The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-06-01
al went back to my greasy machine
shop that time, as you bid me-"

al went back to my greasy machine
shop that time, as you bid me-"
"What do you mean 7" ..-...... ....
"Have YOU forgotten about it? II
was when you went to New York to
visit your aunt. You lost your button
at the depot, you know, and told me to
go back to my greasy machine-shop il
couldn't find it."
Miss Ware blushed scarlet. "Oh,
do not speak of that. 1t was very rude
in me. I supposed you had forgotten it.
l was only in fun"
"But 1 wasn't" Toms tone was
rather stern, and Lucy looked up quick
ly. 81 made VOW then"
"Oh dear 1 hope l wasn't the means
of your making q vow"
"Do your And suppose you were
what then Is there any thing SO very
alarming about making VOW ~
81 don't know. They are SO seldom
kept"
"Ah, but this one is partially fulfilled
already, and will be entirely some time.
That is, only one thing can prevent it,
Miss Lucy did not ask what that
one thing was, but grew reserved, and
during the rest of the quadrille did not
look into Toms face with her embarrass-
ed freedom. The conversation had been
carried ON disjointly during the pauses
in the dancing. When the last figure
was finished Miss Ware said:
"Oh dear, 1 am so tired of dancing
Let us walk in the other room, and see
what the children are doing"
Her hand still resting on Toms arm,
and they made their way into another
apartment, where merry throng of
boys and girls were partaking of the
pleasures of that old exciting game,
Button button who's got the but
toni"
"That's good old game" said Lucy,
glancing at the children.
"Button button who's got the but
ton I" came in ringing tones from one of
the players. ......
"l've got it !" exclaimed Tom.
"No, sir; I've got it myself" shouted
a merry, blue-eyed girl, betrayed into
the letting out of her secret.
A little scene of confusion followed,
and then the game went on.
Lucy Ware had looked up at Tom in
"What made you say that Z"
she asked.
because it is true" he answered,
looking at her with a mischievous twitch
of the eye.
Miss Lucy looked puzzled.
"Do you want to see it 7"
eyes," she answered, with doubtful
look. .... ....
He reached in his pocket and held
out in his hand.
"Why," she exclaimed, in amazement,
" that's mine! Where did you get it?
It's the one lost" . .... ...
"I know it." ''' -s .'t-. '..t
She blushed vividly, and was utterly
mystifed.
"Please explain" she said.
"Oh, there's not much to explain. I
picked it up when you lost it at that
time
"And why did you not give it to
me?"
81 preferred to keep it. I took it to
my greasy machine-shop."
"Please DON'T
Tom laughed, and grew Immediately
serious again. He had to screw his
courage up to the sticking point to ut
,er the next words.
81 kept it because I loved you'll" he
"Ohw And Miss Lucy hid her face
n her hands, while her heart beat vio-
emily.
And I haven't got over it yet ~ he
aid, boldly.
This was a very audacious remark,
md Tom had to take breath after it.
Miss Ware also breathed audibly. But
he did not spurn him with indignation
no, far from it. Tom finally said, in
'eice tritie unsteady:
81 made a vow that morning, part of
which was to work my way out of that
,reasy machine-shop. I've done that.
Nhe next was to keep the button until
is owner cared enough for it TOTO
epay-to-that is, to give herself to me
8 condition of its restoration"
Miss Ware looked into his face with
eyes, yet out of the depths
4 which still welled up a fountain of
roguery.
"But my sacque has gone out of fash
on now, and the button will be Of no
Ise to me-" she said.
Tom looked at her earnestly.
"And, besides, think you ought to |
e willing to give more than a button
Or what you ask"
Tom flushed little at this, but sud
enly seized her hand and exclaimed |
nth energy: .t
81 can give the whole love of an un-
ivided heart-a lifelong devotion-a
ove as unchanging and untiring as the
IN that shines Will that do 2"
Il don't know but it will" came in
faint murmur.
And so the old, old game was played,
nd who shall say that hearts did not
in ?