The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1900-04-18

THE FAMILY SPECTER.

"By Jove, Gordon, don't know
what to make of your exclaimed Tom
Fairleigh, drawing on his gloves with
considerable show of vexation. "Amy
Hepburn's happiness is dear to me. In
fact, l came here tonight to tell you
that / love herr
ITO tell mer' broke in Gordon.
"Why don't you tell her?p
"Wait-can't You? Let me finish. ]
have told her, and she has declined
me. 1t was done very gently and with
the greatest possible regard for my feel
ings, but nevertheless | was declined.
Don't think me a fool because come
here and make confession which can
be nothing less than mortifying. Pm
doing it for Amy's sake"
"For Amy's sake?n echoed Gordon.
'Yes; want to see her happy, aud
you are the man to make her so. She
declined me on your account. OF course
l knew long ago that you were my ri
val, but did not know until two hours
ago that you were the successful one.
You aren't worthy of her, and don't
deserve her, but don't think for mo-
ment that l believe myself more wor.
thy or more deserving" Pausing sud-
denly, Fairleigh walked TO his friends
side and laid hand on his shoulder.
''I 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 a
heart as loyal as Amy's?"
"Don't get tragic, Tom. I'm not go
ing to break anybody's heart. Nell is
rich, you know
"And so are you" sneered FairIeigh,
walking hurriedly to the door and lay
ing bis 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 dare? Exam
inc into the financial condition of the
Hepourns, reflect upon what caused
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 pass
ed quickly out of the room and slam
med the door behind him. Harry Cor
don gave vent to a long whistle, settled
himself back in chair, aud thought
fully lighted a cigar.
''rhat was quite JOLT" he mutter-
ed, looking upward through the curl
ing wreaths of smoke. How happy
could / be with either were tother
eharmer awayp It's as sure as can be
that l love one and fancy the other.
But Who will unravel this Gordon knot?
Which is it to be-Amy or Nell?'
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, 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 hol-
low voice from the other side Of the
closet door. "I'm here for purpose,
aud if do not make that purpose man.
ifest once in awhile, you'll forget all
about me-"
This remark was followed by claBk
ing, eachinnatory outburst that seemed
to CRATE harshIy on GordOn's ear.
"well, what do you want?" he asked.
al want to come out and show N.Y.
self. You know I'm here, but little
ocular demonstration won't come amiss
take it. Remember I'm showing con-
sideration for you. might have kick
ed open this door and stalked out into
the room. But didn't. trapped"
Cant you put it off? Come out to-
morrow. I've got something else to
think about now.n
''rhe high and mighty order Of fam
lily skeletons are not in the habit of
playing second fiddle or taking back
seats for anybody. Pm coming at
onee.n
"All right, then" groaned Gordon,
squaring himself about in his chair,
ssCome on.u
The closet door flew open and we'll
developed skeleton strobe out and drop
ped with rattle into a chair. The cav
ernous eyes were blandly expressive
to Gordon. For him also there was
something sarcastic in the grin of the
fieshless jaws
"Dust me off," said the skeleton. 81
want to show up us frightful as posi-
BILE tonight"
The request presented itself to Cor
don as a command which he was pow
erless to disobey. Picking up a feath-
er-duster, he piled it vigorously about
the cleaning white bones
"Achoor' he sneezed, dropping the
duster, and failing into chair.
"You ought not to neglect me" said
the skeleton. 'I'm one Of the family,
and should be treated az such. Now,
then, let's have chat"
The skeleton crossed its bony legs
and settled back comfortably.
"WHl it do me any good to have a
chat with you,n queried Gordon.
THAT 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 writing,
I'd sneak out OF that closet, come qGi-
etly up behind him and put an arm ca