The suburban citizen., 1902-10-11
In The Spiders
Web.
IT SIMPLY cannot bear the man,
so it's no use speaking any
more about I'll Do Yon know "

more ABOUT it. DO you KNOW
and sitting down she spoke re-
fectively without the slightest touch
of humor, hes all legs; his legs DOM
mate him; he has no more control over
their movements than 1 have. They
come round the corner first and he fol-
lows them; follows them in a cab, for
all know"-and then Maisie Dorches-
ter looking at her sister, at the grave,
seldom-smiling sister whose eyes
twinkled, and lay back and laughed.
"My dear, money has its advantages;
we are poor; dear dad is worried to
death about income tax, or property
tax, or whatever it is. and says things
generally; for two years his temper has
been awful-you will allow that-and
now, to uphold the family tradition of
hospitality, am to marry Longlegs--a
case of the spider and the fly" and
Maisie laughed again, but sc- voice
had a ring of pain.
She turned impulsively to her sister,
"A wee spy in the spiders web" she
said sadly.
Now, all this turmoil had ensued be-
cause Maisie, who had been Jim Con-
ways greatest chum from babyhood to
school days, from school days to the
time when he Joined a cavalry regi-
ment, where long legs did not matter
much, had suddenly bethought her that
Jim Conway, a poor man. was now
Lord Culworth, a very rich one, and
people would say that she was mercen-
Hry. She was a proud girl, and the
idea hurt her-hurt her considerably.
Most stories contain a brutal father,
who, not being well off, bullies his
daughter until he has coerced her into
marrying a rich man, but in this case
1t was different.
Colonel Dorchester was a good fell
low, who was always in a muddle with
his accounts, and, having no wife, was
as helpless as n baby; so when Jim
came on the scene as Lord Culworth
he made him heartily welcome, and
was glad Blankton barracks were only
a mile away
Helen Dorchester looked at, her sis
ter-looked deeper, perhaps, than she
@ thought. She saw that Maisie was eat
ing her heart out for her old chum, and
that now pride stepped in, and If the
former boy and girl intimacy were to
be resumed people would say, What a
mercenary girl" and poor, sterling lit
tie Maisie would hear Of 1t, and It
would hurt her, and then Helen began
to think things over once more.
Looking out Of the window the two
girls saw Lord Culworth cross the
lawn, glancing up in their direction.
A long legged, healthy, good looking
youngster was he, "clean bred to the
finger tips" and the Colonel met him
effuslyely on the lawn.
"Culworth, you're welcome. / really
thought you had gone on leave or some
thing; it's a week since you were
here"
well, 1 had a nasty cropper, and
look here, Colonel. that last screw you
sold me would make the fortune Of any
one starting a bathing machine" and
then both laughed.
Come into the house" and his lord
ship made his way to the llbrary-and
here Helen met him.
What has come over MalsieY he
asked glumly.
Nothing, except that you are a rich
man and are titled and so on"
81 can't drop the title, but"
Couldn't you lose all your money in
some awful speculation and let her
think you are poor"
He pulled his mustache and grlnned
'Yes," he said, "I-might-Tll try"
the long legged youth looked before
him, ruminating mot really, of course,
but-shall 1 lie about itT and then
Maisie Joined them.
II have brought you cards OF invita-
tion for the reglmental ball" he said,
laughing, "the post being prosaic. Say
you will come"
Gomez from Maisie. eve will
come, of course. Have we ever missed
a regimental ball? I think 1 have
danced with every officer in the bri-
gade, more or less"
"And with one of them considerably
less" put in Lord Culworth dryly.
Maisle, when Jim had taken his
leave, looked wistfully at her sister,
choking back something.
what a pity Spider is a lord" she
said. and sighed
Culworth was closeted with Colonel
Dorchester
"The girl is a perfect idiot, Gull
worth"
Perhaps from her point Of view she
is right. I have had a long talk with
Helen. Maisie is exceptionally sensl-
tive, and some kind friend suggested to
her that she is popularity supposed to
be angling for my fortune-whlch is
rot, Of course Now. will you help me
with my little plan|
Certainly. What is itT'
"You told me the other day you had
some shares in the Kangaroo mine"
"And they are not worth the paper
they are written on"
Exactly. 1 learned to-day that the
company is on its last legs. will give
II