The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-06-24
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FAMILY !:
SPECTER.
It Was Exercised by
O Pretty Girl

"By Jove, Gordon, / don't know what
to make of your exclaimed Tom Fair
leigh, drawing on his gloves with con-
siderable show of vexation. Amy Hep
burns happiness is dear to me; in fact,
l came here tonight to tell you that l
love her.
'sTo tell met" broke in Gordon. "Why
don't you tell herr"
wait, can't you? Let me finish. |
have told her, and she declined me. 1t
was done very gently and with the great
est possible regard for my feelings, but
nevertheless | was declined. Don't think
me a fool because | come here and make
a confession which can be nothing less
than notifying. I'm doing it for Amy's
sake"
"For Amy's sakeI' echoed Gordon.
Eyes. I want to see her happy, and
you are the man to make her so. She
declined me on your account OF course
l knew long g that you were my rival,
but did you not know until two hours ago
that you were the successful one. You
aren't worthy Of her and don't deserve
her, but don't think for a moment that l
believe myself more worthy or more de-
serving" Pausing suddenly, Fairleigh
walked to his friends side and laid a
band on his shoulder. Il can't under
stand what q mean by leading Amy
to believe that you care for her, while
all the time dividing our attention with
Nell Forthdyke. Would you be inhuman
enough to break a heart as loyal as
Amy's"
Don't get tragic, Tom. I'm not going
to break anybody's heart. Nell is rich.
you know
"And so are you," sneered Fairleigh,
walking hurriedly to the door and laying
his hand on the knob, but Amy Hep
burn is poor. Society dares you to wed
with poverty. If you love Amy, are you
man enough to take the dare? Examine
into the financial condition of the Hep
burns, reflect upon the cause of their
downfall in fortune and then let me see
il you are strong enough to leap this
Brahmanical barrier of CASTE"
With this parting shot Fairleigh passed
quickly out of the room and slammed the
loot behind him. Harry Gordon gave
vent to a long whistle, settled himself
back in his chair and thoughtfully lighted
a cigar.
"That was quite a JOLT" he muttered,
looking upward through the curling
wreaths of smoke. "sHow happy could
| be with either were t'other dear charm-
er away! It's as sure as can be that l
love one and fancy the other, but who
will unrayel the Gordian knot? Which
is it to be-Amy or NellY'
A knock fell on the door. not on the
outside Goor. but on a door leading into
a closet. Harry Gordon stirred uncom-
fortably in his chair, a vexed look coming
into his eyes as he fixed them upon the
closet door. After . brief interval of
silence the knock was repeated.
Now, what in the world aroused
you" cried Gordon.
Business is business" came a hollow
voice from the other side Of the closet
door. sI'm here for a purpose, and If l
do not make chat purpose manifest once
in awhile you'll forget all about me-"
This remark was followed by a clank-
ing, cachinnatory outburst that seemed
to crate harshly on Gordon's ear.
"Well, what do you want 2" he asked.
81 want to come out and show myself.
You know I'm here. but q little ocular
demonstration won't come amiss, / take
it. Remember, I'm showing considera-
ton for you. / might have kicked open
IQlS uOOT anu otdIhCd ONt tAtS tAS SSAs
but / didn't. | raped
Cant you put it off! Come put to-
morrow. I've got something else to think
about now
.sThe high and mighty order of family
skeletons are not in the habit of playing
second fiddle, or taking back seats, for
anybody. I'm coming at once"
sAll right, them g~roaned Gordon,
squaring himself about in his chair.
"Come on"
The closet door few open and a well
developed skeleton strobe out and drop
ped with a rattle into a chair. The cav
ernous eyes were blankly expressive-to
Gordon. For him, also, there was some
thing sarcastic in the grin Of the feshless
jaws.
Dust me off," said the skeleton. Il
want to show up as frightful as possible
tonight"
The request presented itself to Gordon
as a command which he was powerless
to disobey. Picking up a feather buster,
he piled it vigorously about the cleaning
white bones.
"A-choow. he sneezed, dropping the
buster 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 a chat
The skeleton crossed its bony legs and
settled back comfortably.
"Will it do me any good to have a chat
with you?" 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 ca~ressingly
about his neck" The skeleton laughed,
working its bony jaws with a succession Of
cracking sounds that made Gordon shiv-
er. How it used to startle him! He
wodld turn white as a sheet as he looked
up into my face. Once he sprang to his
feet in desperation and we had a wrestle
all about the room, oyorturning chairs,
tables and everything else that came in
| our way"
"You succeeded well in shortening my
| fathers life,'' returned Gordon gloomily.
Under your tyranny be sank into his
grave long before his time"
$50 he did, so he did. and he passed
me on to you with the rest Of his prop
erty, real and personal. It was q rich
| Inheritance. ms dear boy. eyen. though