Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1900-08-30
HIS FAMILY SPECTER

by Joye. Gordon. don't know
what 10 make of you'll exclaimed Tom
Fairleigh. drawing on his gloves, with
considerable show of vexation. Amy
Hepburn happiness is dear to me In
fact, | came here tonight to tell you
that | love her
ITO tell mel" broke in Gordon
why don't you tell herr
Wait, can't you? Let me finish l
have told her, and she has declined rle.
1t was done very gently and with the
greatest possible regard for my feelings,
but nevertheless / was declined Don't
think me a fool because | come here
and make a confession which can be
nothing less than mortifying I'm do
ing it for Amy's sake. q"
"For Amy's sake2'' 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
l 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 moment
that | believe myself more worthy or
more deserving" Pausing suddenly.
Fairleigh walked to his friends side
and laid hand on his shoulder Il
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 So
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 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 II you love Amy,
are you man enough to take the daref
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 ot~caste.
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. " How
happy could | 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 krotI Which is it to be-Amy
or Nell2'
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
you?' 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 by clank-
ing, cachinnatory outburst that seemed
to CRATE harshly on Gordon's ear.
Well what do you wanyF he
asked.
at want to come out and show my
self You know I'm here, but a little
ocular demonstration won come amiss,
take it, Remember, I'm showing con-
sideration for you. 1 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
eeats for anybody. I'm coming at once.
''All right, then. groaned Gordon.
squaring himself about in his chair
''Come on
The closet door flew 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
feshless jaws
"Dust me off, said the skeleton. II
want to show up as frightful as posi-
BILE tonight.
The request presented itself to Cor
don as command which he was pow
erless to disobey. Picking up 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 chat.
The skeleton crossed its bony legs and
settled back comfortably.
"Will 1t do me any good to have a
chat with your queried Gordon
"Tfat 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 it's bony jaws with Il
succession Of cracking sounds that
made Gordon shiver "How it used to
startle himl He would turn white as a
sheet as he looked up into my face
Once he sprang to his feet in despera-
ton. and we had a wrestle all about the
room. overturning chairs, tables and
everything else that came in our way.
"You succeeded well in shortening
my fathers life returned Gordon
gloomily. Under your tyranny he sank
into his grave long before his time
$50 he did. 20 he did. and he passed
me on to you with the rest Of his prop
erty, real and personal 1t was rich
inheritance. ,ny dear boy. even though
I had to be4dragged at its heels. Yet
don't accuse me of any responsibility
for your father taking off. he was,the
author OF my existence. Like Franken-
stein, he built me up, bone by bone,
and was not content~until he had made
gigantic monster and had breIthed
into my bony breast the breath of life.
Then. in order that 1 might not afillct
his SIGHT he slowed me away in that