The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-06-24

z N me Of any responsibility
for Vi xJather's taking off. He was
the auh It my existence. Like Frank
e~nstein, 80 quilt me up, zone by bone,
and was Ea osntent until he had made
a gigantic monster and had breathed
into my bony breast the breath Of life.
Then, in order that | might not afiict
his sight, he slowed me away in that
closet. Suppose / became the instru
ment Of his own undoing? Is it not true
that he was, nevertheless, the author
of his own downfall?'
sYour logic seems to be as merciless
as it is correct" answered Gordon, with
knitted brows. "Still there are some
points relating to -four history on which
my mind is a trife obscure. What pos
sessed my father to call into being a
creature Of four disagreeable charac-
teri"
"The almighty dollar, young man. He
created me in order that 0 might in
herit a little more wealth. He did not
think then how l 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 afiict 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 a bull, and he merciless-
" gored both life and fortune out of a
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"
fanny Hanhurn,a fafharYv mTrrnUrpd
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 disastrous
wheat deal. He was forced into bank
ruptcy and, unable to bear the disgrace,
took his w 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 Hepburn's wife
and children must struggle on as best
they can. However," and the skeleton
got up and started back to its closet,
sit is not for me to moralize. Now that
I've caught myself delivering a homily
I'll just take my departure. Au reyoir,
nv uear fellow"
Hating at the closet door the skeleton
waved it's adieu and disappeared within.
Gordon sat in his chair, deep in thought,
while his cigar burned itself out be-
tween 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 I know my heart now, and I'll do
as l pleased"
" =
After Harry Gordon and Amy Hep
burn had been married and had returned
from their honeymoon Harry brought his
bride UP stairs to his old bachelors den
and seated her in a chair.
MY DEAR" he said, Il have a confess
sion to make to you. My father once did
your father a grievous wrong, and l
nave made myself the happiest fellow
in the world by 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 hus-
band proceed to the closet, throw open
the door and go to rummaging about in
side.
What in the world are o looking
for, Harry?' she asked as he returned to
her side.
I'm looking for something that does
not seem to be there-the Gordon family
skeleton, Amy. For the first time in 10
years it is not to be found in that
closet"
Just Their a clanking tread was heard
in the hallway without, the door was
pushed slowly ajar, and the skeleton
limped in, supporting itself on a crutch
and looking very much the worse for
wear.
'aThere it is!, cried Gordon. whats
the matter with you, old chap? Here,
sit down. I want to make you acquafnt-
ed with my wife,"
The family skeleton dropped into a
chair and shook until it ratified like a
score of %castanets.
I'm done for" it groaned. sYou've
fixed me, young man. | just dropped in
to say goodby forever. But don't intro
duce me to your wife. We've met be-
fore"
THAT'S SO, Harry" said Amy. II
know all about this family skeleton of
yours. Don't let it worry you, my DEAR"
and she threw her soft arms about his
neck. LET the dead past bury its dead.
If We are happy, isn't that enoughF
Enough, yes." and he pressed a rap
turous kiss upon her fair cheek.
That kiss pronounced the doom Of the
Gordon family skeleton. Forthwith it be-
gan to fade intv thin air, finally vanish
ing and leaving not a wrack behind
Buffalo News.