Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-02-08


cocktail. a pink one. provided-pro-
vided"-and she held the waitress
with her eye-''you have the imported
caviar and your barkeeper knows the
proper frappe OF the spirit litter have
named"
Pardon me, madam" replied the
waitress icily. but you have mistaken
the place. The Asolando serves moth.
ing stronger than the pure water of
its own fount Of Castalia. Intoxicants
are not permitted here"
"Intoxicants" repeated the old lady
with asperity. DO look Ike per-
son given to intoxication! dare say
your Castalia water is nothing but Gro
ton whose flavor has been destroyed
by distillation. You may bring me
the sandwich ! have mentioned and
with It a pot Of tea. Yes. thank you;
lemon with the tea
As the girl vanished with the light
tread that marked the service Of the
| place l again made as to rise. but the
| old lady lifted her hand with q delay
ing gesture.
Pray remain. It IL not unlikely
that We have friends and idess in COM
mon, and as you were seated at the
seventh table 1t IL possible that some
ordering Of fate has brought US to-
gether."
/ She took from me In the hand which
she had now ungioved the copy of my
minor poet, glanced at It scornfully and
tossed It upon the floor with every
mark OF disdAin.
What species OF mental disorder
does this place representa- she de-
manded.
1T is sacred to the fine arts appar-
emily; an endowed tea room where per
sons of artistic ideals may come to re-
fresh body and soul. Such at least
seems to be the program. This Is only
my second visit, but have long heard
it spoken of by artists, poets and 9th
ers of my friends"
Il am sixty-two years old. young
man. and l beg to inform you that
consider the AsoIando the most pre-
posterous thing 1 have ever heard Of
in this most preposterous city. And
from a casual glimpse Of you l feel
justified in saying that a man in your
apparent physical health might be in
better business than frequenting in
midafternoon a shop that seems TO be
a remarkably stupid expression OF
twentieth century anaemia."
Attendance here is not compulsory"
| remar ked defensively.
IF you imply that must have
sought the place voluntarily let me cor
rect your false impression Immediately.
| dropped in here for the excellent rea-
son that this shop is the seventh in nu-
merical progression from Fifth aven-
nue."
You were not guided by any feeling
OF interest. then. but rather by super
stitiOn?"
That remark is unworthy of q man
of your apparent intelligence. I was
born on the 9TH OF November. and all
the great events of my life have oc-
Cured on the eth Of the month"
was relieved TO find that she &C.
cepted the tea and sandwiches the
waitress had brought without parley
It is with shame l confess that in the
lieved her capable Of quarrellng with
waitress. but she thanked the cir
pleasantly. lifting her head with g
smile that lllumlned her face attrac
lively. Her demand for cocktail ha6
not been wholly convincing as TO hel
sincerity. and | wondered whether she
were not playing part of some kind
She suggested pleasant and wholesome
things.
In any event the impression wa:
wholly agreeable. ! had to do witt
n lady and a lady of no mean degree
The marks Of breeding were upon her
and she spoke with that quiet author
ity that is the despair of the vain ant
vulgar. Her features were small anC
delicate. her ringless hands were per
fectly formed and both face and hand.
belied the age to which she had 81
frankly confessed She WAS more thar
twice my age. and there was not tn,
slightest reason why she should no
address me IL it pleased her TO do so
and her obsession as to the potency o.
the numeral seven was not in itseI
proof of an Ill balanced mind Musin.
thus. l reached the conclusion tina
, this encounter was very likely the sOr
OF thing that happened to patrons O
the Asolando. My time has. however
a certain value. and I began to won
der just how should escape. I wa
: about to excuse myself when my com
panion suddenly put down her cuI
and addressed me with a directnes
that seemed habitual in her
, II have formed an excellent opinion
|, Of your bringing up from the manne
. in which You have suffered my ad
vances. II I may so call them. Tor
act and speIk like a gentleman of edu
? cation. Will you kindly tell me tn
nature OF your occupationT
; produced one of my professions
cards.