The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1913-01-30
The Spider and
the Fly
By WILLIS BEACH POTTER


and settling down was spending his
time with undesirable associates and
incidentally his money ayo.
IF 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. l have an idea that l
have come to propose to you. l will
go away, and you and Ethel come to
my house and take care of 1t during
my absence. The servants will be
there and will need looking after. Be-
sides. there's Zip. our little dog. and
Spot. the parrot wouldn't trust
either one or the other to any except
one who underst ands dogs and BIRDS
will go to Florida for few months.
and by the time | return shall ex-
pect Ralph and Ethel to have become
engaged. OF course all this is con-
tingent on your approval Of q match
between them"
Mrs. Sternes very much approved of
the match. Ralph Brindsley was
worth 100000 In his own right, and
there was nothing bad about him.
What he needed was an anchor, and
Mrs. Sternes was sure her daughter
was just the anchor needed. She as
scented to the proposition after pro-
nouncing it impracticable.
Mrs. Brindsley went to Florida. and
Mrs. Sternes and Ethel as agreed,
went into her house to take care Of 1t
during her absence
For 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 a young girl and he be-
ing young fellow, there was the
same natural relation between them
as between the spider and the fly. She
heard him come In, go to his room and
after awhile come out again. The IL
brary was on one side of the ball 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 as 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 chorus girl,
and he had no use for any other See
ing a very pretty young lady. he con-
sidered it his duty to say something
to her. so he bid her good morning,
mother were comfortable and asked If
there was anything he could do for
them Ethel had prepared a list Of
things concerning the house and its
contents upon which she needed In
formation SO she said that If he had
time she-would like to submit them to
him. She glanced toward the parlor.
repeating to herself the couplet:
VIII you walk into my parlor. said the
spider to the fly
It's the prettiest little parlor that ever you
did spy.
There is no necessity: indeed. IT
would be trespassing for MS to follow
the couple into the parlor The young
lady. knowing that the gentleman was
not to be won away from the gilded
set that held him In thrall by prudery
during the few weeks that she lived
under the same roof with him, granted
him all favors that were proper, invit-
ing him to late supper mt home in
stead Of at a 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
TO 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 at home with her
daughter considered the matter settled
and being anxious to return to her own
domicile wrote Mrs. Brindsley that she
might as well come home
Ethel was right and her mother was
wrong. II the girl had become ne
cessity to Brindsley he didn't realize
1t and had no intention of seeing her
again after she left his home. How
ever. he went to the station to receive
his mother while the Sternes awaited
her coming before taking their depart
ure. Indeed, Mrs Brindsiey was not to
arrive till half past 10 o'clock at night
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,
chattering to himself. evidently aware
that something important had happen
ed The clock struck IL.
"Goo'by," said Spot Gimme kiss.
l won't You shall Smack. smack,
smack
The spider had got the fly in her par
lor, but the parrot had shut the door
on him Ethel saw her advantage and
didn't even blush. Mrs. Brndsey
looked at her son. evidently for In
formation. Ralph. despite his faults,
was too much of n man to put girl
IN an equivocal position
Mother" he said. Miss Sternes has