The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-10-22
AT LAST.

10 sat In its web and waited. "All things
come" and you know how bountifully
thoy come to the web, etc., Of the waiting.
II don't see, Paula, how yeu can waste
your time watching that bush. DO you
sxpect golden leaves TO put out suddenly
from the almost withersd stalkss"
Hush, said Paula. II want to SEQ what
comes into the parior Of this poor, hungry
little spider"
And, 10, fat wiggling thing, a thing
without wings that might have helped the
wigglins bit, fell from somewhere above
just into the stronghold OF Psula's protege!
The girl WAS all excitement. See"
she cried, "how patience Is rewarded!
shall take IL for sign and believe that the
rain must soon fall, the grass grow green
the flowers that paid SO well while since,
yes, the flowers bloom again. WV empty
the luck box Is, 10 be surel" she whis-
percd. And wee Nannie's fever running
20 low. And the flowers all promised for
the next weeks night when the fine ball
comes offat the red house. Little spider,
little spider, help me pray for the good
fortune that will bring things rightP'
And her mood charging swiftly she cried
to herself, but not so that wee Mamie
should hear. No one heard nor saw but
the spidor hidden away in the spider bush
and swelling, swelling, even TO his legs,
from the luscious repast which the wig
Cling thing furnished.
Angry Marg had left Paula TO
her strange idle way" Better take to
her needle. She can sew when she wills,
and times are growing worse and worse. l
can't think what Is TO come of those two,
and the little one falling so fast. What
ever made them come away to this strange
land to dieg Father, mother and now wee
Mamie, for where are the wine and the
broth to be got fhat will strengthen her To
fight the fever and Paula SO heedlessY'
Then, relenting, But such brave heart,
too, and 30, so beautiful
Paula was so hopeful, so full of her new
fancy. The loss Of sleep with wee Mamie
the night before seemed to have left no
trace Of weariness. 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 speck would
come, and toward evening wee Mamie
grew restless, but only for little while.
Paula, watching her, saw a sudden twitch-
ing of the lips and stiffening Of the limbs.
"Margheretta," she cried, and when the
nurse mother came Paula raised her hands
imploringly, a dread questioning in her
eyes. For Paula had seen father and
mother dis, and tho clammy coldness
which now begn to creep, creep slowly
up wee Nannies 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 and
prettily made frock were put away. 1t
came not too late to save Paula's flowers,
but somehow she forgot even to look after
them. The money they brought had been
for wee Mamie, and now
The sun came out, and the blossoms
seemed laden with jewels Paula did not
see; the tears were SO thick before her
eyes. But Marghoretts had been into the
empty larder. When the footman from
the red house oamo down TO say he wanted
all the flowers now open, and would the
young lady bring all she could gather for
the ball, two days hence, Margheretta
gave ready assent. I'VE must live, /" she
told Paula, and looking at the old nurse
through her tears, Paula echoed wearily:
"Yes, We must live. Oh. little sister,
little sister why could not your" she
was coming On, she crouched under the
spider bush When her tears were spent,
she sat there still, looking up at the stars
and pondering the loving words that IA
ther mother and wee Mamie were even
now speaking os her, and she seemed TO
feel how thsy pitied her loneliness down
there
A tiny thing crawled down her hair and
around her throat. Absently she put her
hand tc crush II. The spider seemed to
spring aside, alighting upon the back Of
her wrist, and as her eyes in the starlight
fell upon her small companion q tender
recollection of how she had spoken of IL to
the little sister caused her tears to flow
afresh.
The spider passed over a bridge of his
own making back TO the little corner,
where he could safely blink down upon
his grieving friend, who seemed not to
know that the thing best to do was still
Ito watt
Before the sun had power to wilt them
Paula gathered her wealth OF blooms and
carried them on that morning Of the ball
up TO the grand red house on the bill. She
toiled slowly up, not noticing tall, stern
looking old man In the path confronting
her until the deep tones CT his voice sound
ed close to her ear.
Your burden is fair TO look upon and
most fragrant, but in few short hours
they wither. Are they To deck the rooms
for tonights empty mirth9 Come again
tomorrow, young girl, and look at your
garlands." And he laughed harshly as he
moved aside To let her pass.
Frightened and hurt, Paula frightened
her hold upon her basket and sped up the
path, but only for few steps. Something
seemed to turn her and lead her back TO
the bitter old man. She lightly touched
him on the arm. Il will come, sir, to-
morrow morning. viii you rueet me herc'
something hurts you sorcly that you turn
upon my flowers. Oh sir, they cannot
help IL any more than could my poor little
spider" She looked so tcnderly brave,
not shrinking from the bent brows of the
naughty, disappointed old man, only visit
fully regarding him. And 1t WAS so new,
this pity for him that shone i'm the soft
gray eyes. 80 long he had stood alone i'm
his pride steeling his heart as lifc's disap-
pointment, disgrace, death and doubt I'm
the honor Of mankind followed fast upon