Smyrna times., 1900-05-16
The Scarlet Spider.
Whether They Skated In Winter or
Swung In a Hammock In Sum-
mer, They Were Caught
In Its Web.

night hang between two that have been
apart web too fine for either to see,
but the strength of both will never be
able to break it,"
Who was he? She hardly knew. A
partner. She thought of him as moth
ing else. All the women were given
partners as a matter of course.
"Dick," their host had said, "will you
have the goodness to look after my
niece, Miss Blynn? Edith, let me pre-
sent Mr.. Kirkland" They bowed.
They could not we'll see one another's
face there in the starlight. 1t was a
skating party at Lake Geneva, Wis,
and two big companies had come down
for a week of winter sports, throwing
open the houses which ordinarily knew
the sound of human voices only in the
summer time. The two parties met the
first evening after dinner on the ice. 1t
was cloudy, with riffs of indigo where
the stars showed, and there was a
gusty, cold wind from the west Now
the ice looked bright. A silver ribbon
NOulO dppGdl " SllClCu llSGll OuL way
eringly, now it was shadowy and mys-
teriouS.
Miss Blynn held out her hand auto
matically to the man to whom she had
been introduced.
81 see your skates are on" she said
indifferently. $50 are mine. Let us
skate rather slowly with a long
sweep"
A band began to play in the boat
house by the shore.
81 didn't know we were to have mu-
sic. 1t is a waltz. Now 1 am ready,
Mr.. Kirkland"
He took her mittened hand in his
firm grasp. They moved slowly and
easily down the cleaning floor. They
crossed the silver ribbon and entered
the shadows.
1--WE shall presently be out of sound
of the music" protested Miss Blynn
gently. Not that she cared; she and
her new companion were moving along
with perfect rhythm.
perhaps if we listen hard we shall
hear the music of the spheres" he
said.
1.-The shadows are black" she re-
marked, land the wind is cold. After
all this is too serious for pleasure. 1t is
hard to be frivolous in place like this.
See how forbidding the trees look on
the shore and how solemn and men,
acing the sky is. This is a sermon
this winter night-Or it is a tragedy.
Let us go back to the house where the
lights are burning"
"There is a fire in the bOathouse.
heard your uncle say coffee was to be
served there. But if you are too much
oppressed | wish you would listen to
the tragedy q little longer"
Listen to it? | look at it. 1t is a
tragedy for the eyes, not for the ears.
They swung along together with fine
momentum. They were conscious OF
their youth and strength and vigor
Miss Blynn gave voice to her thoughts
in an indirect fashion.
''SOme people," she said. ''are old and
weary and sit by the fire and wonder
if the winter will never pass"
They both laughed at this-it made
harmonious but startling duet, tha
laughter. and it echoed from the wood
ed shore
"Some people," he responded, 'go t.
winter and drag him out of his den
and shake him out of his sulks an'
make him dance like trained bear.
They laughed again, though neither
them had been witty.
81 have been skating with you al
noIir cold bo ot Ian0th "and | bay
not an idea of how you look"
Il have been skating with you al
hour" she retorted, land l do no
know whether you have red curls o
black elf locks"
"Come to the boathouse." he suggest
ed, land see."
They went in where the fire crackle'
and where their friends stood in group
drinking coffee and chatting. He undi'
his cap with its ear laps; she untie'
her scarlet velvet hood. What she be
held was young man of "a or 20, wit
deep set gray eyes, a dark skin, dar
hair, heavy brows, a smooth face ana
large sensitive mouth.
What he beheld was a woman wit
snow white skin, black eyes, melaI
choly and timid in their expression;
nigh brow, abundant dark hair ana
mouth that, essentially serious, Drok
into unexpected Illuminating smiles.
1T would be rude of me to say VIVA
service the light has done me-" .
said stupidity.
The light has told me a number
uhlngs," she responded daringly.
WhatT" he importuned.
That you have been a student, To-
ing solitude; that you are melanchoi
ottener than you are merry, and th'
you like a good book better than
good friend"
No, no; not the lastw
She laughed and took the cup OF co