Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-09-21
TOLD ABOUT TOWN.
He Came Home AGain-The Pestilent Fly
In the Car, Etc.

In a somewhat historical tenement
house there once dwelt a couple from
the isle of the Shamrock-Mr. and
Mrs. Rourke: we'll let it 90 at that,
anyway. Their views of life did not
harmonize and spirited arguments
were of common occurrence-at.
tended occasionally by clinch
and sometimes few passes. He
would order her to leave for
ever their unhappy fireside-
and she would accord him the same
command, impressing him with the
fact that there were few things
about the house that belonged to
her. 1t was in the midst OF winter
and neither was very anxious to ven-
ture the uncertainty of locating a
place to protect themselves from the
bowling winds. But things became
so unpleasant that one morning Mr..
Rourke glanced at his wife and told
her he was going never TO return.
There were no handkerchiefs used.
She was glad, in fact; so he went.
The news OF the separation spread
among the neighbors, who antici pated
it. A week or SO passed. Mrs. Rourke
went visiting one afternoon. 1t was
gossiped about that Mr.. Rourke had
returned. The wife was asked about
it, having previously vowed never
to allow him to darken the door OF
her humble domain. and blushin g
and half smiling. trying to appear
severe, confessed
"Yes-th' Lawrd knows-he's back
agin. But he's promised to be good.
He pladed so pitifully that cuddent
refuse him. 1t was cawld, cawld
night, about II o'clock, and you'd a
felt sorry for the poor crather ev
ye'd heered i'm. l was shlapin' in
me warrum bed, when all of a sud-
dent l heerd q nize. SOmethin' was
rappin' on tn blinds. So lishtened
Then it came on tn dure. feered
buglars at iirst-but then thawt to
meself. it must be Jawn.' So, seys
|, who's there?'
Its yer own darlint Jawn'; open
the dure; me feets nearly frozed.' "
Now, what cud l dew but let i'm
in? Sure his gintle vice moved tn
hart within me. and it wud ev done
the same thing to you"
What Fly Can DO.
On blue line street car the
other afternoon there occurred lit
tie episode which terminated the
intimacy of two charming ladies.
temporarily at least, pestilent fly
being responsible for the. decrease in
the affection thermometer.
The ladies, bedecked with all the
fancies of dame fashion, boarded
the car at an uptown intersection.
One carried cardboard box with
dimensions of about AXIS, evidently
containing one of those ..sweet" bon.
nets. The other was single handed,
save white parasol.
The temperature was about as
high as it could climb without let
hot-and whiting humanity squand-
cred nickels on car fare rather than
walk. The car was comfortably filled.
In one corner sat giggling small
boy. Nearly everyone was making
! occasional passages with the dukes
to scare off the flies, which were un.
usually affectionate.
The conversation of the two young
ladies was drifting into little matters
which they preferred would not be
overheard. Frequently they would
bend over and whisper, getting their
physogs in close proximity. A mean
fly alighted on the nose Of
the lady earring the box and as it
lowered its singer the opposite lady
bent forward to relate something
confidential. Just then the lady with
the bundle made a swipe at the fly
but the fly didn't get it. The blow
landed on the other lady's nose.
Two faces blushed; the small boy
giggled aloud: everybody but the
two ladies laughed and the fly
changed locations.
The lady with the bundle seemed
too embarrassed to explain, and her
companion turned around and looked
out of the window.
They got off at the next corner and
took different directions-but mat
tiers were squared later on.
Hold Evening Confabs.
On Fourth avenue frame dwell
ing there hangs sign announcing s
tailoring shop within. The tailor i:
an old French gentleman with white
locks and Of diminutive stature
Each evening on returning from hi:
toll the old flagman of the same ma
tivity raps at the tailor's door ant
beckons him to the little step out
side. where they hold a half hour.
confab in their mother tongue. 1
is rare to meet n fellow countrvmar
who talks the French language, ant
| these two consequently on,oy IN,