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

what to make of your exclaimed Tor
Fairleigh, drawing on his gloves, wit
considerable show of vexation. Gam.
Hepburn s happiness is dear to me. Ii
fact, l came here tonight to tell yo1
chat love her.
''To tell mel' broke in Gordon
"Why don't you tell herr
''Wait, can't your Let me finish.
have told her, and she has declined me
1t was done very gently and with thu
greatest possible regard for my feelings
but nevertheless | was declined. Don
think me a fool because come here
and make a confession which can be
nothing less than notifying. I'm do
ing it for Amy's sake.
"For Amy's sake?" echoed Gordon.
eyes; l want to see her happy. and
you are the man to make her So She
declined me on your account Of course
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 de-
serve her, but don't think for moment
that l believe myself more worthy or
more deserving" Pausing suddenly.
Fairleigh walked to his friends side
and laid hand on his shoulder. II
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's?'
Don't get tragic, Tom. I'm not 60
ing to break anybody's heart. Nell is
rich, you know
"And so are you, sneered Fairleigh,
walking hurriedly to the door and lay
ing his hand on the knob. "but Amy
Hepburn is poor. Society dares you to
wed with poverty. If you love Amy,
are you man enough to take the dare2
Examine into the financial condition
OF the Hepburns, reflect upon the cause
of their downfall in fortune and then
let me see if you are strong enough to
leap this Brahminical 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 chair and
thoughtfully lighted cigar.
"That was quite a JOLT" he NUT
tered, looking upward through the
curling wreaths of smoke. +" How
happy could l be with either were
t'other dear charmer awayl It's as
sure as can be that love one and fancy
the other. But who will unravel the
Gordian knot? Which is it to be-Amy
or Nell?"
A knock fell on the door, not on the
door, but on door leading into
a closet. Harry Gordon stirred uncom-
fortably in his chair, vexed look COM
ing into his eyes as he fixed them upon
the closet door. After a brief interval
of silence the knock was repeated.
"Now, what in the world aroused
you?' cried Gordon.
Business is business, " came a hol-
low voice from the other side of the
closet door tim here for purpose, and
it l do not make that purpose manifest
once in awhile you'll forget all about
me-.
This remark was followed by a clank-
ng, cachinnatory outburst that seemed
10 CRATE harshly on Gordon's ear.
"Well, what do you want2" he
asked.
81 want to come out and show N.Y.
self. You know I'm here, but a little
ocular demonstration won t come amiss,
take it, Remember, L m showing con-
'ideration for you. I might have kicked
open this door and stalked out into the
DOM. But didn't. l raped.
Cant you put it off Come out to-
morrow. I've got something else to
hink about now"
1.-The high and mighty order of fam
ly skeletons are not in the habit of
playing second fiddle or taking back
eats for anybody. I'm coming at once"
"All right, then," groaned Gordon,
quaring himself about in his chair.
Come on.
The closet door flew open and well
developed skeleton strobe out and drop
Jed with rattle into chair. The cav
eyes were blankly expressive
% Gordon For him also there was
omething sarcastic in the grin of the
leshless jaws.
"Dust me off,, said the skeleton. 81
want to show up as frightful as posi-
de tonight"
The request presented itself to Cor
Ion as a command which he was pow
,rless to disobey. Picking up a feather
luster, he piled it vigorously about the
cleaning white bones.
"Achoo' he sneezed dropping the
iuster and falling into his chair.
"You ought not to neglect me-" said
he skeleton. "I'm one of the family
md should be treated as such. Now.
hen, let's have chat.
The skeleton crossed its bony 1oc., 49,,