The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1900-05-26

into his grave long DeIOre MS tlue.
$50 he did, so he did, and he passed
me on to you with the rest of his
property, real and personal. 1t was
a rich inheritance, my dear hoy, even
though / had to be dragged at its
heels. Yet don't accuse me of any
responsibility for your fathers TAX
ing off. He was the author of my ex-
istence. Like Frankenstein, he built
me up bone by bone, and was not con-
tent until he had made gigantic
monster and had breathed into my
bony breast the breath of life. Then,
in order that / might not affiict his
sight, he slowed me away in that
closet. Suppose i became the instru-
ment of his own undoing. Is it not
true that he was, nevertheless, the
author of his own downfall?"
"Your logic seems to me as merci-
less as it is correct" answered Cor
don, with knitted brows. ''Still there
are some points relating to your his
tory on which my mind is a trifie OBJ
scure. What possessed my father to
call into being creature of your dis.
agreeable character?"
1.-THE almighty dollar, young man
He created me in order that you might
inherit a little more wealth. He did
not think then how i should one day
sit astride his shoulders like the
Old Man of the Sea, nor did he think
that it was possible for me to af
flict his son. For obvious reasons
my relations with you are not so init
mate as they were with your worthy
father. i was evolved out of tho
wheat pit of the board of trade. Your
father was bull, and he mercilessly
gored both life and fortune out of q
certain bear who was not nimblt
enough to get out of his way"
''And who was this bear?" asked
Gordon.
"a man named Hepburn"
"Amy Hepburn's father?' muir
INJURED the young man, rubbing hi.
hand across his brow in an effort te
remember.
"Yes, Hepburn lost every penny he
had in the world through that dis
astrous wheat deal. He was forced
into bankruptcy. and. unable to beal
the disgrace. took his own life. Hi.
money went to increase the store
your father left you, my boy, and i
is now possible for yoI TO live il
luxury while Hepburn's wife and chill
dren mustsstruggle on as best they
can. However, and the skeleton go
up and started back to its closet, ii
is not for me to morales. Now tina
I've caught myself delivering HON
lily I'll just take my departure. A,
revoir. my dear fellow!"
Hating at the closet door, the skel
eton waved its adieu and disappeared
within. Gordon sat in his chair, deel
in thought, while his cigar burned it
self out between his fingers.
At last he got up and shook hi'
broad shoulders as though freeing
himself from disagreeable burden.
Society dared me-" he muttered
'but I know my heart now and II
do as ] please
After Harry Gordon and Amy Hep
burn had been married and had re
turned from their honeymoon, Harr,
brought his bride upstairs to his oil
bachelors den and seated her in
| chair.
my dear" he said, 81 have con
fession to make to you. My fathe
once did your father grievous wrong
and have made myself the happies
fellow in the world by undoing il
| However, as we are not to have an,
secrets from each other, you mus
know about this
A look of establishment came int,
Amy's blue eyes as she watched he
husband proceed to the closet. throw
open the door and go rummaging in
side.
what in the world are you lookin!
for, Harry" she asked, as he returne,
to her side.
"I'm looking for something tina
does not seem to be there-the Cor
don family skeleton, Amy. For tn
first time in Is years it is not to b
found in that closet"
Just then clanlxing tread wa
heard in the hallway without, tn
door was pushed slowly ajar and tn
skeleton limped in, supporting itsel
on a crutch and looking very nue.
the worse for wear.
"There it isl" cried Gordon. "Vhat'
the matter with you, old chap? Here
sit down. l want to make you &C
quainted with my wife"
The family skeleton dropped into
chair and shook until it ratified Xix
score of castanets-
"I'm done for" it groaned. "You'v
fixed me, young man. l just droppe
in to say good-by forever. But dom
introduce me to your wife. View