Middletown transcript., 1900-03-17
! HIS FAMILY SPECTER

Fairleigh drawing on his gloves, with
considerable show Of vexation. Amy
HepburD's 's happiness Is dear to me In
fact. I came here tonight to tell you
that I love her
tTo tell mel" broke in Gordon.
"Why don't you tell her ~
ssWait, can't your Let me finish.
have told her, and she has declined me.
It was done very gently and with the
greatest possible regard for my feelings,
but nevertheless was declined. Don't
think me fool because come here
and make a confession which can be
nothing less than mortifying I'm do
ing it for Amy's sake. :"
stFor Amy's sake 2" echoed Gordon.
t'Yes; / want to see her happy, and
you are the man to make her So She
declined me on your account. Of course
I knew long ago that you were my
rival, but did not know until two hours
ago that you were the successful one.
You aren't worthy Of her and don't de-
serve her, but don't think for moment
that I believe myself more worthy or
more deserving" Pausing suddenly,
Fairleigh walked to his friends side
and laid hand on his shoulder. 81
can't understand what you mean by
leading Amy to believe that you care
for her while all the time dividing
your attention with Nell Forthdyke.
Would you be inhuman enough to
break heart as loyal as Amy'sf". Z
Don't get tragic, Tom. I'm not go-
ing TO break anybody's heart. Nell is
rich, you know
"Arid 80 are You" sneered Fairleigh,
walking hurriedly to the door and lay
Ing his hand On the knob, ""but Amy
Hepburn is poG. Society dares you5to
wed with poverty. II You love Amy,
are You man enough to take the dare
Examine into the financial condition
of the Hepburns, reflect upon the cause
Of their downfall in fortune and then
let me see IL you are strong enough to
leap this Brshminical barrier of caste. !"
With this parting shot Fairleigh
passed quickly out OF the room and
slammed the door behind him. Harry
Gordon gave vent to a long whistle,
settled himself back in a chair and
thoughtfully lighted a cigar.
ssThat was quite q JOLT" he mutt
tered. looking upward through the
curling wreaths Of smoke How
happy. could / be with either were
t'other dear char1ner awayr It's as
sure as can be that I love one and fancy
the other. But. who will unravel the
Gordian knott Which IL 1t to bs-Amy
or Nellf"
L A knock fell on the door, not on the
outside door, but on door leading into
a closet. Harry Gordon stirred uncom-
fortably In his chair, q vexed look com
ing into his eyes as he fixed them upon
the closet door. After brief interval
| Of silence the knock was repeated
SHOW, what in the world aroused
you 7" cried Gordon.
Business is business, came hol-
low voice from the other side Of the
closet door. "I'm here for purpose, and
IL do not make that 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 wantr he
asked.
''I want to come ont and show my
seif. You know I'm here butfa little
ocular demonstration won't come amiss,
take 1t. Remember, T. m showing con-
sideration for you. ISmight have kicked
open this door and stalked out into the
room. But ! didn't i raped. !"
"Can'f you put it Off Come out to-
morrow. I've got something else to
think about now"
"The high and mighty order Of fam
lily skeletons are not in the habit Of
playing second fiddle or taking back
seats for anybody. I'm coming at once. =
can right. then," groaned Gordon,
squaring himself about in his chair.
"Come on"
The closet door few open and q well
developed skeleton strode out and drop
/ ped with rattle into chair. The cav
ernous eyes were blankly expressive
to Gordon. For him also there was
something sarcastic in the grin of the
fieshless jaws.
"Dust me of, +" 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 feather
duster, he piled it vigorously about the
cleaning white bones
"AchooP' he sneezed, dropping the
duster 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 chat. I"
The skeleton crossed its bony legs and
settled back comfortably.
"Will it do me any good to have .
chat with youi' queried Gordon.
"That remains to be seen. 1t used te
do your father, good Why, it was my
custom to visit him every night. As ht
sat before that table there writing II
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 {
succession Of cracking sounds tina
made Gordon shiver. "How it used tt
etartle himl He would turn white as {
sheet as he looked up into my face
Once he sprang to his feet In despera
ton, and we had wrestle all about th'
room, overturning chairs, tables ant
everything else that came in our way. :
/ stYou succeeded well in shortening
my fathers life," returned Gordor
gloomily. "Under your tyranny he sanl
into his grave long before his time" 7"
so he did, 50 he did, and he passet
me on to you with the rest Of his prop
erty, real and personal 1t was q ricl
inheritance, my dear boy. even thouRl
I had to be dragged at its heels Ye'
don't accuse me Of any responsibility
for your fathers taking off. He was the
author Of my existence. Like Franken
stein, he built me up, bone by bone
and was not content until he had made
Isas gigantic monster and had breatheC
into my .bony breast the breath of life.
Then, in order that might not Attic