The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-01-19

and should be treated as such. Now,
then. let's have chat -
The skeleton crossed its bony legs and
settled back comfortably.
s'Will it do me any good to have
chat with you?" queried Gordon.
ssThat 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
succession of cracking sounds that
made Gordon shiver. Glow it used to
! startle him He would turn white as q
sheet as he looked up into my face.
!! Once he sprang to his feet in despera-
ton, and we had wrestle all about the
room, overturning chairs, tables and
everything else that came in our way. y
''You succeeded well in shortening
my fathers life," returned Gordon
gloomily. Under your tyranny he sank
| into his grave long before his time. -
so he did, so he did, and he passed
me on to you with the rest of his prop
erty, real and personal. 1t was a rich
inheritance, my dear boy, even though
had to be dragged at its heels. Yet
don't accuse me Of any responsibility
! for your fathers taking off. Hewas the
author of my existence. Like Franken-
stein, he built me up, bone by bone,
and was not content until he had made
q gigantic monster and had breathed
into my bony breast the breath of life.
! Them in order that might not afflict
his sight, he slowed me away in that
i closet. Suppose 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 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 disagreeable
character2"
"The almighty dollar, young man
He created me in order that you might
inherit little more wealth. He did
not think, then, how I 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 aff1ict his son. For
! obvious reasons my relations with you
are not so intimate as they were with
your worthy father. I was evolved out
, Of the wheat pit Of the board of trade
Your father was a bull, and he merci-
lessly gored both life and fortune out Of
| certain bear who was not nimble
enough to get out of his way"
"And who was this bear3'' asked
Gordon.
"A man named Hepburn.
"Amy Hepburn g father2" murmured
the young man, rubbing his hand across
his brow in an effort to remember.
eyes. 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, sit is not for me to moralize.
Now that I've caught myself deliver
ing homily, I'll just take my depart
ure. Au revoir, my dear fellowl"
Hating at the closet door, the skele-
ton waved its adieu and disappeared
within. Gordon sat in his chair, deep
in thought, while his cigar burned it.
self out between his fingers.
At last he got up and shook his broad
shoulders as though freeing himself Of
a disagreeable burden.
Society has dared me, he mutter-
ed, "but l know my heart. now. and
III do as 1 pleasel'
After Harry Gordon and Amy Hep
burn had been married and had re-
turned from their honeymoon Harry
brought his bride up stairs to his old
bachelor s den and seated her in chair.
my dear, " he said ct have con
fession to make to you. Ny father once
did your father grievous wrong, and I
have made myself the happiest fellow
in the world by undoing it, However,
as we are not to have any secrets from
each other, you must know about this. .
A look of establishment came into
Amy's blue eyes as she watched her
husband proceed to the closet, throw
open the door and go rummaging about
inside.
3'What in the world are you looking
for. Harry?' she asked as he returned
to her side.
"I'm looking for something that does
not seem to be there-the Gordon fam
lily skeleton, Amy. For the first time in
Is 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 ajar and the skeleton
imped in, supporting itself on crutch
and looking very much the worse for
wear
''There it isl" cried Gordon. "What's
the matter with you, old chap? Here