Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-02-26
The Argus Daily Short Story
MARJORIE'S lNSPIRATION-BY J. w. EVANS
copyrighted, 1905 by Associated Literary Press

Marjorie was little more than fifteen.
She called 1t n little less than sixteen.
and. in keeping with that declaration.
she surreptitiously heightened her
skirts So gradually that her unSuspect-
ing mother never noticed it.
Also she read His Hearts Queen"
with the same circumspcct privacy
and tortured her tip tilted nose with
strenuous massage till she found that
her ardor to make 1t classic merely
made it red In n word. Marjorie was
growing up. ano
Her present grievance as she look
cd from her window with face as
dismal as the sky was that her sister
Rachel was to leave IN few hours Ia
attend house party III Philadelphia
from which she, fOrsOoth. was eXciud-
ed by reason of her tender years And
that horrid Tom Norris. who had
laughed when sbaSaid she was near
sixteen. was to 90 With Rachel.
Well, the papers predicted rain, and
she hoped it would just pour. 1t was
| ut that point that her thoughts took Il
| turn by undoubted inspiration. and
| she suddenly darted downstairs with
! had partially cleared. She'd show
| them,
| A few hours later she escorted Ra-
| cbel urbanely to the door, "Goodby.
| Gear" she said sweetly Don't forget
| your umbrella. Its going TO rain You
| two look just like bride and ;yrUom,'
she added maIiciously as Norris pick
cd up RacheIs suit case. She was
pleased to observe that Rachel flushed
| with annoyance
| 81 sent mine by express" said Tom
apologetically.
| pooh, You did it on purpose.
| "Mariorier' said her sister severely.
The only response as they departed
was derisive laugh.
shes Il little imp sometimes" said
Rachel. but she's growing up. sup
pose | was just as bad"
When they emerged from the sub
way ataTwenty-third street the rain
was railing in IL fine. husinesslike driz.
zle that had evidently come TO stay
"Oh, dear. these ostrich piumes!' wall
ed Rachel. Il didn't think it would
come to soon. No: don't put up the
umbrella. The car is right here. II
won't be worth the trouble. and you
have the suit case
A shadow of smile flickered across
his face. which she noted. Il believe
, you enjoyed her horrid joke" she
! scolded. shaking her head ut him.
The car made it's way west with ex
asperatins delays. and at last. within
a block of the ferry house. it came tC
ii stop with sudden Jerk of fnality
The conductor told the exasperated
passengers that the line was blocked
somewhere and that those in hurry
had better walk.
Lets make the best of It," sale
Rachel. And blessing on that chile
for reminding me to bring my um
brela.''
When they stepped from the cal
platform moment later Norris raised
the umbrella hurriedly to protect be
hat. A bewildering instant passed be
fore they fully understood what hat
happened, but they were terribl.
aware of the roar of delighted laugh
ter that went up from the damn
crowd, which turned amused faces OIL
them as If glad of anything CHEEKY OF
SO gloomy n day.
n The ground where they stood ha,
the appearance of sudden snowfall
Every corner and crevice of thei
clothing was white with q clingin;
shower that continued to patter to tn
ground with every move they made.
The rim of Rachers merry Widow
caught reserve supply that fell in
lcontinual stream whether she looke
up or down. The curved brim o
Toms derby made up in depth 70
what it lacked in area and contrib
uted its mite to the seemingly endles
isupply. The crowd was in a secon