Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-12-02
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY.
The Buttons Story.

was very bright. ! was sewed on TO
the coat of naval officer; very badly
sewcd. ior at a ball in tie midst Of
waltz 1 came off and rolled ON the
floor. \ little white gloved hand pick
ed me up and held me close and slyly
dropped me into a silk lined pocket.
Il saw him lose it, l heard Il pretty
woman's voice murmur. Il know it is
Mr.. Mortimer's."
That night l went home, not TO gen
tleman's room. but to fair lady's.
All alone In this room with ne. she
took me from her pocket and kissed
me.
Never was ! so surprised. but | soon
found 1t was not for my own sake.
Il know you DO not love me now,
Mortimer" she whispered; but you
have worn this. and / will keep it,
She kissed me again and strung me
upon Il little blue silk ribbon and tied
inc about her white throat.
All night / lay against her soft heart
and felt it beat.
1 was not sorry that had been lost
from the officers coat.
Indeed l detested him now, for. from
what this lovely creature said to me,
1t was plain that lie had made love to
her and at last Tilted her for some one
who had more money.
l made up my mind. of course, that 1
should be worn about the young Iady's
neck forever, but 1 reckoned without
my host.
Youth is youth.
Pretty soon the young lady ceased to
talk so much about Mortimer.
Another gentleman had come upon
the carpet. Soon she was engaged"
On that evening l was hastily cram
med into Il box and heartlessly left
there. Rose was married and went
upon her bridal trip. and unless the lid
OF the box happened to be up saw
Lothing of the fine dOings.
When she Lad gone. her little sister
came into the room one day. spied me
and carried me OF. After that | was
for long time n dolls watch. l hung
upon gold thread about china neck
and was carried all about the house.
upstairs and down, even out into the
street sometimes.
At last-my destiny has ever hung
upon n thread-that gold twist snapped
in two. and l rolled into i space be-
tween the paving stones.
There l lay deserted. forlorn and
dirty, my gliding fast going and no
enc even taking any notice Of me.
1t was the pavement outside little
park, quiet. aristocratic place. La
dies dressed in velvet and costly silk
swept past.
One day my lady came there. she
who had worn me on her heart so long.
She walked slowly up and down.
One white hand was ungloved. Upon
it glittered her wedding ring and its
diamond keeper.
She looked at her watch.
He is late" she said. Then she
blushed rosy red and whispered. NO,
lie comes"
looked. Through the leafy shadows
of the park came my first owner. Nor
timer.
They walked up and down together.
Often their feet touched me- l could
not lear what they said. but | saw
how she looked. 1t was enough for
me.
Again had the poor gilt button but
had 4 voice how it would have cried
out,
But. alas, would she have listened TO
me when she was needless of the mute
appeal of the wedding ring upon her
finger? | fear not. Often and often
after that they met there. 1t was
springtimc when they first came. In
tire autumn, when the leaves had rus
tied from the trees and carpeted the
ground. they came there still. Now
sIt q Is.
spoke almost apgrily / knew some
thing terrible was about to happen. At
last one morning Mortimer came to the
rendezvous.
Now, instead OF her light tread. came
the rapid footballs of an angry man.
l saw for moment face l had not
seen since Roses wedding day the
brown bearded face of her husband.
An oath rang upon the air. | heard
the report of n pistol; then Mortimer
fell across me, dead, and his lifeblood
dripped over my furnished gliding.
After that came a crowd, q hustle,
men in the uniform of the police.
The body was carried away. The
rain washed the blood from the pave
ment. Still l remained wedgcd in my
nook. and on my breast one dry drop of
that hearts blood.
Years swept by. There was nc. gid
ing left upon me; was bit of rusted
metal, nothing more.
One day n miserable creature stag
gered through the park. Her clothes |
were mere shreds and tatters. Her
face was miserably thin. Save for two !
tapping slippers. her feet were bare.
She put her skeleton arms upon the |
cold stones and laid her head upon |
them.
Here he died." she said. Mortimer,
Mortimer
And l knew Roses voice. oh, fad |
ed and withered rose indeed.
Then her eyes-dying eyes, 1 knew |
caught sight of me.
Clio inf b.,. 6,.,o, ,,nJa- ,i,o oro,.;,,, /