The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1913-02-06
THE SPIDER
ANDTHEFLY
Weekly Short Story.


fact that her son instead of marrying
and settling down was spending his
time with undesirable associates ano
incidentally his money also.
IF ] could only get him tied up to
some nice girl long enough for her to
become necessity to him it would
change him"
Il wish | could help you" said her
friend"
You can. | have an idea that
have come to propose to you. | will
go 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. Be-
sides there's Zip. our little dog, and
Spot. the parrot. | wouldn't trust
who understands dogs and birds. |
will go to Florida for few months.
and by the time l return | shall ex
pect Ralph and Ethel to have become
engaged or course all this Is con-
tingent on your approval of match
between them
Mrs. Sternes very much approved of
the match. Ralph Brindsley was
worth 100000 in. his own right and
there was nothing had about him.
What no needed was an anchor, and
Mrs. Sternes was sure her daughter
was just the anchor needed. She as
sented to the proposition after pro-
nouncing 1t impracticable.
Mrs. Brindsley went to Florida, and
Mrs Sternes and Ethel, as agreed,
went to her house to take care Of II
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 liberty, she
being young girl and he being
young fellow, there was the same
natural relation between them as be-
tween the spider and the fly. She
heard him some in, go to his room, and
diltI IL Wllllt COIllc oul d6dlii, HU IL
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 as to
meet him at the stairs.
Ralphs treatment of his mothers
friends had not been very civil. He
knew there was a girl. but she was
neither an actress nor a chorus girl,
and he had no use for any other. See
ing very pretty young lady. he con-
sidered it his duty to say something to
her, so he bid her good morning, add
ing that he hoped she and her mother
were comfortable and asked if there
was anything he could do for them.
Ethel had prepared list of things
the house and it's contents
upon which she needed information
So she said that il he had time she
would like to submit them to him. She
glanced toward the parlor, repeating
to herself the couplet:
Will you walk into my paror 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 us to follow
he couple into the parlor. The young
ady, knowing that the gentleman was
not to be won away from the gilded .
set that held him in thrall by prudery
Turing the few weeks that she lived
lnder the same roof with him, granted
lin all favors that were proper, in
'iting him to late supper at home
instead of at n restaurant and with
Ter instead of his boon companions. !
rhe 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
ure that she had landed him. Indeed
that as soon as she and her
mother removed to their own abode
Ralph would return to his actresses
nd chorus girls. But her mother. OBJ
erving that Ralph spent several even
ngs in the week at home with her
laughter, considered the match set
led and being anxious to return to
er own domocile, wrote Mrs. Brind-
ley that she might as well come home.
Ethel was right and her mother was
wrong. If the girl had become Il ne
cssity to Brindsey he didn't realize
and had no intention Of seeing her =,
gain after she left his home. How {
yer, he went to the station to receive q
is mother while the Sternes awaited :
er coming before taking their depart ,
re. Indeed. Mrs. Brindsley was not t
, arrive till half past 10 o'clock at \
ight and the others were not to :
ave until the next morning. g
Mrs. Brndsley had come in with a
alph and the four were chatting In =
,e parlor. Zip, the dog. was jumping
p on her mistress lap. and Spot, the
arrot, was hopping about in his cage.
lattering to himself. evidently aware
lat something important had hap
ened. The clock struck II. r.
"Goo'by," said Spot Gimme kiss
won't. You shall. Smack. smack,