Monroe City Democrat. (Monroe City, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1908-11-26
A WAlST-BUTTON
"WRASTLE"
by JAMES W. FOLEY


You can't button a waist from the bot.
tom. Begin at the top-in the collar
there"
"All right" said John, cheerfully.
Pause
whats the matter. John? Can't
you find the buttonholes?"
There, I've got the first one" said
John, triumphantly. by lingo, l
haven't, either. I've got 1t buttoned
into a hole in the lace. I'll have to
unfasten it. There-now we're get
ting along"
You're awfully clumsy, John. How
many buttons have you got fastened?"
I've got one, all right" he declared.
This lace collar is the hardest part
of 1t. l guess it'll be plain sailing as
soon as get that done"
well, let us see II 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 l can
fix it now; my fingers are rested"
We'll, for goodness sake, hurry, or
we'll be late. I'm getting all tired out
standing up here, and my hairs COM
ing out Of curl. Can't you hurry a lit
tle?"
I'm hurrying as fast as l can" he
suggested, amiably. ITS new work
for me, you know. l don't see what
they make waists button up the back
for, anyway"
Have you got all four buttons Of
the collar fastened?"
Are there four Of them? BY
gracious, / thought there were only
three! l missed the third one-the
collars folded down so. I'll have to
unfasten the last one and button the
third"
We'll, John Dixon, you are smart!
Didn't l tell you there were four but
tons on the collar?"
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,
dabbing some powder on her nose.
How 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
1t at all. There-the collars all done
Ir,,, co.
more. One-two-three-fo
six-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,
looking sideways into the mirror.
"Well, declare, John Dixon, If you
haven't missed one of the top but.
tons, and got 1t all buttoned crooked !
Well, you are smart one!"
THAT don't make any difference, u
, said John, soothingly. Nobody will
ever notice that"
Now, John Dixon, If you think I'm
going downtown with a hump on my
back like a camel and my waist but
toned crooked, you're mistaken! Be
sides, I'm so warm and tired l dom
care whether l go now or not-sC
there! You can unbutton the whole
o thing, and I'll take 1t off and stay a
home"
Tears.
} For goodness sake don't cry Owe
o a little thing like that" said John II
distress. "Tll button 1t up again In
5 jiffy."
e I'm not crying over the waist. In
crying because you're so cross an,
mean and hateful. Don't start to but
ton 1t up again. don't want 1t but
: toned"
e Il wouldn't act like that, dear" h
4 protested. There isn't any use quar-
- reling about little thing like buttor
u ing waist.
" I'm not quarreling," she declared
I. tearfully. I've stood up here for hal
an hour, until I'm all tired out. an
q I've been Just as patient as / can b.
and you say am quarreling."
More tears.
Haven't you got another waist this
buttons easier?" he suggested. ma,
n be / could button another one In
ic minute"
IA mo, / haven't" she said. "The
- all button down the back"
~ Then l guess Wen have to give
- up" he admitted. I'll telephone dow
and tell them not to hold the tickets
John Dixon, do you mean to SO