and fonily encircling his neck w,th her sair arms, that your love for me was the true cause of this rooms cheerfulness p
 "Yes, darling, and it is your love for me which makes the entire house glow with the sunshine of happiness"
 "i didn't know but that you had some other motive for removing the skeletons"
 What other motive could have in-