The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1899-09-09

erless to disobey. Picking up feathes
duster, he piled it vigorously above the
cleaning white bones.
"A-choo!" he sneezed, dropping the
duster and falling into his chair.
| "You ought not to neglect me-" said
the skeleton. I'm one of the family
and should be treated as such. Now,
then, let's have q chat"
The skeleton crossed his bany legs
and settled back comfortably.
"Will it do me any good to have .
chat with your queried Gordon.
THAT remains to be seen. 1t used to
do your father good. Why, it was my
custom to visit him every night. AS he
sat before that table there, writing, I'd
sneak out of. that closet, come quietly
up behind him and put an arm caress-
ingly about his neck" The skeleton
laughed, working his bony jaws with
a succession of cracking sounds that
made Gordon SILVER.
"You succeeded well in shortening
my fathers life," returned Gordon,
gloomily. "Under your tyranny he
sunk into his grave long before his
time"
$50 he did, 80 he did, and he passed
me on to you with the rest of his prop
erty, real and personal. 1t was a rich
inheritance, my dear boy, even though
l had to be dragged at its heels. Yet
don't accuse me of any responsibility
for your fathers taking off. He was
the author of my existence. Like
Frankenstein, he built me up, bone by
bone, and was not content until he had
made gigantic monster and breathed
into my bony breast the breath of life.
Then, in order that might not afflict
his sight, he slowed me away in that
closet. Suppose l became the instru-
ment of his own undoing? Is it not
true that he was, nevertheless, the
author of his own downfall?"
"Your logic seems to be as merciless
az it is correct" answered Gordon, with
knitted brows. "Still there are some
points relating to your history on
which my mind is a trifle obscure.
What possessed my father to call into
being creature of your disagreeable
character"
1.-THE almighty dollar, young man.
He created me in order that you might
inherit a little more wealth. He did
not think then how should one day
sit astride his shoulders like an old man
of the sea, nor did he think that it was
possible for me to afflict his son. For
obvious reasons my relations with you
are not SO intimate as they were with
your worthy father. / was evolved out
of the wheat pit of the board of trade.
Your father was bull, and he merci-
lessly gored both life and fortune out
of certain bear who was not nimble
enough to get out of his way"
And who was this bear?" asked Cor
don.
"A man named Hepburn"
Amy Hepburn's father?" murmured
the young man, rubbing his hand across
his brow in an effort to remember.
''Yes, Hepburn lost every penny he
had in the world through that disas-
trcus wheat deal. He was forced into
bankruptcy, and, unable to bear the dis
grace, took his own life. His money
went to increase the store your father
left you, my boy, and it is now possible
for you to live in luxury while Hep
burns wife and children must struggle
on as best they can. However," and the
skeleton got up and started back to its
closet, lit is not for me to moralize.
Now that I've caught myself delivering
a homily, I'll just take my departure.
Au revoir, my dear fellow"
Hating at the closet door, the skele-
ton waved its adieu and disappeared
within. Gordon sat in his chair, deep
in thought, while his cigar burned itself
out between his fingers.
At last he got up and shook his broad
shoulders as though freeing himself of
a disagreeable burden.
Society has dared me-" he muttered.
''but know my heart now, and I'll do
as pleased"
After Harry Gordon and Amy Hep
burn had been married and had re-
turned from their honeymoon, harry
brought his bride upstairs to his old
den and seated her in chair.
my DEAR" he said, II have confess
sion to make to you. My father once
did your father grievous wrong, and 4
have made myself the happiest fellow
in the world undoing it. However, as
We are not to have any secrets from
each other, you must know about this"
A look of establishment came into
Amy's blue eyes as she watched her
husband proceed to the closet, throw
open the door and go to rummaging
about inside.
what in the world are you looking
or, Harry" she asked, as he re-
turned to her side