Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1900-10-04
Saint Nafg's Beacon.
SPIDER.

ME and the twins. | throw the
younger children in bunch, as it
were, because it takes too long to
say Sue and Lue. They were spo-
ken OF as twins by every one, and
every one knew them.
Fannie was not 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 were
also wont 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 were,
in one corner of a deserted quarter
Of the deck; the twins we're out OF
range for once, and he thought he
was making good Roadway. But
really, in her heart, Fannie was des-
pising him for fop; his immacu-
late clothes came first she thought;
his viands next. probably; aud last
ly, with what little was left Of him,
his character.
This particular day he walked up
his avenue of approach undisturbed
by bark of dog or remark OF twins.
He was nearer the delectable noun
tains than ever before, he realized,
and hisheart thumped madly against
his irreproachable waistcoat as he
opened his mouth to ask the decis-
i've question.
Just at that moment q shrill
scream pierced the sultry July air.
Then q hurrying and scurrying Of
feet was heard. Instantly an idea
flashed its way into Fannie's brain.
Zone OF tho twins ia overheard -
she said, az she sped down the
nearest stairs and along the lower
deck.
Just as she reached the bow Of
the boat she saw a little skirt drawn
in by the suction Of the water be-
tween the barge Ton which most Of
the excursionists were embarked)
and the boat that drew it. Anoth-
err moment and the same little skirt,
and a child's face half hidden in
her long wet HAIR, was born by the
swift waters out and down the riy-
or.
Some one CLING to the mother,
who wanted to leap after her child.
Little Sue was wailing, aud Fannie
wringing her hands and thinking
how this would never have happen
ed if she had not been engaged by
that hateful dude
From the pilot house two men
leaned and watched the ohild-the
pilot and sort Of long.leggcd
Handy Andy" known on board
as "Spider.'
Why don't you save her, Spi-
der ?" said tho pilot. "What's the
use OF all your swimming prizes if
YOU cant save a kid now and them
Jump in, man -
1t hadn't occurred to Spider be.
fore, but at the word Of command
he leapod from the pilot house,
down into the water and struck out
after the dark spot that was distant
now. The man was well along on
his way when the crowd Of passen-
gers, who were straining their eyes
down the river, saw the dark some.
thing on the water sink.
The mother uttered cry and
was borne, half-fsinting, into the
nearest cabin. Kannie's face was
white and strained, but she said not
word. The dude stood near her,
as silent and almost as white as she.
The speck-it had become speck
rose again, but Spider was still
at distance. lie was nearer now,
but it had sunk once more. Again
it rose-if he could only get there
in time But what seemed to the
watchers a waste of waters separat-
ed him from the little floating
frock.
The captain had his field glass
out now, and he silently passed it
around. Spider was nearing the
child, but before he could reach her
she sank for the last time. Down
he went. and / think that hardly a
breath was drawn until lac rose
without her.
"Oh, God !" walled Fannie.
"The dude put his arm around
her or she would have fallen.