Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1899-09-22

had to be dra2 ~ II Is taols. Yet
don't accuse lao of any responsibility
ipr your father tain or He was the
author OF my c.,i tc,.e Like Franken-
stein, he built Mo MP, bono by bone,
and was not content until ne had made
gigantic mon tar and had breathed
into my bony breast the breath Of life
Then, il order tlIt l might not af1lict
his sight, he slowed I.o away in that
closet Suppose aocama the instru-
ment of his own undoiag Is it not true
that he was nevertheless the author of
his own downfallT
"IoUr logic s2elrs 10 be as merciless
as j. is correct. answered Gordon,
with knitted brows still, there are
some points relating to your history on
which my mind is triho obscure
What POSSESSED my father to call into
being n creature Of your disagreeable
character
THE almighty dollar, young man
He created mo in order that you might
inherit little more wealth. He did
not think then, how | should one day
sit astrde his shoulders like an Old Man
Of the Sea, n0' did he think that it was
possible for me TO atIlict his son. For
obvious reasons, my relations with you
are not So intimate as they were with
your worthy father | was evolved ont
Of the wheat pit of the board Of trade
Your father was a bull, and he merci-
lcssly gored both life and fortune out Of
certain bear who was not nimble
enough to get ont Of his way
"And who was this bear2' asked
Gordon
"A man named Hepburn. !"
Amy Hepburn : 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-
trous wheat deal He was forced into
bankruptcy and, unable to bear the dis
grace, took his own life. His money
went 90 increase the store Your father
left you, my boy. and it is now possible
for you 20 live in luxury while Hep
burn 5 wife and children must struggle
on as best they can However, and
the skeleton got mp and started back to
its closet, lit is not for me to moralize
Now that I've caught myself deliver
ing a homily, I'll just take my depart
ure. An rcvoir, my dear fellowH
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 it
self out between his fingers.
At last he got mp and shook his broad
shoulders as though freeing himself of
a disagreeable burden
Society has dared me- he mutter-
cd. "but / know my heart. now. and
I'll do as l pleaseH'
After Harry Gordon and Amy Hep
burn had been married and had re-
turned FROM their honeymoon Harry
brought his bride up stairs 10 his old
bachelor don and seated her in a chair
My dear he said, ~ have CON
fossion to make to You. My father once
did your father a grievous wrong, and |
have 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
husband proceed TO the closet, throw
open the door and go rummaging about
inside
"What in the world are you 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 fam
lily skeleton, Amy. For the first time in
- years it is not to be found in that
closet.
Just then 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
"There it isl" cried Gordon. whats |
the matter with you, old chap? Here,
sit down / want TO make you acquaint |
ed with my wife "
The family skeleton dropped into
chair and shook until it ratified like |
score of castanets.
I'm done for, it groaned. lyon We |
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.
"Tlfst'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 |
enoughH"
Enough. yesl" And he pa. q !
rapturous kiss upon her fair cleeS
That kiss pronounced the doon of the |