The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1902-02-28
TELEGRAM.
rnrpAY. rEpnuAa1 3, lsos.
THE BUTTONS STORY

y
the coat OF naval officer; very badly
sewed. for at ball inthe midst Of
waltz / came of and rolled on tue
door. A little white gloved hand pick
ed me up and held me close and slyly
dropped me into silk lined pocket
II saw him lose It. heard a pretty
woman's voice murmur II know II is
Mr.. Mortimer's."
That night I went home. not to a gen
tieman,s room, but to fair lady's.
All alone in this room with nue., she
took me from her pocket and kissed
me.
Never was so surprised, but soon
found 1t was not for my own sake.
II know you do not love me now.
Mortimer" she Whispered; "but you
have worn this, and will keep 1t.
She kissed me again and strung me
upon a little blue silk ribbon and ted
me about her white throat.
All night 1 lay against her soft heart
and felt 1t beat.
was not sorry that ! had been lost
from the officers coat.
Indeed detested him now, for, from
what this lovely creature said to me.
It was plain that he had made love to
her and at last Tilted her for some one
who had more money.
made up my mind, otcourse, that I
should be worn about the young lady's
neck forever, but reckoned without
my host.
Youth is youth.
Pretty soon the young Indy ceased to
talk so much about Mortimer.
Another gentleman had come upon
the carpet. Soon she was engaged"
On that evening I was hastily cram
med into a 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
nothing of the fine doings.
When she had gone, her little sister
came into the room one day, spied me
and carried me of. After that / was
for a long time dolls watch. / 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 thread-that gold twist snapped
in two. and rolled into a space be-
tween the paving stones.
There 1 lay deserted, forlorn and
dirty, my gliding fast going and no
one even taking any notice OF me.
1t was the pavement outside a little
park, a quiet, aristocratlc place. La
dies dressed in velvet and costly silk
swept past.
One day my lady came there, she
who had won me on her heart SO long.
She walked slowly up and down.
One white hand was ungloved. Upon
It sglfttered her wedding ring and Its
diamond keeper.
She looked at her watch,
..He is late" she said. Then she
blushed rosy red and whispered, mo.
he comes"
looked. Through the leaty shadows
Of the park came my first owner, Nor
timer.
They walked up and down together.
Often their feet touched ME. could
not hear what they said, but | saw
how she looked. It was enough for
me. a ~
Again had the poor gilt button but
had a voice how 1t 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
springtime when they first came. In
the autumn, when the leaves had rus
tied from the trees and carpeted the
ground, they came there still. Now
she often wept. and he sometimes
spoke almost angrily. 1 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.
saw for moment face had not
seen since Roses wedding day - the
brown bearded face of her husband.
An oath rang upon the air. heard
the report of pistol; then Mortimer
fell across me. dead. and Ills lifeblood
dripped over my furnished gliding.
After that came crowd hustle.
men in the uniform OF the police.
The body was carried away. The
rain washed the blood from the pave
ment. Still i remained wedged IN my
nook, and on my breast one dry drop OF
that hearts blood.
Years swept by. There was no gid
ing left upon me; ! was a bltof rusted
metal. nothing more.
One day 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.
"Hcre he died." she said. Mortimer.
Mortimer"
And knew Roses voice. Oh, fad
ed and withered rose indeed!
Then her eyes-dying eyes, | knew
caught sight Of nue..
She put her finger under the crevice
of the stone and lifted me out,
How oddr' she said. II wore such a
button as this was once over my heart
for n wear because It dropped from his