The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1903-08-28

| cried linpulSively.
! The boy hcsitatcd.
'Leastways, he corrected himself 81
isn't exactly like the one You advertised
HAS it the monogram on it," askct
the judge.
"Yes, sir" said the boy.
Lalitc was leaning forward, listening
breathlessly.
"You don't know the number" asked
the boy.
Unfortunately, said the judge, %
neglected to keep it when l bought III,
watch. suppose l could get it very
easily, but thought the monogram
would be identification enough"
"Yes sir" said the boy But there
might be two people with the same
initials. There wasn't anything else
particular about the watch you lost
"No. Was there, Lalite?" asked the
judge. 81 distinctly remember your say
ing so.
We'll, there was in the one | found"
said the boy.
Latte got up suddenly and walked
down the long room to one of the deep
windows. She disappeared between the
curtains. The judge looked after her
with a feeling of pity for her disappoint-
mcnt.
"Oh, boy" he said suddenly, "show
me the watch you found, and | will tell
tell you the truth about its belonging to
us. You are right to be careful to make
no mistakes i'll returning it, but surely
my reputation will clear me from any
suspicion of dishonesty. You know who
| am, and | think you can trust me, can't
vou?"
The little chap promptly unbuttoncd
his gray overcoat and pulled out small
watch.
Judge HOLSTER examined the case
closely.
at seems to me-" he said, after this
scrutiny, that this is the watch we are
looking for. But what is there about it
that we haven't described to you?"
The boy opened the back of the case
silently.
81 guess it's all right" he said, jerking
his thumb toward Washburn 81 recog-
nized him as soon as | come ill.,"
"Lalite. Bless my soul" said Judge
Hollister. He stood a moment with the
watch in his hand. Then he walked over
to the fire place and thrust it almost
fiercely toward his guest.
"Washburn, did you know that picture
was in there" he demanded
The young man looked at the open
case, and such an expression of amaze
mcnt grew upon his face that his former
innocence could not be doubted
1t was an old likeness of himself that
he saw uncovered before him. He re-
called with a flash of memory how, the
first summer he had know Lalitc, they
were together in Il sailing party and
some one had taken a snap shot of the
group. He had kept his picture intact,
though for him there was but one face in it.
But l.alitc-Lalte had cut this out, had
put it in her watch, had carried it about
thus without his knowledge while he was
starving for one sign of hope and en-
from her.
MY photograph he said slowly, star
ing at the judge i'll a daze of astonish-
ment. ''What does it mean"
"Humph!" said the old man, with
twinkle in his eye and a glance toward
the curtained window at the other end
of the room. 81 should think it was
about time you found out"
He went back to the florists boy
"If you'll come with ME to my study"
he said, I'll give you your reward. The
watch belongs to my daughter"
There was All abashcd heap of fcmi-
nifty on the window scat behind the
heavy curtains, with its face buried deep
in the cushions, so deep that thing hui
the tip of one pink car showed for kiss
ing place. Little by little, and very
gently, Howard disintcrrcd the rest of
Lalite's big blush.
Sweetheart" he whispered, "if had
only guessed it before! Think ofthe time
you have made me waste
The Horse Lost.
Thomas Nelson Page, the novelist, has
a great liking for colorcd people, and
they, in turn, like him.
"Moses Stebbins is good friend of
mine," Mr.. Page said at dinner party.
Zone morning met him on horseback,
and he was chucklng
What's joke, Nose | said.
De joke is sah,' he answered, dat |
Alive jes' won a quahtah fom dis yah
loSs."
How did you win il: | asked.
'Ah won hit dis a way. Dab WIZ a |
white papah on de road, an All SEE to
lie boss dat All bet quahtah he gwine |
ter shy at dc papah. De boss ha taken !
lc bet, sab, an den he lose hit, TO dc |
DOL animal SHE'D like de dcbil'
We'll, you've won the bet. Nose, but |
iou'll have some difficulty in collecting it |
said |.
"Oh, no, sahi no sab; no trubblc bout
lat. Hyah, hyali, hyah! Ah'sgwine ter
'ollect de bet all right.
"IIow, on earth will you collect it?
'W'y, tomorrow dc mahstcr he's
ywine ter gimmic dollah to buy iced 70
fish yer nag. Well, All, Jest keep out er
le feed money de quahtah w as am owed
ne"
Why 1t Was Needed.