The Montana courier. [volume] (Shelby, Mont.) 1922-192?, 1922-09-06
THE BUTTON
BY SADIE M. STULL

: on the threshold of the Marden kit
chen.
Roberta flashed him a smile of we.
come over her shoulder.
Cap'n Lem smacked his lips as hi
giimpsed the fine. juicy apple pie she
was in the act of c%onsigning to the
oven.
That's what I allus missed tn
most on long vy'ges. Cook sarved
plum-duff more or less regular an
eyry onct in so often what he called
apple pie" A reminiscent twinkle
frightened the speakers faded blue
eyes. by the great Mandarin's but
ton, Miss Roberta, l wish We could
Jist see one O. them dried apple libels
anchored long side o. yourn fer sup
per-"
Roberta's merry laugh rang through
the big kitchen. Then he turned TO
Roberta. 1.-THE towns plastered with
handbills fer them artist folks AN
dandango termorrer night. / never
run foul O. sich critters es they pictur
In any port O. tn seven seas. l axed
one O. 'em, a fine. ~ablebodied lad,
what pertic'lar grudge his crew he'd
agin Chinese Mandarins. why, none ct
all, Cap'n,' he answers, surprised like.
Tibet poster was designed by er fa-
nous futurist artist / told him |
knowed thar wus err twist M
whar."
While speaking he had drawn a
small, lacquered box from an inner
pocket. Now, Wen let jokin' go by
tn board. Lookee here"
Roberta uttered q little ecstatic cry.
"Oh, Cap'n Lem-is it the real jade
button you have told me such wonder
full stories about-the great Man
darin's button?"
'The very same, little shipmate."
And then he met a rOguish challenge
in her winsome brown eyes.
"Oh, Cap'n Lem, do you mea / can
really wear the Mandarin's button to
the costume ball?"
Cap'n Lem nodded an indulgent as
sent.
Roberta clapped her hands in glee.
III 81 90 a hiito h'dittb-
Velly cute-likee Wing Tong-big
Mclean sailor man sabee?"
81 sabee," Cap'n LENS lips smiled,
but in his eyes cleaned a faraway
light. The years fell from him like
slipping links from Times endless
chain. Ten, 2O-3O-memory's magic
wand touched the 10th link and it re-
manned a fixed, glowing oval before
his age-blurred vision. AS on a mini
AZURE screen, he watched the budding
of his life's one romance; to him the
rarest flower in loves garden-de-
stined, alas, to bloom for another!
AS clearly as though it were but yes
terday, he sighted" a familiar sky
line. as the Liddy Bell rounded the
bound from her
most paying" voyage. In his ears
rang the mates manly voice: ITS a
new home for me this trip, Lem-th'
little white cottage next ter Liddy's
LemueI Dyer's capable hands tight
sned their grip Oh the Liddy Bells
yheel-that was all. His glance new
n was steadier-his voice never rang
ruer; 81 wish We both all the happi-
less We kin sail under"
"Ahoy, Cap'n Lem!"
Liddy Bell Marsden's granddaugh-
err bowed low before him. The jade
'utton was affixed to a white ribbon
ound most fetchingly around her
rown cu-ls.
"Will the maiden of the starry eyes
eign to honor the humble magistrate
hose color she wears?"
To Roberta, the dance which fol- 4
seemed a dance in Fairyland. !
''Much joss shall be burned In Yen q
ang's honor whispered his excel C
,ncy from Hong Kong at its conclu- u
on. y
The fourth dance they 'sat out" on 81
ne clubhouse piazza. The view OF
le moonlit harbor was superb, but W
either needed it's distant appeal. "
His celestial exceilency-otherwise n
II. Malcolm Hewett. famous illustra- -
n and traveler-looked into a pair =
frank. star-bright eyes and knew a
his hearts long quest was ended; "
at while he had Jared far afield, the
d home port of his forbears harbored =
e world sought prize, his ideal of -
And when, an hour later, he reluc- r
ntly surrendered her to Cap'n Lens -
'cort home, Roberta realized 1t was Sc
It as she half feared-a dream born at,
the glamour of the dance, but a 4
y which would last as long as even so
e itself.
the Mandarin's button a potent wh
charm, Cap'n LemT she Thu
ked very softly. IA
His answer was somewhat puzzling: res
lebbe, little shipmate. Thet is-for 20
rtin people. ct sartin times-th' way An
all charms / be ~thinkin'." 1u'