Evening journal. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1907-1913, 1907-12-02
A WAEST-BU
"WRASTLE"
Ey JAMES w. FOLEY

you come and button my waist for
me-"
Eyes. dear"
Don't begin at the bottom, John.
You can't button waist from the bot
tom. Begin at the top-in the collar
there"
"All right, said John, cheerfully.
Pause.
What's the matter, John? Can't
you find the buttonholes?"
There, I've got the first one" said
John, triumphantly. ''By lingo, |
haven't. either. I've got it buttoned
into hole in the lace. I'll have te,
unfasten it. There-now we're get
ting along
You're awfully clumsy. John. How
many buttons have you got fastened?"
Eve got one, all right" he declared.
This lace collar IS the hardest part
of it. 1 guess it'll be plain sailing as
soon as set that done"
We'll, let us see. if | can do that"
she said little impatiently, twisting
around before the mirror and putting
both hands back of her neck
You've got the second one buttoned
into the third hole" said John, watch
ing her manipulations. Maybe | can
fix it now; my fingers are rested"
well, for goodness sake, hurry, or
Wen De late. I'm getting all tired out
standing up here, and my hairs com
ing out of curl. Can't you hurry lit
tle?"
I'm hurrying as fast as / can he
suggested, amiably. ITS new work =
for me, you know. | don't see what
they make waists button up the ba
for, anyway"
Have you got all four buttons
the collar fastened?"
Are there four of them? BY
gracious, thought there were only
three. missed the third one-the
collars folded down so. III have to
unfasten the last one and button the
third
We'll, John Dixon, you are smart,
Didn't | tell you there were four but
tons on the collar?p
Il didn't hear you, dear" he said,
meekly. Don't twist around so.
You'll have the second one out next.
THERE thought you would. Now
I've got to begin all over"
My face is getting so red I'm
ashamed to go anyhere," she began,
dapbing some powder on her nose.
low far down are you now"
Don't raise your arms up that
way" he cautioned her. you make ,
1t cape in the back, and | can't button
it at all There-the collars all done
now. dearie. just few minutes
more. ree-four-five-
-seven-eight-" he counted slow
ly. Only seven or eight more Now
that's all but the hook and eye"
What makes that little bulge up
there near the top?" she inquired.
locking sideways into the mirror.
Wei, | declare. John Dixon, If you
haven't missed one of the top but
tons, and got it all buttoned crooked!
Well, you are a smart onei"
That don't make any difference"
said John, soothingly. Nobody will
ever notice that"
Now, John Dixon, if you think Tn
going downtown with a hump on my
back like camel and my waist but
toned crooked you're mistaken, Be
sides, I'm SO warm and tired l don't
care whether go now or not--so
there. You can unbutton the whole
thing, andsl'll take it Off and stay. at
home"
Tears.
For goodness sake don't cry over
q little thing like that" said John in
distress. I'm button it up again iii
jiffy.'
W I'm not crying over the waist. Tn
crying because you're SO cross and
mean and hateful Don't start to but
ton it up again. l don't want it but
toned
Il wouldn't act like that, DEAR he
protested There isn't any use quar-
reling about little thing like button
ing a waist.
I'm not quarrelng," she declared,
tearfully. i've stood up here for half
an hour, until ] m all tired out, and
I've been just Jas patient as l can be,
and you say Isam ,quarreling.
Mere tears.
Haven't YOU got another waist that
buttons easiers" he suggested. May
be could button another one in
minute
mo, l haven't she said. "They
all button down the back"
Then ] guess we'll have to give it
up" he admitted. TN telephone down
and tell them not to hold the tickets"
John Dixon, do you mean to say
you're going to miss that performance
because. you're SO stupid you can't
button my waist for me?"
Il don't see how l can button it if
you won't Jet me try said Joh-l,
meekly.
Who said anything about not let
ting you try?" she retorted, tartly.
THE trouble is you didn't want to be
bothered about it in the first place,
and you didn't try"