St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1900-02-14

and was not content unGll ne udu mdu
a gigantic monster and had breathe
into my bony breast the breath of life
Then, in order that might not atf1ic
his sight, he slowed me away in tina
closet. Suppose 1 became the instru
ment of his own undoing. Is it not tru
that he was nevertheless the author O
his own downfall2''
"Your logic seems to be as merciles
as it is correct" answered Gordon
with knitted brows. "Still, there ar
some points relating to your history OF
which my mind is trife obscure
What possessed my father to call int
being creature of your disagreeabl'
| character 2"
'The almighty dollar, young man
He created me in order that you nigh
inherit little more wealth. He die
not think, then, how should one day
sit astride his shoulders like an Old Mar
of the Sea, nor did he think that it was
possible for me to afflict his son. Fol
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 merci-
lessly 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 bear2" asked
Gordon.
"a man named Hepburn.
"Amy Hepburn s father2" murmured
the young man, rubbing his hand across
his brow in an effort to remember
eyes. 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 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. sit is not for me to moralize.
Now that I've caught myself deliver
ing homily, I'll just take my depart
ure. Au revoir, my dear fellowP
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 up and shook his broad
shoulders as though freeing himself of
a disagreeable burden.
Society has dared me-, he mutter-
ed, "but l know my heart, now, and
I'll do as l pleased"
After Harry Gordon and Amy Hep
burn had been married and had re-
turned from their honeymoon Harry
brought his bride up stairs to his old
bachelor s den and seated her in chair
'My dear, he said, 81 have con
fession to make to you. My father once
did your father a grievous wrong, and l
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
10 years it is not to be found in that
closet. y
just then clanking tread was heard
in the hallway without, the door was
pushed slowly ajar and the skeleton
limped in, supporting itself on crutch |
and looking very much the worse for
wear.
"There it isl" cried Gordon. "What's
jhe matter with you, old chap2 Here,
ut down. | want to make you acquaint-
ID with my wife.
The family skeleton dropped into
hair and shook until it ratified like a
core of castanets.
"I'm done for, it groaned. you've
ixed me, young man. just dropped in
o say goodby forever. But don't intro
luce me to your wife. We've met be-
ore"
"That's so, Harry" said Amy. 81
now all about this family skeleton of
ours Don't let it worry you, my
ear," and she threw her soft arms
bout his neck. "Let the dead past bury
is dead. If we are happy, isn't that
nough? p
Enough, yes" And he pressed a
apturous kiss upon her fair cheek.
That kiss pronounced the doom of the
Fordon family skeleton. Forthwith it
egan to fade into thin air, finally van
'hing and leaving not a wrack behind.
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