The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1900-06-07
THE CARLETSPIDER

Love, the Scarlet Spider, will in a
night hang between two that have
been apart a web too fine for either to
see; but the strength of both will new
er be able to break it."
Who was he? She hardly knew. A
partner-she thought of him as moth
Ing else. All the ome 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
present Mr.. Kirkland" They bowed.
They could not we'll see one another's
faces 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 would appear to stretch
itself out waveringly-now it was
shadowy and mysterious.
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,
indiferently. $50 are mine. Let us
skate rather slowly with a longsweep."
A band began to play in the boat
house by the shore.
II didn't know we were to have mu-
sic. 1t is a waltz. Now l am ready,
Mr.. Kirkland" ),
He took her mittened hand in his
firm grasp. They moved slowly away
down the cleaning floor. They crossed
the silver ribbon and entered the
shadows.
I'VE 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.
The shadows are black" she re-
marked. And the wind is cold. Aft
er all, this is too serious for pleasure.
It is hard to be frivolous in a place
like this. See how fo%rbidding the trees
look on the shore, and how solemn and
menacing the sky is. This is a SER
months winter night. Or it is a
tragedy. Let us go back to the house
where the lights are burnig."
There is a fire in the boathouse. /
heard our uncle say coffee was to be
oppressed I wish you would listen to
the tragedy a little longer"
Listen to it? 1 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
a harmonious but startling duet, that
laughter, and it echoed from the wood
ed shore.
Some people," he responded, Ego &c
winter and drag him out of his den
and shake him out of his sulks and
make him dance like a trained bear
They laughed again, though neither OF
them had been witty.
81 have been skating with you ar
hour" he said at length, land I have
not an idea of how you look"
81 have been skating with vol ar
hour" she retorted, "and l do no.
know whether you have red curls Of
black elf locks"
Come to the bo~athouse," he sug.
gested, and see."
, They went in where the fire cracked
and where their friends stood in group
: drinking coffee and chatting. He un.
did his cap with it's tar laps; she I'm.
: tied her scarlet velvet hood. What shC
beheld was a young man of "a or 25
with deep-set gray eyes, a dark skin
! lark hair, heavy brows, a smooth face
q and a large and sensitive mouth.
What he beheld was a with
snoW-white skin, black eyes, melan
choly and timid in their expression,
high brow, abundant dark hair and
t mouth that, essentially serious, brok;
: into unexpected, Illuminating smiles.
: ct would be rude of me to say wha
e a service the light has done me-" h
e said stupidity.
"The light has told me a number o
things" she responded daringly.