The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1900-04-18
bIe-, and everything else that came in

bles, and everything else that came in
our way"
''You succeeded in shortening my
fathers life," returned Gordon. gloom
lily. "Under your tyranny be 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 of. He was
the author of my existence. Like
Frankenstein, he built me up bone By
bone, and was not content until he had
made a gigantic monster and had
bresthed into my bony breast the
breath of life. Then in order that I
might not sfflict his sight lie slowed
me away in that closet. Suppose Re
came the instrument Of his own undo
ing. Is it not true that be was never
theIess the author of his own down
fall?n
''Your logic seems TO me 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 trifle obscure.
What possessed my father to call into
being creature of your disagreeable
eharaeter?'
''The almighty dollar, young man.
He created me in order that you might
inherit little more wealth. He did
not think then how | 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 afflict his son.
For obvious reasons my relations with
you are Lot so intimate as they were
with your worthy father. was evolv-
ed out of the wheat pit Of the board of
trade. Your father was bull, and he
mercilessly gored both life and fortune
out of certain bear who was not nim-
bic enough to get out of his way"
"And who was this bear?'' asked
Gordon.
"a man named Hepburn"
"Amy Hepburn's father?" murmur-
ed the young man, rubbing his hand
acrsss his brow in an effort to remem-
bef.
"Yes, Hepburn lost every penny be
lad in the world through that disas-
trous wheat deal. He was forced into
bankruptcy, and, unable to bear the
disgrace, took his own life. His monty
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 10
bis closet, 'it's not for me to moralize.
Now that Pve caught myself deliver
ing homily, I'll just take my depart
ure. Au revoir, my dear fellow"
Hating at the closet door the skelc-
ton waved its adieu and disappeared
within. Gordon sat in his chair, deep
in thought, while his cigar burned itself
out between his fingers.
At last he got up and shook his broad
shoulders as though freeing hims self
from disagreeable burden.
sSociety has dared me-" he multer-
ed, "but know my heart now and I'll
do as | please"
After Harry Gordon aud Amy Hep
burn had been married and had return
ed from their honeymoon, Harry
brought his bride upstairs to his old
bachelors den and seated her in a
chair.
"My dear,n he said, 81 have con-
fession to make to you. My father once
did your father grievous wrong, and
have made myself the happiest fellow
in the world by undoiDg it. However,
as we are not to have any secrets from
each other, you must know about this"
A look OF astonishment came into
Amy's blue eyes as she watched Ter
husband proceed to the closet, thrt W
open the door, and go to rummagiDg
inside.
"What in the world are you looking
for, Harry ?" she asked as he returned
to her side.
"Tm looking for something that does
not seem to be there-the Gordon fi.m-
ily skeleton, Amy. For the first tin e
in fifteen years it is not to be found in
that closet"
Just then clanking tread was heard
in the hallway without, the door was
pushed slowly sjar, and the skeleton
limped in, supporting itself on erutch
and looking very much the worse for
wear.
There itisr' cried gordon. whats
the matter with you, old chap? Here,
sit down. l want 10 make you ae-
quainted with my wife"
The family skeleton dropped into
chair and shook until it ratified like
score Of castanets.
"I'm done for" it groaned. "You've
fixed me, young man. / just dropped
in to say good-by for ever. But don't
introduce me to your wife. We've met
before"
That's So, Harry said Amy. 'I
know all about this family skeleton Of
yours Don't let it worry you, ny
dear" and she threw her soft arms
about his neck. "'Let the dead past
bury its dead If We are happy, isn't
that enough"
Enough, yesr' And he pressed
rapturous kiss upon her fair cheek.
That kiss pronounced the doom Of
the Gordon family skeleton. Forth
with it began to fade into thin air, fl
nally vanishing and leaving not
wrack behind. Chicago Times-Herald.
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Church, Helena, Mont.
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