River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1891-12-10
THE LIVING SKELETON.
tie, Indeed. Gave More Than
Eighty Francs to the Charity.

liz III l4tp CHILLI 1O4f.
he. Indeed. Gave Moro Than
Eighty Francs to the Charity.
q was Aliclz Robbins who named
the invalid the Living Skeleton, and
probably rcmorsc for having thus
given HIM "A title 30 descriptivelv accu-
rate caused him In make friends with
the Living Skeleton. a man who seemed
10 have no friends
Robbins never forgot their first CON
versation. It happened in this way; Ii
was the habit of the Living skeleton
10 leave his hotel promptly every morn
ny at ten o'clock II the sun was shin
.ug, and = shuttle rather than 20 walk
DOWN the gravel street = the avenue
II palms There. picking out seat on
which the sun shone. the Living Skel-
ston would sit down and seem To wait
patiently for some ono VINO never
zane lie wore n shawl around his
neck AM soft cloth cap on his skull
livery bone in his face stood out
against the skin, for there seemed u
be no flesh. and MS clothes hung a
oosely on him as they wou.d have
upon skelstol- II required no second
glance at the Living Skeleton to know
that the remainder ~ his life was NUN
bered bv Gays ar hours and not bv
weeks or months lie didn't seem 70
have energy enough 20 read. and 50 it
was that Robbins sat down one DAY on
the bench beside him and said. sympa-
thetically:
Il hope you ara feeling better to
1ay"
The Skeleton tnrned toward him and
laughed a low. no.seless and mirthless
laugh for a moment. and then said. in
hollow, PARKWAY voice that had no
lungs behind il. II an through with
feeling either better or wo-sc
oh, I hope it is not As bad as thai"
said Robbins; the climate Is dong
sou good do-yn here. is IL aot2'
Again the Skeleton laughed silently.
md Robbins began TO feel uneasy The
Skeletons eyes Ness large and bright,
and they fastened themselves upon
Robbins IN = way that increased that
gentIemau's unsasiness. and made him
think that perhaps the Skeleton knew
ne had 50 named him.
II have no more interest in climate"
said the skeleton. II merely seem TO
i've because / have been IN the habit
II living for SON year,; presume that
: it. because M lungs are entirely
gone Why can talk Or why 7 csn
breathe IS d mystery 10 ma You are
perfectly certain you hear me2"
On, hear you quite distinctly"
said Robbins
''WeH. If IL wasn't that people tell
ne that they can hear me wouldn't
believe that I am really speaking. ne
Gauss. Won see. ! nave nothing % speak
Eith. Isn't il Shake>p are who saws
something a' nut when the brains are
ont the man Is deais Well have seen
some men who make me think Shakes
peaa' was wrong IN his diagnosis
but il is genera ir supposed that when
the lungs are gnue a IEan l. dead To
tell the truth. ! am dead, practically.
You know the old American story
about the man vh1 walked around TO
save funeral expenses; wen, IL isn't
auiSe that way with me. tut can APP
preciate how the man felt Stul.
take a keen interest in Iifc. although
Won might not think 50. You see. i
haven't much time left. am going To
lie at eight o'clock On the SJth of
April Eight o'clock at night. not in
morning, just after table d'hptc is done
with a"
You're going to 1sta''" cried Rob-
bins. in astonishmeut
I'm going todie that day. You see.
have got things 70 such a fine point
chat can die any time I want to.
could die right here now, II I wished
II YOU have any mortal interest in the
matter Ill do H. and show you that
what say Is true. don't mind much.
vou know, although I had fixed April
the 5jth a. the limit Il wouldn't mat
ter bit for me u 90 off now, if it
would be Of any interest o. Won
n beg Won sand Robbins very
much alarmed. mot - try any exper-
iucuts on my account I an quite
willing u believe anything YOU say
about The mattcr--of course YOU ought
t. know"
Yes. do know. answered the Liv-
ing Skeleton. sadly "Of course. ]
have had my struggle with hope and
fear. but that is az past NOW, a. You
may wei understand. The reason
that have fixed the date for the S3ih
IF April * this. Iou see I have only
certain amount Of money 4 do not
know whv should make any secret Of
il 7 Eavs exactly two hundred and
forty francs today. over and above
another one hundred francs which
have set aside for another purpose
am paying eight francs n dav at the
Golden Dragon that YOU see will keep
me Just thirty days. ant then inteui
g. die
The skeleton laughed again. without
sound. and Robbins moved uasaS.ly on
the sea-.
Il don't see. he said. finally. what
there i - laugh about in that con
dition az affairs"
Don't you2~ said the Skeleton.
Well. I don't suppose there II very
much. but there Is something else that
consider very laughable. and that
will tell vou II you will keep a secret;
Sou see. the old Golden Dragon him
self-I always call our iunlseeper the
Golden Dragon. just as You call me the
Living skeleton
oh I beg your pardon" said Rob
bins. stammering. l."
"Oh. it doesn't matter at all. You
a-c perfectly right and ] think that a
very apt term Well. the old Golden
Dragon makes great deal of his
money by robbing the dead Nou
didn't know that did you2 You thought
It was the living who supported him,
and goodness knows he robs them
when he has a chance Well. you are
much mistaken. When n man dies in
the Golden GraEon.' he, OF his friends
rather, have 70 pay very sweetly for IL
The Dragon charges them for refur-
nishing the room Every stick Of
furniture IS charged for. all the wall
paper and 50 on l suppose it is per-
tectly right 20 charge something. but