Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-06-01
TOLD ABOUT TOWN.
Peculiar Attempt to shHke His Wife
Fled From the Front Row.

a Peculiar Attempt to Shake His WIFE
Fled From the Front Row.
There was a dramatic incident en-
acted on the shores Of the briny at
the foot of Seventeenth street the
other morning. 1t seems the hus-
band was attempting to induce his
wife to attach her signature, for a
monetary consideration, to an agree
ment that she would thereafter cease
to call upon him for financial assist
ance.
what! Me your wife - sign
that paper? In heavens name what
has come over you to seek my sub
mission to any such agreement?
No; never! Remember l am your
wife" Thus the woman with gilt
tering eyes and confused tempera-
ment, Indignantly rebuked the prop
osition Of the husband. thrusting
aside the document and casting q
piercing and defiant look at him as
she spoke. He was apparently
amazed at the plucky and conclusive
response of his better-half, and forth
with produced her monthly stipula-
ton. and each went their wayne
to his duties on one of the local
packets. and she to her home. which
she makes with a relative in q GER
tain neighborhood.
The husband is q steamboat hand
who moved here some time ago from
an up-the-river town. The wife took
up her abode with family connec-
lions and he repaired to his vocation.
which requires his constant pres
ence. 1t appears that he has been
endeavoring to give his wife the
FROSTY wing" or in other words,
trying to shift his connubial respon-
sibilities, and eliminate from his
wife's memory any impression that
she had brave protector on whom
to depend for sustenance. But the
anticipated success of his scheme
didn't work-on the contrary she
was more attentive to his wherea-
bouts than ever, especially when
"the ghost" peram bulated. Atregu-
lar intervals when payday would
come around she would appear
at the landing aud request him
to shell out a stipulated amount
necessary for household expenses.
He would produce. but not until con-
siderable demanding was implied.
Finally he concocted o novel
scheme. He would prepare docu-
ment setting forth a mutual agree
ment between both parties that she.
for certain consideration, would
for all future time, not expect or
solicit financial support from him,
and get her 10 sign it. This morning
when the boat landed she was await
ing for her monthly stipend. 1t was
a very warm day, and the greetings
were refreshing. He invited her into
the warehouse, and after a prelimi-
nary spell he drew forth the agree
ment from beneath his coat. Her
perusual was asked. She obeyed,
but her answer was anything but ex-
pected by the foxy hubby. A news
paper man was a witness to the
whole proceeding, which had a very
striking resem blance of one OF
Shakespeare's unwritten tragedies,
with the female doing the heavies.
She started homeward, and when
questioned by bystander, replied:
~ by, he had the impudence to want
me take to $40 and sign an agree
ment that l wouldn't bother him
any more for money. Not much"
Kept Shy OF the Bald Head Row.
Glistening pates were conspicuous
in the front row of the court room
during the breach of promise trial.
which occupied the courts attention
for several days past. In the course
of a conversation with one of the
bald-craniumed gentlemen, corpu-
lent old codger whose antiquity
would naturally lead a person to be-
lieve that he had ceased to see any
interest in a racy proceeding of this
nature, one of the bsiliffs remarked
IL understand The ARGUS is going
to photograph the front row this
afternoon and produce the picture in
connection with the report Of the
trial"
.>H-e-y?" queried the old gentle.
man, showing signs Of uneasiness,
removing his spectacles and cleaning
them with his bandana. They be-
be they? Well, that's a good idea.
Thereafter he occupied a seat in
the fonrth row