Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1891-12-10
THE LIVING SKELETON.
He, Indeed, Gave More Than
Eighty Francs to the Charity.

10, 1uu00Cl, ItVS MOT0 IMAM
Eighty Francs to the Charity.
1t was Alick Robbins who named
the invalid the Living Skeleton, and
probably remorse for having thus
riven him title so descriptively accu-
ate caused him to make friends with
the Living Skeleton, man who seemed
to have no friends.
Robbins never forgot their first con-
versation. 1t happened in this way: 1t
was the habit of the Living Skeleton
to leave his hotel promptly every morn
ing at ten o'clock if the sun was shin
ing, and to shuttle rather than to walk
down the gravel street to the avenue
Of palms. There, picking out seat on
which the sun shone, the Living Skel-
eton would sit down and seem to wait
patiently for some one who never
came. He wore a shawl around his
neck and a soft cloth cap on his skull.
Every bone in his face stood out
against the skin, for there seemed to
be no flesh, and his clothes hung as
loosely on him as they would have
upon a skeleton. 1t required no second
glance at the Living Skeleton to know
that the remainder of his life was num-
bered by days or hours and not by
weeks or months. He didn't seem TO
have energy enough to read. and so it
was that Robbins sat down one day On
the bench beside him and said, sympa-
thetically:
Il hope you are feeling better to-
day"
The Skeleton turned toward him and
laughed low, noiseless and mirthless
laugh for a moment, and then said, in
hollow, far-away voice that had no
lungs behind it: II am through with
feeling either better Or worse"
"Oh, hope it is not as bad as that"
said Robbins; 1.-THE climate is doing
you good down here, is it not?''
Again the Skeleton laughed silently,
and Robbins began to feel uneasy. The
Skeletons eyes were large and bright
and they fastened themselves upon
Robbins in a way that increased that
gentleman's uneasiness, and made him
think that perhaps the Skeleton knew
he had so named him.
II have no more interest in climate, >
said the Skeleton. 81 merely seem to
live because have been in the habi,
of living for some years; presume that
is it, because my lungs are entirely
gone. Why 1 can talk or why 1 cal
breathe is mystery to me. You are
perfectly certain you hear me?''
"Oh, hear you quite distinctly,
said Robbins.
well, if it wasn't that people tel
me that they can hear me 1 wouldn't
believe that am really speaking, be-
cause, you see, have nothing to speak
with. Isn't it Shakespeare who says
something about when the brains are
out the man is dead? Well, have seen
some men who make me think Shakes
peare was wrong in his diagnosis
but it is generally supposed that wher
the lungs are gone man is dead. Tc
tell the truth, 1 am dead, practically
Yo1 know the old American story
about the man who walked around tt
save funeral expenses; we'll, it ISM
quite that way with me, but can ap
preciate how the man felt. Still,
take keen interest in life. although
you might not think so. You see,
haven't much time left; am going tc
die at eight o'clock on the 3Oth OF
April. Eight o'clock at night, not in
morning, just after table d'hote is done
with"
you're going to aohat?" cried Rob.
bins, in establishment
I'm going to die that day. You see,
! have got things to such fine point
that can die any time I want TO- ]
could die right here now, if wished.
If you have any mortal interest in the
matter I'll do it, and show you that
what say is true. don't mind much
you know, although I had fixed April
the 3Oth as the limit. 1t wouldn't mat.
ter a bit for me to go off now, if il
would be of any interest to you"
II beg you," SAID Robbins, very
much alarmed, 'not to try any exper
iments on my account I am quite
willing to believe anything you say
about the matter--of course you ought
to know
Eyes, do know" answered the Liv
ing Skeleton, sadly. '.Of course, ]
have had my struggle with hops anc
fear, but that is all past now, as yor
may well understand. The reason
that have fixed the date for the 3Otl
of April is this: You see have only {
certain amount of money! do no
know why should make any secret o
it. I have exactly two hundred ane
forty francs to-day, over and above
another one hundred francs which ]
have set aside for another purpose.
am paying eight francs day at the
Golden Dragon;' that You see will keep
me just thirty days, and then l intend
to die
The Skeleton laughed again, without
sound, and Robbins moved uneasily on
the seat.
II don't see,'' he said, finally, sswhat
there is to laugh about in that con.
dition of AFFAIRS
Don't your said the Skeleton
swell, I don't suppose there is very
much; but there is something else thai
consider very laughable, and that
will tell youif you will keep secret
You see, the old Golden Dragon him
self always call our innlseeper the
Golden Dragon, just as you call me the
Living Skeleton"
"oh, beg your pardon said Rob
bins, stammering. 81