The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1895-12-05
THE SPIDERS WEB.

Rosy complexioned and i'll her fresh
spring toilet, she was truly beautiful
Under her long silky lashes her azure
eyes had soft caressing light that lllu-
mined her face with kindliness The
form, though somewhat slender, was
we'll modelled, and the lines of the neck
set off all the attractiveness of head
encircled by profusion of blond locks.
This was the beautiful and graceful
Paoletta, Giorgio's young wife. In a
carriage the newly welded pair were
proceeding rapidly along the sun filled
river bank, thinking of some way of en-
ploying the day.
The carriage paused to allow them to
admire the flowers upon spur of the
incline, where the vines, like wild nests,
stretched f~0m distance to distance, half
concealed by the trees.
do you wish to go up there?" asked
Paoletta.
She pointed with her delicate hand,
from which she had drawn her glove, to
the heights of Bellevue.
For what?" Giorgio asked.
"We might see house that would
suit us-you know we ought to be look
ing for one," said Paoletta- ave can
inquire at the inn. s"
GiOrgio hesitated
"What of our journey to st. Cloud?"
he asked.
''1et it be postponed for awhile. -
He did not answer Immediately. FL
nally he said half reluctantly: LAS you
will Itreally makes no difference where
we live so long as we are together.
She looked at him brightly, and they
descended from the carriage and took
their way toward the bank Of the Seine.
The inn was deserted.
LET us mount into that little bal
cony," she said "There is fine view
from there.
"As you please"
Soon the sun shone less brightly, for
a space shone pallid, then vanished.
Great clouds heaped themselves up about
them, rapid and compact. A strong
wind blew, and large drops of water be-
gan to fall
Where should they take refuge?
"Therel" said Paoletta.
With her hand she indicated a cottage,
upon the threshold of which an old
woman stood.
Giorgio suddenly blushed crimson.
but accompanied his wife in silence
ut is for rent; it can be looked
Ouo,. - cold tho woman who boDa1 RI
find tenants in this handsome young
couple.
Giorgio did not respond, but while
Paoletta examined the apartments he
regarded with interest this slight, box
like construction, so simply made.
AS soon as his wife called him he en-
tered the house. A vision of the past
rose in his mind He saw the garden,
the arbor, the honeysuckle and ivy, now
nothing more than mass of green foil
age, under which was hidden a little
bench covered with moss and gone to
decay. A marble dove, blackened by
moisture, had been for long years the
sole spectator of this devastation
1T is ten years since the house was
left tenantless, prattled the old wom-
an. 1.-THE proprietor, who was eccen-
trio, did not wish to let it. But now he
is dead, and l have been directed to have
a card put up. The necessary repairs
will be made.
Paoletta laughed aloud with happy,
childlike pleasure.
Are you willing to rent this house,
Giorgio?'' she asked.
1.-The air might be too bracing for
you, my dear"
But not more so than everywhere in
the country put in the old woman.
Besides, the rent is SO little-40O
francs year. -
1T is very reasonable, said Paoletta
Il shall be delighted to live here. Come,
let as visit the rooms am charmed
with the whole place.
He followed her, examined some
apartments decorated with gray paper
and red flowers, looked into the dining
hall with windows looking upon the
Seine, and as he glanced about all the
past returned to his memory. No longer
was it Paoletta who was before him,
but Chiara, the girl he had first loved,
and whom he had often seen seated in
this little hermitage, to which he had
by chance returned.
He had lost her while the cup of love
was still full But he forgot her in time
and married the pretty Paoletta, whom
he loved Yet frequently when with her
ashadow passed before him-the shadow
of young and lovely woman.
A week later found them settled in
the cottage. The outdoor life was a
great benefit to Paoletta, who had been
something of an invalid. It was ar
ranged that they should pass the winter
in the country.
Every day Giorgio went to business
in the city, leaving Paoletta alone. The
young wife, busy with her new cares,