The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1891-12-10
THE LIVING SKELETON.

"A. NJ AVA, In N. 7. Ledger.
THE LIVING SKELETON.
lie, Indeed, Gave More Than
Eighty Francs to the Charity.
1t was Alick Robbins who named
the invalid the Living Skeleton, and
probably ~remorse for having thus
'lven 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 ut 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-
etop would sit down and seem to wait
patiently for some one who never
came. He wore shawl around his
neck ami 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 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:
II hope you are feeling better to-
day.
The Skeleton turned toward him and
laughed a low. noiseless and mirthless
laugh for moment, and then said, in
hollow, far-away voice that had no
lungs behind it: Il am through with
feeling either better or worse"
''Oh, hope it is not as bad as that"
said Robbins; 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 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. II merely seem to
live because have been in the habit
of living for some years: presume that
is it, because my lungs are entirely
gone. Why can talk Or why can
breathe is a mystery to me. You are
perfectly certain you hear me?"
''Oh, hear you quite distinctly"
said Robbins.
'Well, if it wasn't that people tell
me that they can hear me l wouldn't
believe that am really speaking, be-
cause, you see, have nothing 20 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 when
the lungs are gone a man is dead. To
tell the truth, l am dead, practically.
You know the old American story
about the man who walked around to
save funeral expenses; we'll, it isn't
quite that way with me, hut 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 to
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 uhat?" cried Rob-
bins, in establishment.
''Im going to die that day. You see.
have got things to such fine point
that l can die any time l want to. 1
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 1 had fixed April
the 3Oth as the limit. 1t wouldn't mat
ter bit for me to go off now, if it
would be of any interest to you"
II beg you," SAID Robbins, very
much alarmed, mot to try any exper-
iments on my account l am quite
willing to believe anything you say
about the matter--of course you ought
to know"
''Yes, do know, "ransweredt the Liv-
ing Skeleton, sadly. ''Of course, !
have had my struggle with hope and
fear, but that is all past now, as you
may well understand. The reason
that have fixed the date for the 30th
of April is this: You see have only a
certain amount of money! do not
know why should make any secret OF
it. l have exactly two hundred and
forty francs to-day, over and above
another one hundred francs which
have set aside for another purpose. ]
am paying eight francs day 1t the
Golden Dragon that you see will keep
me just thirty days. and then l intend
to de-
The Skeleton laughed again, without
sound, and Robbins moved uneasily on
the seat.
II don't see," he said, finally, "what
there is to laugh about in that con-
dition of AFFAIRS
Don't you?" said the Skeleton
swell, don't suppose there is very
much; but there is something else that
consider very laughable, and that ]
will tell you if you will keep a secret.
You see, the old Golden Dragon him.
self always call our innkeeper the
Golden Dragon, just as you call me the
Living Skeleton !: ~ 4a~-a~
::oh, Il beg your PARDON" said Rob.
bins. stammering. 'I-''