The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1891-12-12
THE LIVING SKELETON.
He, Indeed, Gave More Than
Eighty Francs to the Charity.

GlBnUy francs TO Jn9 CnarlCy.
II was Alicli Robbins who named
Che invalid the Living Skeleton, and
probably remorse for having thus
given him title so descriptively accu-
rate 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
90 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-
etoD 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
LudI Jllc TGHdluutT VI Ills lllts WAS
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:
81 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
Il hollow, far-away voice that had no
lungs behind it: 81 am through with
feeling either better or worse"
ooh, 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 We're 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.
81 have no more interest in climate, -
said the Skeleton. 81 merely seem to
Hive 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 l can
breathe is a mystery to me. You are
perfectly certain you hear me?"
''Oh, 1 hear you quite distinctly -
said Robbins.
well, if it wasn't that people tell
fhaf thayr hnor. I H.yn,,1l,,
believe that am really speaking, be-
eanse, you see, have nothing TO speak
with. Isn't it Shakespeare who says
something about when the brains are
out the man is dead2 We'll, have seen
some men who make me think Shakes.
peare was wrong in his diagnosis,
bat it is generally supposed that wher
the lungs are gone man is dead. Tc
tell the truth, am dead, practically
You know the old American story
about the man who walked around tc
save funeral expenses; well, it ISM
quite that way with me, but can ap
prsciate how the man felt. Still,
take keen interest in life, although
y0n might not think so. You see,
haven't much time left; anu going tC
die at eight o'clock on the Both o.
April. Eight o'clock at night, not il
unOrning just after table dhote is done
~ith."
E'You're going to Ohdt!" cried Rob
bins, in astonishment.
''rm going to die that day. You see
4 have got things to such fine poin
shat can die any time / want to.
-Iould die right here now, if / wished
M you have any mortal interest in thu
matter III do it, and show you tina
what say is true. don't mind much
you know, although ! had fixed Apri
the 3Oth as the limit. 1t wouldn't mat
Ter bit for me to go off now, if i
would be of any interest 10 you"
II beg you," SAID Robbins, very
much alarmed, mot to try any exper
dments on my account / am quit'
willing to believe anything you say
about the hatter-of course you ought
60 know"
'"Yes, do know" answered the Liv
ing Skeleton, sadly ''Of course,
have had my struggle with hope ant
fear, but that is all past now, as yol
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
At have exactly two hundred anC
forty francs to-day, over and above
another one hundred francs which
have set aside for another purpose.
am paying eight francs a day at the
Golden Dragon;' that you see will kee
me just thirty days, and then l inte nd
20 die"