The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1900-04-06

The closet door flew open and n well
developed skeleton strobe ont and drop
ped with rattle into chair The cav
ernous eyes were blankly expressive
to Gordon. For him also there was
something sarcastic in tho grin Of the
heshless jaws.
"Dust me off. - said the skeleton. 81
want to show up as frightful as posi-
BILE tonight
The request presented itself to Cor.
don as command which he was pow.
erless to disobey. Picking up a feather
duster, he piled it vigorously about the
cleaning white bones
"Achoor' he sneezed, dropping the
duster and falling into his chair.
lyon 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 chat
The skeleton crossed its bony legs and
settled back comfortably
'Will it do me any good to have a
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 its bony jaws with a
succession Of cracking sounds that
made Gordon shiver. How it used to
startle him! He would turn white as a
sheet as he booked up into my face
Once he sprang to his feet in despera-
ton, and wo had wrestle all about the
room, overturning chairs, tables and
everything else that came in our way"
"You succeeded well in shortening
my fathers life. returned Gordon
gloomily. under your tyranny he 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. 1t was rich
inheritance, my dear boy, even though
1 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 Franken-
stein, he built mo up, bone by bone,
and was not content until he had made
gigantic monster and had breathed
into my bony breast tho breath Of life
Then, in order that 1 might not afflict
his sight, he slowed me away in that
closet. Suppose 1 became the instru-
ment Of his own undoing. Is it not true
his own downfall" ?"
"Your logic seems to be as merciless
as it is correct" answered Gordon,
with knitted brows. Still, there are
some points relating to your history on
which my mind is trife obscure.
What possessed my father to call into
being creature of your disagrecable
characterP"
'"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 astride his shoulders like an Old Man
of the Sea, nor did he think that it was
possible for me to affiict 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 ont of
q certain bear who was not nimble
enough to get out of his way
And who was this bearT' 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 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. "it is not for me to moralize .
Now that I've caught myself deliver
ing homily. Ill just take my depart
ure. Au revoir. nv dear fellowr'