The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-10-18
AT LAST.

it sat in its web and waited .+AI THINGS
come" and you know how hounufuuy
they come to the web etc, Of the waiting.
- don't see, Paula, how you can waste
your time watching that bush DO you
expect golden leaves TO put out suddenly
from the almost withered stalks2f
Hush, " said Paula. q want to ser what
comes into the parlor Of this poor, hungry
little spider"
And, To- a fat wiggling thing. a thing
without wings that might have helped the
wiggling a bit, fell from somewhere above
just into the stronghold Of Paula s protenet
The girl was all excitement See,
she cried, "how patience IS rewarded
shall take it for sign and believe that the
rain must soon fall, the grass grow green
again, the cow yield better measure and
the flowers that paid so we'll a while since.
yes, the flowers bloom again. How empty
the luck box is, 70 be surel' she whia-
pered. And wee Nannfe's fever running
low. And the flowers all promised Tor
the next weeks night when tha fine lail
comes off at the red house. Little Spider.
little spider, help me pray for the good
fortune that viii bring things right
And her mood changing swiftly she criod
to herself, but not so that wee Mamie
should hear. No one heard nor saw hn6
the spider hidden away ia the spider bush
and swelling, swelling, even to his legs.
from the luscious repast which the ,yig-
Cling thing furnished.
Angry Marnheretta had left Paula go
her strange idle way" Better take 10
her needle. She can sew when she wills.
and times are growing worse and worse.
can't think what is 20 come OF those two.
and the little one failing So fast What
ever made them come away TO this strange
land TO dief Father mother and now VICE
Mamie, for where are the wine and tha
broth to be got that will strengthen hcr fD
fight the fever, and Paula so needless
Then, relenting, But such a bravo heart.
too, and SO, SO beautiful
Paula was SO hopeful. so fun of hor now
fancy. The loss Of sleep with wee Mamie
the night before seemed to have left no
trace of WEAKNESS. She felt that her play
mate, her dear little sister, must get we'll
She had SO long withstOod this fever.
And so all day she watched the cloudless
sky, believing that the rain speek would
come, and toward evening wee Nannle
grew restless, but only for a little while.
Paula, watching her saw sudden tWitcll-
ing of the lips and stiffening Of the limbs.
"Margberetta," she cried, and when the
nurse mother came Paula raised her hands
implOringly, "a dread questioning in har
eyes. For Paula had seen father and
mosher die, and the clammy GOODNESS
which now began to creep, creep slowly
up wee Nannie's feet chilled also the hope
in Paula's heart.
The rain fell steadily for three days.
Maybe il soaked down through the ground
and into where the worn little body ana
prettily made frOck weue put awny. 10
came not TOO late to save Paulas flowers,
but somehow she forgot even TO look after
them. Tbs money they brought had boon
for wee Mamie, and now
The sun came out, and tho blossoms
seemed laden with jewels. Paula did not
see; the tears were 80 thick before har
eyes. But Marghorctta had been into the
empty larder. When the footman from
the red house came down to say ha wanted
all the flowers now open, and would the
young lady bring all she could gather iar
the ball, p two days hence, Margheretta
gave ready assent. I'VE must live ' she
told Paula, and, looking at the old Sc
through her tears, Paula echoed Wcarilys
Eyes, we must live. On, htuie sistcH.
little sister, why could not youf' she
cried, and, going out into the night. which
was coming on, she crouchcd under the
spider bush When her tears were spent,
she sat there still, looking up at the stars
and bordering the loving words chat fa
Their, mother and wee Mamie were even
now speaking Of her, and she seemed ta
feel how they pitied her loneliness down
there.
A tiny thing crawlod down her hair and
around her throat. Absently she put her
hand to crush it. The spider seemed to
spring aside, alighting upon the bncl, OF
her wrist, and as her eyes IN the starligl6
fell upon her small companion q fender
recollection Of how she had spoken SO it %
the little sister caused her tears 10 flow
afresh
The spider passed over a bridge of bis
own making back TO the lttle corner.
where he could safely blink down upon
his grieving friend who socined not 10
know that the thing best 10 do avns stlu
Ito wait.
Before the sun had power 70 wilt them
Paula gathered her wealth. OF blooms and
carried them on that morning OF the BAH
M To the Grand red house on fhe hill She
toiled slowly up, not noticing o tan, stern
looking old man in the path confronting
her until the deep tones OF his voice sound
ed close TO her ear.
''Your burden is fair to look upon and
most fragrant but Tia a fow short hours
they wither. Are they TO deck The rooms
for tonight's empty mirthf Como again
tomorrow, young girl, and look no your
garlands.' And lac laughed harshly as he
moved aside to let her pass.
Frightened and hurt. Paula frightened
her hold upon her basket and sped up tho
path, but only for a TOW steps Somethiua
seemed to turn her and lead her back to
the bitter old man. SHE lightly touched
him on the arm. 81 will come, sir, ta-
morrow morning VIII you meet INC horef
Something hurts you sorcly that you turn
upon my flowers OH sir. they cannot
help it any more than could my poor little
spideri" She looked so tendcrly brave.
not shrinking from the bent brows OF the
naughty, disappointed old man, only Wist-
fully regarding him. And it was SO rev.
this pity for him that shOne in the soft
gray eyes So long he had stood alone in
his pride, steeling his heart as LIES disap
pointment, disgrace, death and doubt in
the honor Of mankind followed fast upon
his footsteps.
Wealth he had, but the fawuing Battery
Of the sycophaut sickened him of 80. The
butterfly life OF those about him, living %
I.a II