Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1913-02-06
The Spider and
the Fly
By WILLIS BEACH POTTER


time with undesirable associates and
incidentally his money also
III | could only get him tied up to
some nice girl long enough for her to
become necessity to him 1t would
change him"
II wish | could help you," said her
friend.
You can, have an idea that
have come TO propose to you. | will
80 away, and you and Ethel come to
my house and take care OF It during
my absence, The servants will be
there and will need looking after. Re.
sides, there's Zip, our little dog, and
either one or the other 10 any except
one who understands dogs and birds.
will so to Florida for few months.
and by the time | return shall OK.
pect Ralph and Ethel to have become
engaged or course all this is con
tingent on your approval Of Il match
between them"
Mrs, Stcrnes very much approved of
the match Ralph Rrindsley. was
worth 100000 In his own right aud
there was nothing bad about him,
What he needed was an anchor. and
Mrs. Sterncs was sure her daughter
was just the anchor needed. She as
scented to the proposition after pro.
nouncing II impructicahle,
Mrs. Rrindsley went TO Florida, and
Mrs, Sterues and Ethel, ms agreed,
went into her house to take care OF II
during her absence,
For II few days after his mothers
departure Ralph didn't appear at home
at all Then one afternoon he came
home to replenish his wardrobe
While Ethel had nothing whatever to
do with the conspiracy against his lib,
erty, she being Il young girl and he he.
ing young fellow, there was the
same natural relation between them
as between the spider and the lily. She
heard him come in 20 to his room and
after awhile come out again. The H.
brary was on one side OF the hall and
the parlor on the other side, Ethel
took position In the library, and when
she heard Ralph coming down she
started across the hall to go into the
parlor, SO timing the movement M to
meet him at the stairs,
Ralphs treatment of his mothers
friends had not been very civil, He
knew there was girl. but she was
neither an actress nor n chorus girl,
and he had no use for any other. See
ing a very pretty young lady. he con
sidered II his duty to say something
to her. so he bid her good morning,
adding that he hoped she and her
mother were comfortable and asked II
there was anything he could do for
them, Ethel had prepared list or
things concerning the house and Its
contents upon which she needed In
formation SO she said that II he had
time she would like to submit them to
him She glanced toward the parlor,
repea ting TO herself the couplet:
WIN you walk into my parlor. said the
spider to the fly.
It's the prettiest little parlor that ever you
did spy.
There In no necessity; indeed, 1t
would be trespassing for us to follow
the couple into the pnrlor The young
lady, knowing that the gentleman was
not to be won away from the gilded
set that held him I'm thrall by prudery
during the few weeks that she lived
under the same roof with him, granted
him all favorr that were proper. invit-
ing him to late supper ut home In
stead Of at restaurant and with her
instead OF his boon companions. The
result was that by the time her mother
was ready TO return he was quite ready
10 have her remain away.
Ethel however. was by no means
sure that she had landed him. Indeed
she was quite sure she had not, She
expected that as soon as she and her
mother removed to their own abode
Ralph would return to his actresses
and chorus girls. But her mother, OBJ
serving that Ralph spent several even
ings In the week ut home with her
daughter. considered the matter settled.
and being anxious 10 return 10 her own
domlcile wrote Mrs. Brindsley that she
might as well come home
Ethel was right aud her mother waa
wrong. II the girl had become ne
cessity to Brindsley he didn't renlize
It and had no intention of seeing her
again after she left his home. How
ever. he went to the station 10 receive
his mother while the Sternes awaited
her coming before taking their depart
nre. Indeed Mrs. Brindsley was not TO
arrive till half past 10 o'clock at night
and the others were not TO leave till
the next morning.
Mrs. Brindsley had come in with
Ralph. and the four were chatting In
the parlor Zip. the dog, was jumping
up on her mistress lap, and Spot. the
parrot. was hopping about in his cage
che ttering TO himself. evidently aware
that something important had happen
ed. The clock struck II.
"Goo'by," said Spot Gimme kiss.
won't You shall. Smack, smack,
smack
Tho snidpr had rot the fiy in her mar