The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1900-08-04
His Family Scepter.

by Jove, Gordon, don't know
what to make of your exclaimet
Tom Fairleigh, drawing on his glove
with considerable show of vexation
Amy Hepburn's happiness is dear t
me. In fact, l came here tonight t.
tell you that l love her,
ITO tell mer' broke in Gordon
why don't you tell her!'
"Wait-can't you? Let me finish.
have told her, and she has declined me
1t was done very gently and with tn,
greatest possible regard for my feel
lngs, but nevertheless | was declined
Don't think me fool because l come
here and make a confession which car
De nothing less than notifying. I'm
doing 1t for Amy's sake"
For Amy's sakeT' achoed 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 success
full one. You aren't worthy of her
ana don't deserve 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 lsid. 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 inhu-
man 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 Fair
leigh, walking hurriedly to the door
and laying 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 dare?
Examine into the financial condition
or the Hepburns, reflect upon what
caused their downfall In fortune and
then let me see If you are strong
enough to leap this Brahminical bar
rier of 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,
seated himself back In chair and
thoughtfully lighted cigar
THAT was quite. JOLT" he muttered.
looking upward through the curling
wreaths of smoke. "How happy could
j be with either were t'other charmer
away! It's as sure as can be that l
love one and fancy the other. But
who will unravel this gordon knot :?
Which Is 1t to be-Amy or Nell?"
A knock fell on the door, not on the
outside door. but on a door leading in
to closet. Harry Gordon stirred I'M
comfortably in his chair, a vexed look
coming into his eyes as he fixed them
upon the closet door. After brief
interval of silence the knock was re-
peated.
"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 a purpose,
and IL | do not make that purpose
manifest once In awhile you'll forget
all about me-"
This remark was followed by n
clankiRg. cachinnatory outburst that
seemed to CRATE harshly on Gordon's
ear.
"Well. what do you wantY' he asked.
Il want to come out and show my
self. You know I'm here, but a little
ocular demonstration won't come
amiss, take it. Remember, I'm show
Ing consideration for you. 1 might
have kicked open this door and stalked
out into the room. But l didn't. /
raped"
Cant You put Ii 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, thcn," groaned Gordon.
squarlng himself about on his chair.
"Come on"
The closet door flew opcn and
well developed skeleton strobe out and
dropped with n rattle into chair. The
cavernous eyes were blankly express
sire-to Gordon. For him also there
was something sarcastic in the grin
of tho fcshlcSs laws.
"Dust me on" said the skeleton. az
want to show up rs frightful as posi-.
bic tonight"
The request presented itself to Cor
don as command which he was pow.
crlcss to dIsobey. Picking up feath
CIR dustcr, he piled 1t vigorously about
the cleaning white bones.
"Achoo" he sneezed. dropping the
dustcr 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"
The skeleton crossed Its bony legs
and settled back comfortably.
"Will 1t do me any good to have a
chat with you?" queried Gordon.
'sThat remains to be seen. 1t used
TO do your father good. Why, 1t was
my custom to visit him every night.
As he sat before that table writing