BUTTONS

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue LXIX, 21 September 1938, Page 22

BUTTONS

By J. HORTON, 5 Sanders Avenue, Takapuna.

"It , * no imo my pretending Ido understand when I just jolly well don't," thought Tonic bitterly, ae she absently watched a sparrow hop on to the window-sill and peer cheekily into the room. "Why when we were enrh good friend* last year, does she suddenly choose to ignore me thue?" She disconHoliitely kicked a cushion off the couch and frowned as she stooped to pick it Up iijrain. "PiMih," flip ejaculated, thumping the cushion. "Who cares, anyway—l'm mire I am not going to, though," here •he »topp«vl wistfully. "I would love to Im friendly with her again." Ton Iβ {'arson wim the dark-curly haired daughter of an artist who, HlixloUM for a rest had luiught a country house in Berkshire for the summer. Full of joy Tonie had written to her one great chum. Val Hope, who also lived in Berkshire, and who had left school the former year.

"Isn't it marvel lons," Tonie hnd written. "Now we'll be able to have mch fun, swimming and riding together. l'\n niiesed you n lot at school this year, Viil, but this all makes up for it—the whole summer. Hurrah!" "I don't know where exactly the house la that dad has bought, but I do hope it's somewhere near yours. Write soon, Vji-J, your loving Tonle." Tonie bit her lip as she thought it •II over. After that letter Val had never written again, and when Tonie went to Berkshire she found to her horror that the house Mr. Carson had bought wan Val's beautiful home! Only then she began to perhaps realise why Val had never answered her letter. Miserably she wandered round the gardens, remembering the fun she ami Val hmtl had together in the, holiday* when •ho had stayed there. Then she wandered down to the gardener's cottage. A girl was working fit the garden, and Tonie, with a little cry of excitement saw it was Val. "Why, Val," she cried, "we've *>een wondering where you were. It's stunning to see you again. I ... why, what is It?" She stopped, as she saw Val. Her face wa» pale, and as she came over to Tonic she murmured casually, "Oh, it's you! Hope you like the house," and turned to go. But -Tonic caught her arm. "Oh, Val. T don't understand, dear. Wont you please tell me." But Val shrugged her shoulders and said angrily. Pleaft<> go away. 1~l must ™ O) goodt>y... she turned and left a hurt, buwlldernd T.mie looking after her. For a few seeond* Toi.in stood where She wjw, and then she, too. turned and went nack home, „,, Uu , | iu|(l wimM th over the stream, and ho int., the manor «%""'"• What could V,,| „„.,,„, Tlmt night after tea, Tnnie nobMngly told her imithiT. who, with a little slgl, kissed her gently and said MO ft| v ronie. dear, -to,, crying nn ,| listen f, rno. Home month* ,ig o V..IV father lo*i all lie owned in the world. His factoiv wiM burnt down mid his Miarrs were useless. Hi> wurt it mined man. The sho.k eompletely wrecked him. and he is now in a rest-home, for a year We heard what hnd happened utul in our siiinll way tried to help by renting this house for Die turninr-i- ,„'• ~t J t 'nst f (l| . tile time being. We didn't Ml voll Tonic, lit the time, fur we hoped* nil would 1,,, well. Why V.I has „,.,,.,- answered your letter. »m<l why she -poke tr> you. mm she did to .lav. in lieeinme she feels resent fill when she r«Mlli«i<« what him happened, iin.l perhaps a lit tip Litter. She left school as von know, hist yeir, when her tut her hud just begun t" sit his share* would piiv* no more dividends. Now, Tonie. dear, kins me goodnight and ;:<> up to |~.<l and forget hll I told you. Val will lie different to-morrow, whun she ha* thought things over." ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ It was a perfect day. Tonie danced down to the stables with a light heurt. It would be all right to-day, she felt sure. Laughing merrily, she* told Peter to saddle two horses and, picking up l bar vrhip, »h« ran down the eloping

lawns, over the little stream nyain. down the. winding path and so to the cottage —and Val. A jolly little do- was following her and as Tonie stopped he came hounding up to her. wagging his absurd little stump of a tail and barking happily. "Why. Buttons, old boy, did you recognise me?" and for an answer Muttons licked her hand, jumping up and down excitedly on the path. Tonics eyes sparkled—what fun old Buttons «as and how ridiculously fond of him yon could grow. Sh« remembered suddenly what Val had once said: "I think as much of Buttons as I do of you. Tonie. He's a funny little chap, but so faithful and full of fun."

"Come on. Buttons," said Tonie gaily. "Conic and find Val." Together the girl and tho dog ran down the path to the cottage. Val was standing at the door and as she saw Tonie she turned to go in, but with u little cry Tonie ran up to her. "Hullo, Vol. Will yon rome for a ride with me? I . . ." " She stopped ami smiled, appealing. Val flushed and bit her lip. "Thanks. I'd rather not. I—l haven't a horse." "Oh, but I've . . . ," began Tonie eagerly. Val cut in coldly, "No, I'd rather not, thank you very much," and a second time she left Tonie. What was the use. she thought, hopelessly. She couldn't admit to Tonie she had no riding clothes left. Tonie swallowed hard—A'al evidently didn't want to bother with her again. She might just as well go home and think no more about it.

She bent down and patted Buttons shaggy little head and as if he understood what had happened he whined sympathetically and licked her hand with his little pink tongue.

But the perfect day did not last. About eight o'clock the wind had •sprung* up-nnd dark clouds sped across the sky. Air. Carson coming into the sitting room found Tonie curled up in tike e'ahy tfh'air by the fire, writing letters.

" 'Frnid wp axe in for a bit of a storm to-night. Tonie. Horses 0.K.?"

Tonie bit her pencil and nodded thoughtfully. "Yes, T think so. Peter hnd to put a cover on Jane fJrey. dad—she's got a bit of cold—but Bin* , Boy was in fine form to-day. He"s a ripping horse."

Mr. Carson grunted ami settled himself down by the tire with his paper. "Seen Val to-day?" he said casually. "Yes. I did for a minute," said Tonie thoughtfully. "(Jo for a ride with her?"

"No, no. I—she was »u«y," and Tonic turned back to her letter. But she couldn't settle after that. Why did Val act so queerly? She stared dreamily into the fire and then with a shrug of impatience got up and turned mi the wireless. After all, why should she worry about it? She didn't care now -but"did she? Sly knew she did.

Her father looked up from his paper. "l).iing anything. Tonie?" "Well, no, I'm not; I want something to do. us a matter of fact," she answered, yawning. "Is it your pipe or your matches or your slippers?" Mr. Carson laughed.' "N'n, we actually all three. Its n message for Peter, f.lkf to <:o?" "ll'ni, I'd 1 iU.• a walk. Down at the sti.l,|,.-:" "I s'posii ho —thanks denr. Tell him to get Ueiiuty saddled early in the morning. Have to ride over' to those new orelinril- to -re a fellow there." "May I c.m,.," si iid Toniu engorlv. Tier fii t her \\ inked. "Why, of course—but aren't you ratlin optimistic? You won't l>,. up in time—H o'clock is rather early, you know." lie lidded teaningly. Tonie loiighcd. "Silly Lilly! I beat you this morning, but p'raps that wa« an accident." Mr. t'arwon chuckled as he lit his pipe. "I somehow think ho too, Tonie." As Tonie went out the door her father called her back.

"I say, Tonie, get Val to come too. You and ehe can explore while I'm with

the men. It'll be dry for you by yourself." Tonie swallowid quickly. "Thank)*, dad, but I—er—don't think she'll come. She hasn't been riding lately." and before her father could answer islie clipped into the hall, found lit r coat and an old lantern, and went out the back door. The «torm had really come. Wind and rain lushed the tall trees into a flirv.

It was ae dark as pitch, an<l as Tonie struggled down to the stables she was glad of the lantern. There was no lifrht there, and, pushing open the door, she looked in. Bother Peter, nhe thought, he miiHt have gone home, and she wa« just Jfoiiig back when Blue Hoy whinnied. She went up and patted him softly. "Xo sugar, old boy. Hood-night."

It was us much ns she oould do to nhut thp stable door again, and as she was struggling she suddenly hoard a short, sharp whine like something in pain. She Ktoppod, but could hear nothing above the raging wind. So. picking up her Inntern, she turned her hack on the wind and started towards the house. Hush! Hut there it was again! Tonie stopped to listen where it camp from.

Oli, it was Buttons! Surely she knew thnt cry. Jfe must be hurt. Fighting against the storm. Tonic went ill the direction of the sound. She -shivered a« *he realised it came from the wood—it was so dark and cold—but she couldn't lenve Buttons like that—lie might be hurt. She clambered over roots and rocks holding the- lantern high over her head. The cries were louder now. She looked fearfully at the dark, forbidding trees. There was a -"lap of thunder. other flash of lightning followed by even a louder clap of thunder. 7r,,,;'e was \ ahivr ing from fright now. But bravely "he went on. Suddenly she saw Buttons. He was lying with hie poor little paw caught in a trap, and as she went up to him he barked unhappily.

"Poor old boy." she «ni<l softly, stooping to release him. He whined with pain as she carefully took the paw out of the trap, but as she lifted him up ho looked gratefully up at her with his big. brown eyes.

Tonic knew what she must do, and, much as she shrank from it, slip carefully picked up the lantern, and holding Muttons in her arms, walked slowly towards the cottage where Val was. There was a light in the front room, and ns Tonie went down the path she wondered whether to leave Buttons on tho doorstep, but, as if realising her thoughts. lie whimpered nnd licked her hand. Tonie, her heart in her mouth, put down the la'ntcrn and knocked twice on the door.

Mrs. Hope .opened it and gave a little cry of welcome when she new who it was. 'Why, Tonie, dear, come in. I'm «o glad to sec you. Val. it's Tonic—Oh, but Buttons. What has happened?"

Val came slowly out of the sitting loom, and when *he eaw Buttons she gave a little cry. "It's his paw." Tonic said quickly. "I heard him crying and found him in the Tdresf In a" Vnblnf. trap - . I—l thought he'd better have' it bathed before it got tftiff and sore." Val looked at Tonie and emiled, and as her mother took Buttons she pjit her arm round her friend and led her in by the fire. '■You brought Buttons here, by yolirself. in the dark; you, who are always so afraid of the dark?" Tonie smiled nnd said simply. "Well,i I, thought you'd .be about him. He's such a dear. Val smiled, too. and then snid slow.ly: "I've got a lot to apologise for, dear. Darling old Buttons, he's made me «e<e how willy and wicked it was to be !ishamed to tell you everything. Tonie." Together they walked back to the Manor, and when Tonie said softly. "Won't you stay to-night, Val? It'* such "gen. King your mother and tell her from Here. ' Val "nodded! "Of course, Tonie."

Hand in hand they ran inside, pausing only for a second under the porch light, then with a little smile of underhanding Tonie eaid, 'I know about it all, and quickly ehe opened the door of the Manor and Val went into her old home. . ...