Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-02-19


drinker, although l had no scruples
against an innocent participation as a
dinner Introductory Mothers lips
curled; Gertrude smiled condescend-
ingly The grape was passed, all con-
Stunning excepting Gertrude. She sim
ply touched her rubies to the bubble.
| noticed that mother planted hers be-
fore the rest of US, and she did not
back up at a second delivery that came
in about the middle of the bin
'In the 80 years of our married life"
said father, I'VE have never been with
out wine in our home. Isn't that right,
mother? I rarely ever touch drink
away from my own Preside, unless the
occasion be such as the one tonight,
when l am sitting at the private board
with a friend. Mother does not ap-
prove of the too frequent use OF wine.
but 1t has been a great benefit to her
at various times during our married
life. It has pulled her through on
numerous occasions when she was run
down. and she never misses a day that
she does not take a small libation, we
will say purely for medicinal pur-
poses. I don't approve Of young men
habitually frequenting bars, and So
briefly is the first requisite l will de-
mand of the man who leads my daugh-
ter to the altar. (This was after the
second glass. Father had begun to
loosen). I heard mother mention the
name of that college chap, Duval, since
my return home. I want to say right
here that that fellow is no good. I
have seen some of his work, and it
don't suit me. You know I was raised
on hard knocks. l worked out my own
career. I have been fortunate in my
investments, that is true, but l never
got through by hanging on anOther's
bank roll and getting through socially
on the standing of my relatives. I've
roughed it with men-the fellows with
knots in their hands-the good old
kind that you know by looking into
their faces, paying dollar for dollar,
and asking odds of no one. I'm not
much for this high-collar and spike
tail suit game, but when I did mix
have always managed to turn the ball
room corners without slipping That
Duval chap might ride strong in a
fiuffy-ruffies review, but he'd lose his
goat in q week in an even race with
men, where brains and work were the
to win. He makes good ball
room scenery, but he'd be a fizzle in
a crop failure with an overdue mort
gage staring him in the face. He's
what we call out in my country a pink
tea Lizzie. I don't doubt that he i'm /
presses the frivolous young girl, but /
he'd be a joke on the crocheting and /
bread-baking circuit. I don't like his
looks. and, besides, he's a phOny-a .
human counterfeit with some real /
money to keep him on his pedals. l /
don't want him around these diggings. /
and that order is official. l know that /
ne don't appeal to Gertrude, for she is
ike her dad"
Wouldn't you have liked 10 have .
heard that speech? And me sitting
right across the table from father. 1t
as though he had been get .
ing some valuable tips Wonder if
Gertrude had been helping me out?
Before the evening was over mother
acted as though she was about to have
IN attack Of headache. Gertrude sang
l-L'I pay gu, anu SpltJu SOtLe VI tudL
Ielba gUrEIe that catches a fellow be-
ween the vest pocket and the neck
lie. Father said she got her voice
,alling the chickens out west on the
arm the family lived on before set
ling in town This drew a rise from
mother. She said Gertrude's voice de
-elOpment was the result of four
ears instruction b. zone of the nigh
ast-priced teachers in the country"
father said he never believed the
fellow with the long hair ever did .
Ter much good" There was a near
rgUment that was shut off by Ger
rude breaking into another song.
The sitting broke up close TO mid
light 1t seemed TO me as though it
vas hardly more than shutdown. 1
ould have stuck until the next morn
ne without batting lamp. I only
wish that dad would stick around home j
IL the time.
Say, when I was leaving Gertrude
hook my hand as though she felt good
yer something. I wonder if the ice !
S going to move soon? BILLY.
'UR INSIDE INFORMATION BUREAU.
b W.-Our sporting department has t
10 record of whether Pa Shaaer, man i
ger of tho nayapror+ L,z,l,,11 $780,. ,