Iron County register., 1922-08-31
THE BUTTON
By SADIE M. sTuLL
q nv Mcclure D-Ay,s,,,,,a,. s,,.,,Ig..t,' \ - -

the song IN SOFT chuckle as he paused
on the threshold of the Marden kit
chen.
Roberta flashed him a smile of wei.
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 1 allus missed tn
most on long vy'ges. Cook sarved
plum-duff more or less reglar an
ey'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, 1 wish ye 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. 'The towns plastered with
handbills fer them artist folks fan
dandango termorrer night. 1 never
run foul O. sich critters es they pictur
in any port o. tn seven seas. l axed
one o. 'em, 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 ia
nous futurist artist I told him
knowed thar wus er twist some
whar"
While speaking he had drawn
small, lacquered box from an inner
pocket ''Now, we'll let jokin' go by
TIL board. Lookee here"
Roberta uttered 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 mean I can
really wear the Mandarin's button to
the costume DaIl!"
Cap'n Lem nodded an indulgent as
sent.
Roberta clapped her hands in glee.
"Then I'll go as a 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 a fixed, glowing oval before
his age-blurred vision. AS on mini
ature 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
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 |
was all. His glance new
er was steadier-his voice never rang
truer; II wish We both all the happi-
ness We kin sail UNDER"
"Ahoy, Cap'n Lemw
Liddy Bell Marsden's granddaugh-
ter bowed low before him. The jade |
button was affixed to a white ribbon
bound most fetchingly around her
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 Fairyland.
"Much joss shall be burned in Yen
Sang's honor" whispered his excel
ency from Hong Kong at its conclu-
sion.
The fourth dance they "sat OUT on
The clubhouse piazza. The view Of
he moonlit harbor was superb, but
neither needed its distant appeal.
His celestial excellency-otherwise
Mr.. Malcolm HeWett, famous illustra-
or and traveler-looked into a pair
If frank, star-bright eyes and knew
hat his hearts long quest was ended;
hat while he had Jared far afield, the
I'D home port Of his forbears harbored
he world sought prize, his ideal of
And when, an hour later, he reluc-
antly surrendered her to Cap'n LENS
sscort home, Roberta realized it was
lot as she half feared--a dream born
y the glamour of the dance, but a
oy which would last as long as even
ife itself.
rs the Mandarin's button potent
oriental charm, Cap'n Lem? she
Lsked very softly.
His answer was somewhat puzzling
Mebbe, little shipmate. Thet is-for
artin people ct sartin times-th' way
! all charms I be thinkin'."
Would Seem Like That. /
The editor of a local paper received
hp fo1loUinp letter annarant1,, f,o,,