The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-12-09
EueningStory
Spiders Webs.
BY LILLIACE MONTGOMERY
MITCHELL


The thing like about Marie" said
Dick as he hitched his chair closer to
the fireplace, lis that she is so do
nestle
Louise made no reply. She glanced
sharply at her fianee's back and then
shrugged her shoulders slightly.
You know, I met her about two
years ago at one of the club dances,
Dick continued; Tets see, why, that
was before we were engaged, wasn't
it?"
Louise was silent.
Yes, sure it was" he went on.
And I went to call on her one eve
ming. You see," he laughed, turning
around in his chair so that he might
look at her rather than the leaping
flames in the fireplace. Il want to
make sure it was really before you
and l were engaged, or else you'll be
jealous
Louise, too, laughed. but there was
no large amount of mirth in the tones.
And I remember just as well the
little iece of fancy work that she was
doing" Dick said. 1T was a tidy or
-or-doily that she was sewing on.
and it had a lot of spiders and spi-
ders' webs on it,
Maybe they were symbolical,' said
Louise's brother with a one-sided
grin. Il used to go with Marie, you
know"
Dick looked his disgust "And
then" he continued, II never saw her
again, for I went to Montreal and
when came back she had gone TO
California. I thought Of her a lot of
times. 1 think a domestic girl is the
prettiest sight on earth-one who
sews or embroiders or something like
that" He was quiet for a few mo-
ments. "You-do you never sew,
Louise? p"
Yes, but not when any ones here"
Rrip Of
DO you like to sew" he probed.
We'll, no." Louise answered truth
fully, you see, 1 think that fancy
work, as a general thing. is rather
hard on the eyes, considering the re-
suit. I never make lace or do any
thing in crochet work because it is
such close work, but as for sewing
well, 1 do make things. Can't say l
love it, but you see," she laughed
little, 'it has to be done and so l
do it,"
We'll" said Dick. st must run
along. I have a wiring contract to-
morrow that has to have an estimate
and I'm going out to do it myself It's
out on Hyde Park boulevard"
That's where Marie lives now
with her uncle" said Louise, maybe
you'll see her"
She did not know whether or not
her fiance heard her for he had taken
way down the front steps.
The next day Dick FELTON, walked
thru the snow to the house on the
boulevard. 1t was a bitterly cold day
and he thought affectionateiy of the
evening when he could draw up to
the blazing fire in Louise's living
room. After all, Louise was a wonder
full girl, he reflected, if only she liked
home-making better. She never had
bit of white sewing in her hands,
and to Dick there was something in
finitely attractive in a girl before a
fireplace with a bit of sewing.
He stamped up the stone steps of
the large house and after leaving the
lower floor until last. went rapidly
thru the upper rooms with the house
keeper, who indicated the changes TO
be made in the wiring system. She
knocked decorously at each door be-
fore entering. Dick smiled little at
her evident awe of the family who OCT
cupied this grand house, for, after
all, he thought, they were probably
much the same as other people with
the same ideals. the same aspirations
and the same disappointments. The
only thing which apparently troubled
them not at all was money, for the
house and its furnishings gave evil
dence of vast sums spent.
AS he examined a table lamp in
one of the second floor rooms his
coat which was over his arm, acct
dentalIy knocked to the floor a very
elaborate work basket. tumb1ing OUT
a number of spools of brightly col
ored silks and some fancy work.
STOPPING, he picked it up, thinking
how pretty the bright colors looked
and wondering a little what the fin
ished result would look like. The
material had fallen so that the
stamped pattern of blue was clearly
visible.
It was spiders and spider webs
He flushed a little as he recalled
the conversation of the night before.
He hoped that he hadn't hurt Louise
by his talking on about Marie I At this
moment the door opened and a maid
with a perky cap hurried into the
room.
housekeeper, give me Miss Marie's
sewing basket, quick. Griggs has just
hot