Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-05-05

There was peace in the Morrison
family for several months-no more
dingy pictures. no more broken sets
Of china. no more bedsteads. lounges.
curiosities. bric-a- brac The husband
had often thought of his threat and
dreaded being put into a position
where he would feel constrained to
fulfill it. What would he do with the
children without their mother to take
care of them? But as time wore on
and he saw no evidence of a relapse
on the part of his wife be hoped that
the bugbear had taken fight.
But as the inebriate will go for
months, possibly for years. without q
slip to be suddenly carried away by
the sight of glass of wine. so did
Mrs. Morrison fall at seeing a red Gag.
1t hung on the outside of a building
which it was necessary for her to pass.
and she was not able to get by it. She
tried to persuade herself that she
would merely have a look at the things
offered for sale. Going in. she found
that there was no auction In progress
at the time. merely a sale Of rem
nants of furniture. most OF which had
been removed to the auctioneer's ware
rooms. A very gentlemanlyN person
was there. who stepped forward and
offered TO show the lady what there
was to be bought.
She had got safely through every
room in the house and was about to
take her departure when the man
opened a closet in which he seemed
- aAt
miscellaneous articles. Mrs. Morrison
asked him the price of several. but he
did not seem to know what figure to
put on them. Indeed. it was evident
that the closet had been overlooked
There were three silver cups much
furnished that captured the poor wo-
mans fancy. The salesman said that
he knew nothing about what to charge
for them. but If she wanted them he
would sell them to her for old silver.
The lady had two children who did
not have silver cups and was tempted
to buy two of them. The man made
her ridieulously low price for the
lot. and she fell. She bought the
three cups for IS.
When John Morrison went home
that evening and saw that his wife.
despite his warning. his threat. had
had a relapse his heart sank within
him. He could not bring himself TO
do as he had threatened. and he knew
that she would ruin him if he did not
The next two days were passed in
gloom in the Morrison household. The
only happy ones in it were the two
children. each Of whom had a big sill
yer cup that had been polished by their
mother.
But the third day there came a
change. While Mr.. Morrison was at
business a gentleman drove up to his
home and asked for the lady who
few days before had bought three sill
yer cups at a rummage sale. Mrs. Nor
rison received him. and he begged to
be allowed TO see the cups. On being
shown them he looked them over care
fully. examining every detail. then as
tonished the lady by offering her ST.
500 for them.
Mrs. Morrison was so paralyzed that
she could not articulate reply. She
was dreading lest the man would bring
the illusion he had created down about
her before she could find her tongue.
when he added:
81 don't wish to take any advantage.
Of you. madam. can afford to give
you $1,000"
BY this time Mrs. Morrison had ac-
quired sufficient equanimity to hold on
to the cups till she could find ont what |
there was in them to command such
price. She told the would be purchaser
that she would be Obliged to consult |
her husband about the matter. If he
would leave his address she would |
advise him later.
AS soon as the gentleman had de- |
parted, which be did reluctantly, with