The Irish standard., 1899-03-25
Spider

THEY were on their way up the Mis-
sissippi river-the mother. Fannie
and the twins throw in the younger
children in bunch, asst were, because
it takes too long to say Sue and Lou.
They were spoken of as twins by every
one, and everyone knew them.
Fannie was not a marrying girl, and
she used to say that no one but herself
realized how much in the way of relief
she owed to those blessed twins. The
suitors also were won't to bless the
twins, but in a somewhat different
spirit
One of these suitors, was on the boat
that day, and he and Fannie, "cribbed
and confined" as it We're, in one corner
of deserted quarter of the deck; the
twins were out of range for once, and
he thought he was making good head
way.
But really in her heart Fannie was
despising him for fop; his immacu-
late clothes came first, SHE thought;
his viands next, baby; and, lastly,
with what little was left of him, his
character.
That particular day he walked up
his avenue of approach, undisturbed
by bark of dog or remark of twin. He
was nearer the delectable mount a ms
than ever before, he realized, and his
heart thumped madly against his ir-
iTeproachable waistcoat as he opened
this mouth to ask the decisive question
just at that moment shrill scream
;pierced the sultry July air. Then a
thurrying and scurrying of feet was
heard Instantly ray of knowledge
flashed its way into Fannie's brain
Zone of the twins is overboardl" she
said to herself, as she sped down the
near stairs and along the lower deck.
Just as she reached the bow of the
boat she saw little skirt drawn in
| by the suction of the watersbetween
the barge ION which most of the ex-
cunsdonists were embarked) and the
boat that drew it. Another moment
and the same little skirt, and a child's
face half hidden in her long, wet hair,
was borne by the swift waters out and
down the river.
| Some one chung to the mother, who
wanted to leap after her child. Little
Sue was wailing, and Fannie wiring
ing her hands and thinkingahow this
would never have happened had she not
been engaged by that hateful dude.
| From the pilot house two men leaned
land watched the child-the pilot and
.sort of long-legged Handy Andy"
known on board as Spider"
"Why don't you save, her, Spider ?"
ssaid' the pilot. Jump in, mani What's
'the use of your swimming prizes if you
can't save kid now and then?"
1t hadn't occurred to Spider before,
but at the word of command he leaned
from the pilot house, down into the
water and stuck out after the dark
spot that was quite distant now.
| The man was we'll along on his way,
when the crowd of passengers, who
were straining their eyes down the
river, saw the dark something on the
surface of the water sink.
The mother uttered cry and was
borne, half fainting, into the nearest
cabin. Fannie's face was white and
strained, but she said not word. The
dude stood near her, as silent and al
most as white as she.
The speck-it had become a speck-
rose again, but Spider was still at "a
distance. He was nearer now, but At
had sunk once more. Again it rose-f
only he could get there in timel But
what seemed to the watchers waste
OF waters separated him from that lit
tie floating frock.
The captain had his field glass out
now, and he silently passed it around.
Spider was nearing the child, but be-
fore he could reach her she sank for
the last time. Down he went, and
think that hardly breath was drawn
until he rose-without her!
"Oh, God!" walled Fannie.
The dude put his arm around her or
she would have fallen.
Spider was swimming for the near.
est point on shore.
With one accord the passengers
all but the few who staid with the
mother-Tushed from the boat which
was moored just there. Down the bank
Of the river they ran, till they stood
opposite the struggling swimmer.
he was having a hard fipht IN ret