The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-06

-
by evening he was glad to receive note
from the man, who had his address, stating
that he would soon send NJ. Julien the
finest articulated skeleton in Paris.
Many weeks passed before the skeleton
was finally his, however. Pierre Giraud
took several days TO die, and then his body
was given to the students Of the hospital
for dissection. As they finished with each
limb the janitor carefully secured the bone,
removed all shreds of flesh from 1t and
placed il where IT would bleach in the sun.
Then the pieces had to be sorted and ar
ticulated; but when IL was finished 1t was
beautiful piece Of mechanism.
One morning Julien returned late from
meeting of fellow-students. II was after
two when he reached his own door. Let
| ting himself in he assembled TO his floor
and opened the door. Suddenly his hair
stood on end and the KEYS dropped from
his hand rs he caught sight of grinning
skeleton leaning against the wall. In an
instant he recovered himself, however,
and proceeded to examine his new acqui-
sition.
Between the thumb and forefnger the
skeletons right hand he found bill, with
the following note scrawled beneath.
1t is very fine specimen, as you can see.
| The only defect is slight depression in
| the third left rib, which seems TO have
been produced by the blow OF some time
prior TO the mans DEATH But il is little
thing, and does not detract from the value
OF The skeleton.
Julien examined the mark, and saw that
il was plainly visible; but rs the note
said, il was OF no consequence.
1t was one Of those windy days In which
the constant movement OF the clouds
causes itful play OF shadow, and the as
pect OF the grinning skull seemed to change
necessarily; when the shadow Of a passing
cloud fell upon ii the hollows and creviccs
OF the skull were softened as II by a veil Of
sadness; again, sudden burst oil light lit
up the. angles and edges Of the eye-sockets,
nose and jaws, and made on the face gr-
maces TO which the glistcning white teeth
replied with hideous grin.
As Julien, fascinated by the ghoulish
play, gazed at the spectral face, he saw de-
veloped there and grow distinct the traits
OF Pierre Giraudl Not death, nor dsscct-
ing, nor bleaching in corrosive liquors had
been able TO obiiieraie the individuality,
the ineflnceable plan OF lines and contours
of the face, and Pierre Giraud himself,
made eternal in what had been most
memorable in his features, rose up beiorc
Julien and seemed to say TO him:
"Do you recognize me? 1t Is i, Pierre
Giraud! And yet the sister OF mercy told
, mo that should soon be cured"
!, And as the fantastic lincaments OF that
, face became precise, Julien seemed 10 see
, the expression Of irony and menace in
crease in il
As the days passed by he grew quite
fond of his silent model, and all went wei
! with him for some time, and would hav,
1 gone well forever, perhaps, II there hat
not been among the young men who IRE
, | qucnted his studio drunken fool. OF al
the beasts that Providence, IN its insrru
: table designs, has left on this earth, ihcr'
: is none greater or more execrable ihan !
Q sol, and Sosthene Roullinat, rs this ont
= was called, was a classic example OF hi
kind. Sad as night ut bottom, and almos
always III into the bargain, he emptie,
bottle after bottle to create the impression
u that his heart was an unquenchable sourc
c OF good humor and gaiety. Vulgar, un
|. couth and british in his tastes, he believe,
himself TO be the most refined and witt.
. man in Paris. II is unnecessary to AL,
= that he was materalist, realist, radi
G cal, skeptic and utterly unreligious al
IS without knowing why, Tor he WAS as u
?: norant as an ass.
One evening, when several Of Julien
friends had met in the studio, n stron
= punch was brewed. Among the compan
It weie Roufiinat and pretty model name
Q Rosamonde.
Roufinat, heated by the punch an
brandy, became 30 coarse and boisierou
. that the others grew quiet and would nc
= drink with him as often "a he wished
y Suddenly, noticing this, he began Ion
= speech, approaching them for their solen
' nifty, and then turning toward the skel
elon, cried:
death and damnstionl Gentlemen,
= shall put you all to shame. Venerable dc
!, funct, approach, that may teach ihes
" lubben how the nncicnts drink when
i mortal requests the pleasure OF a 8 lass wit
n them"
. Going 10 the skeleton, he lifted Il M
% placed Il in n chair and presented 10 1t
I. glass filed with brandy.
"0ho! old friend" cried Rouflinat, aftc
a moment OF silence, so, we refuse! Tha
l. il not right Wen, You shall drink II n
}" the same. A teetotal skeleton, ehp Come
n come, swallow II down."
~ So saving, he opened the skeleton
IL Jaws, and poured in the brandy, whic
flowed down over the skeletons neck an
= thorax.
y "What you arc doing Is absurd" eric
Il Julien, "and II Is abominable, too. Real.
! Il is the remains Of n man"
Al '"Hal hal" laughed Rouilinat, prcien'
Il ing 10 hold his sides for mcrrimcn
a cullen turned moralist, and preaching Q
AZ the immortality OF the soul7'' And tur
or ing TO the skeleton he added: I'VE
rd | well make ourselves comfortable durir
Of the Sermon" and lighting slip OF papc
no he thrust his pipe between tho skeleton
he teeth and applied the light The brand
10 with which tho bones were soaked TOO
fire, and CHASTITY fame burst out, noun
K ing 10 the face, descending ON the nee
A. on the chest, and down the sides from =
n. 10 rib, enyeloving the skeleton In shc
ar OF Pickering, blush fame, which gave II
supernatural appearance.
ng Dumb with horror, the spectators OF u
a scene sat glued 10 their chairs; Rouiiini
n, paralyzcd with terror, dropped into chs
yc and watched the fame a. itpalcd and we
out, aiicr Pickering around the skeleton
ny mouth moment, ~ II some lost sigh
life, forgotten by death, had at last be
In cxilaled forever.
as Julien presently recovered his prcscn
in OF mind. and putting the skeleton back
NJ. lis place, said: "0ncc for all, forbid y
he 10 Try any more Of your wrciched jokes
p" this skeleton"
n.