The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1922-10-27
THE BUTTON
BY SADIE M. sTuLL
- = . - - . . . . /. - - . . =
10 by MCCLURE NeWspaper Syndicatel

20 by Mcclure Newspaper syndicate)
Cap'n LENS rollicking voice ended
the song in soft chuckle as he paused
on the threshold of the Marden kit
chen.
Roberta flashed him smile of well
come over her shoulder.
Cap'n Lem smacked his lips as he
glimpsed the fine, juicy apple pie she
was In the act of consigning to the
oven.
That's what / allus missed tn
most on long vy'ges. Cook sarved
plum-duff more or less reg'lar an
ev'ry 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, / wish ye could
jist see one o. them dried apple libels
anchored long side o. yourn fer sup
per-"
Eoberta's merry laugh rang through
the big kitchen. Then he turned to
Roberta. "The towns plastered with
handbills fer them artist folks fam
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, able-bodied lad,
what perticlar grudge his crew he'd
agin Chinese Mandarins. why, none ct
all, Cap'n,' he answers, surprised like.
"Thet poster was designed by er fa-
nous futurist artist / told him l
knowed thar wus er twist some
whar."
While speaking he had drawn a
small, lacquered box from an inner
pocket. Nov, Wen let jokin' go by
tn board Lookee here"
Roberta uttered a little ecstatic cry.
"Oh, Cap'n Lem-is 1t the real jade
button you have told me such wonder
full stories about-the great Man
darin's button7"
'The very same, little shipmate." :"
| And then he met a roguish challenge
In her winsome brown eyes.
"Oh, Cap'n Lem, do you mean l 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.
''Then I'll go as q Chinese maiden.
/ 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, 20-30-memory's magic
! wand touched the 10th link and it re-
mained fixed. glowing oval before
his age-blurred vision. AS on a mini
ature screen, he watched the budding
j 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
Cape"-homeward bound from her
most paying" voyage. In his ears
rang the mates manly voice: It's a
new home for me this trip, Lem-th
little white cottage next ter Liddy's
folks"
Lemuel Dyer's capable hands tight
ened their grip on the Liddy Bells
er was steadier-his voice never rang
truer; 81 wish ye both all the happi-
ness ye kin sail under"
"Ahoy, Cap'n Lemw
Liddy Bell Marsden's granddaugh-
ter bowed low before him. The jade
button was affixed to white ribbon
i bound most fetchingly around her
1 brown curls.
"Will the maiden Of the starry eyes
deign to honor the humble magistrate
whose color she wears?"
To Roberta, the dance which fol-
lowed seemed dance in Fairylapd.
much joss shall be burned in Yen
Sang's honor" whispered his excel.
lency from Hong Kong at it's conclu-
sion.
| The fourth dance they "sat out" on
the clubhouse piazza. The view OF
the mOonlit harbor was superb. but
! DclIIeF ne6uSQ lis uISldul dpptui
His celestial excellency-otherwi
! Mr.. Malcolm Hewett, famous illustra-
tor and traveler-looked into pair
of frank. star-bright eyes and knew
that his hearts long quest was ended !;
that while he had Jared far afield, the
old home port of his forbears harbored
the world sought prize, his ideal of
womanhood.
And when, an hour later, he reluc-
tantly surrendered her TO Cap'n Lens
escort home, Roberta realized it was
not as she half feared-a dream born
of the glamour of the dance, but d
| Joy which would last as long as even
life itself.
rs the Mandarin's button potent
Oriental charm, Capn Lem?" she
asked very softly.
His answer was somewhat puzzling
''Mebbe, little shipmate. Thet is-for
sartn people, ct sartin times-th way
o. all charms / be thinkin."