People's voice., 1900-03-29
HIS FAMILY SpECTER

"By Jove, Gordon, l don't know
what to make of you'll" exclaimed Tom
Falrleigh, drawing on his gloves, with
considerable show of vexation. "Amy
Hepburn's happiness is dear to me. In
TACT, | came here tonight to tell you
that l love her.
''To tell mel" broke in Gordon.
why don't you tell herr"
"Wait, can't your Let me finish. 1
have told her, and she has declined me.
1t was done very gently and with the
greatest possible regard for my feelings,
but nevertheless l was declined Don't
think me a fool because l come here
and make a confession which can be
nothing less than mortifying. I'm do
ing it for Amy's sake. "
''For Amy's sake?" echoed Gordon.
''Yes; / 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't de-
serve her, but don't think for a moment
that / 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'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 dare 7
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. 1"
With this parting shot Fairleigh
passed quickly out of the room and
slammed the door behind him. Harry
Gordon gave vent to long whistle,
settled himself back in a chair and
thOughtfully lighted cigar.
"That was quite a JOLT" he NUT
tered, looking upward through the
curling wreaths of smoke. Z" How
happy could 1 be with either were
tother dear charmer awayr It's as
sure as can be that l love one and fancy
the other. But who will unravel the
Gordian knott Which is it to be-Amy
or NellH"
A knock fell on the door, not on the
outside door, but on door leading into
closet Harry Gordon stirred uncom-
fortably in his chair, a vexed look COM
ing into his eyes as he fixed them upon
the closet door. After brief interval
OF silence the knock was repeated.
'Now, what in the world aroused
your" cried Gordon.
Business is business" came a hol-
low voice from the other side of the
closet door. "I'm here for purpose, and
If do not make that purpose manifest
once in awhile you'll forget all about
me-"
This remark was followed bya clank
ing, cachinnatory outburst that seemed
to CRATE harshly on Gordon's ear.
'Well, what do you wantr" he
asked.
II want to come out and show nv.
self. You know I'm here, but a little
ocular demonstration won come amiss
! take it. Remember, I'm showing con-
sideration for you. l might have kicked
open this door and stalked out into the
room But | didn't. raped"
"Can't 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. :"
"All right, then," groaned Gordon,
squaring himself about in his chair.
"CGEie on"
The closet door few open and well
developed skeleton strobe 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
heshless jaws.
"Dust me of, " said the skeleton. 81
want to show up as frightful as posi-
bic tonight.
The request presented itself to Cor
don as command which he was pow
erless to disobey. Picking up a feather
duster, he piled it vigorously about the
cleaning white bones.
"Achool" 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 a chat.
Thn rl-olnAo., l.....-.l u -