Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-12-30

ueVcQ Dltu SOiueNudt
The next day Robert 'Sas ill-nerv-
Gus prostration and heart failure, the
doctor called II. All he needed was u
little brandy. Robert said no, he would
fight il out on milk diet, and he sent
a telegram 10 Mabel saying he was
laid up with a slight touch of malaria,
but would be out in a few days.
When Robert rode up TO the Brent
wood residence a week later he had
lost twenty pounds. He was pale and
thin, ana he walked with a cane. With
n sigh OF content he dropped into the
easy chair which Mabel rolled out for
him There was no allusion to the bet
during the evening. for which Robert
was inwardly grateful. but such an at
mosphere of appreciation, such tender
ness of speech and touch and solicitude,
that Robert felt that she was the only
woman who understood him, and he
dattered himself, man fashion, by
thinking that she was worth the fight
he was making. And just before a car
rage came to take him away he drank
glass Of fruit juice which Mabel said
was of her own connection.
which binds men OF d bibulous type to-
gether, and now that the cohesive ele-
ment was lacking Robert did not feel
easy with his old associates. Besides,
they resented his desertion as an i'm
piled reflection on their own habits.
Consequently Robert spent nearly all
his evenings In the society of his sweet
heart. And invariably, after returning
from the concert or theater, Mabel
would ask him to take a parting glass
of some new drink which she had dis
covered. Now ii was an orange phos-
phate and again a glass Of raspberry
vinegar or spiced lemonade until Rob
ert began TO believe that there was no
end to the kinds of temperance fluids
in her closets.
cit looks as if you were going 10 win
your bet, Robert" said Mabel one even
ing when only two hours interviewed
between the limit of the thirty days.
''Oh. yes" replied Robert with easy
assurance. 1t was a foregone conclu-
sion"
II suppose you will never touch
liquor again?" she said wistfully.
''Oh, l don't know about that. Ma
bel. shall probably take u glass of
liquor now and then when feel like ii.
or course l shall always respect your
prejudices."
Prejudice is sometimes another
name for truth Robert said Mabel.
AT ~ o'clock Robert arose from his
seat and took flask OF whisky from
his pocket. He poured an inch and one
half of the amber fluid into lemonade
tumbler which stood upon the table.
Raising the glass aloft, he said in the
words of Ingersoll:
mabel. l toast you in some of the
most wonderful whisky that ever drove
the skeleton from the feast or painted
landscapes in the brains of men, In it
sou will find the sunshine and the shad-
ow that chase each other over the bill
Lowry fields, the carol of the lark. the
breath of June and autumn's glad con
tent. Your health. sweetheart
Robert raised the glass to his lips.
but as the odor of the liquor reached
his nostrils n look OF supreme disgust
and repulsion oyerspread his face. He
put the glass back on the table. Mabel
watched him with fascinated interest.
Once more he raised the glass, and
again his face was convulsed with
aversion. He threw the liquor into the
fire. and Mabel burst into tears. From
the shelter of his comforting arms, "A
few minutes later, she said
And now that you have made such
a gallant fight and won you will give
up drinking liquor entirely, won't you,
RobertT'
Yes. my love. if it will please you
SO much" replied Robert.
AS the lingering echo of her lovers
footsteps died away In the street Ma
bel took frora her pocketbook an adyer-
tisement which stated that DIR. Escu-
lapius Galen's sovereign remedy for
the alcohol habit could be placed Sc
cretly in the tea or coffee OF husband
or sweetheart and that he would then
be cured OF the vice.
Il wonder whether DIR. Galen's SOW
ereign remedy or Roberts powerful
will is responsible for his reforma-
ton" Mabel soliloquized.
And her face assumed that look of
quiet exultation which the faces of all
good women wear when their little
heels have crushed the head OF a SER
pent.