Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-02-08
The Siege
of the
Seven SuitOrS
By
MEREDITH NICHOLSON
co,vrjoh, lOia nv Meredith N1choISon
Copyright. 1919. BY Meredith NiebOlsss


shall never forget the look he gave
me when 1 remarked at about his third
spoonful or soup:
by the way. l dropped into an odd
place this Observation-Disclosures ones buns.
ROssetu macaroons and all that sort Of
thing They call II the Asolando''-
I was amblinG on. expecting to
sharpen bis curiosity gradually as re-
cited the joys OF the tea room. but ct
Asolando his spoon dropped. and he
stared at me blankly. II should be
known that Virgins Is not a man
whose composure is lightly shaken.
THE Asolando," ! repeated, to break
the spell OF his blank stare. Know
the place.
He recovered in a moment, but he
surveyed me quizzicslly before reply
ing
OF course have heard Of the Aso-
lsDdo. but / thought you didn't go in
for that sort OF thing It's a trife girl
ish. you know"
That's hardly against It! 1 found
the girlishness altogether attractive"
You always were toIerably suscep-
tible. but brniled butterflies and moth
wings soutfe seem 10 me rather pale
food for man In your vigorous
health"
They must have Disseminated in
your favor saw no such things.
though to be sure / was afraid to quib-
bic over the waitress suggestions. May
! ssk when you were thereY
oh | dropped In quite accidentally
one day lasr spring. ! saw the sign
and remembered that somebody had
spoken or the place and ! was tired.
and IL was long way 10 the club.
and
Discrimination Is not an art as Wig
gins attempts 70 practice 1t 1T times.
Re Is hy MIXTURE the moss straIghtfOr-
Ward Of WartSls IN was clear that he
was Withholding something. and re-
solved to get TO the bottom OF II.
Il don't think the Asolando is a place
thar would attract either Of Us, and
yet the vlauds are good as such stun
goes. and the gentle handmaidens are
restful to the eye-pippa, Francesca.
q IOriu md TN. rest OF EN-"
Virgins pred open his artichOke
with the care 81 botanist He had
reclaimed us ,ompoSurc. but ! saw that
tie subie,- interested him.
You were there this afternoon" he
inquired
Yes. my nrSt and only appearance.
"And this l. Monday"
THE calendar has said It."
$50 you settled your bill with Pippa
believe this was her day She makes
the change on Monday. Wednesdsy
and Friday. Her syelashes are triht
too long for the worlds peace"
II dare say haven't your charming
knaCk. AmeS. OF picking up acquaint
ances. so yon mustn't expect me e
form lifelong friendships with young
women at cash desks suppose Il
didn't occur 10 yOu that those young
women who tend till and serve the
tables in there are persons Of educa
riDu and taste The ASolGBdo is not 4
common hashery. There's not a girl IL
that place who hasn't a social position
as good a. yours or mine. The AsO
lando's kind Of fad. you know
Ames: it's not tavern within tn,
meaning OF the inkeepers' act. wher'
common swine are fed for profit TIL,
servants serve for love OF the cause
It's a sort OF cult"
Virgins excused himself shortly
and | had q glimpse OF him later. IL
the writing room. engaged upon let
tiers. a fact in itself dlsquiettng To-
Virgins never wrote Ieteers. and 4
was he who had favored making tn,
Hare and Tortoise writing room int
q den for pipe smokers The episeolar!
habit. he maintained. was one tina
should be discouraged.
was mOOdily turning over the even
ing newspaper when Jewett turned up
Jewett always knows everything. HI
dropped the bail ineo the green OF m!
immediate interest with q neat sp
| proscb shot
Too bad about cid w1gU." he re
married with bis prstuding sigh.
Whats the nnatter with Virgins p
/ demanded.
"Ah! He hasn't tod ySuS FhSash'
be told yOu svSFVehing."
This was meant e0r q stinger, and
felt the hise az It
You do nss TOO Hzach honor. wig
gins II not q man % throw arO1nd hi
conf3d0nceR"
And l rather faAcy that bis lon
acratrs IN particular are locked In hi
bosom"
JewStt was q mastaR o8 the art o
suggestion. BE to0t ED unnscessGril,
long time TO light q c3EAr % ehat hi
words might Sink deep into my cor
sctouAneSs.
Saw her once last svriag Got
GiRht draft from ths Baek OF EroI
/ Followed her acr0ss the muitttudfnou
sSa. Bang
But WiGgy hasn't been abroad
Wigsy w4s 90 bis Dakota ranch a.
summer Hes all tsnBsa from the sur
just a. be - every fau." Persisted.
Wrote yon from cut thsrs. did he
Sent you picture postals showing hir
herding his cattle or whatever IL
.