Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1904-01-28
Saint Maru's Beacon
THE FACE IN THE WATCH.

SOs1G pop0ac VA 80 &~@@ 49,"
place, but his face relaxed q little |
when he saw il was Lalite.
Father" she exclaimed in an
anxious voice, what do You think
has happened /? ! have lostmy watch.
"AhI" said the Judge quietly.
Have you, my dear? What sort OF
watch was it?"
why. father" she said, you
ought to know. You gave il TO me
yourself for my birthday"
ITO ne sure, 70 be sure SO j did,
answered the Judge, smiling. Il
had forgotten about that. You see,
you took me somewhat by surprise. "
Il did rush in rather like q whirl-
wind in petticoats. didn't II" con-
fessed Lalite penitently. Please
forgive me, but | was SO worried !
could not think of anything else but
getting here. What shall doabout
it?"
How did IL happen 2" asked the
Judge.
Ialite sat down on the arm OF the
leather chair and rested her elbows
ON the desk.
Il was out walking" she said.
with Howard Washburn, and when
we left the house | wore my watch
on this chain over my jacket. 10
was tucked in here we went into q
florists TO get some violets, and
when we came out ! thought we'd
better be turning toward home and
started to see what time ID was.
The watch was gone, and the chain
broken like this. Howard went back
into tho shop and asked the man who
waited on Us II IL dropped in there,
but he said he hadn 3 SCENT Twas
awfully fond OF that little watch,
father, the girl finished.
Let's see, said the Judge. draw
ing sheet of paper toward him.
1t was q small, plain gold one,
wasn't ID 7"
With my monogram on 10.
with your monogram omit. And
think | have the number OF ID in
my old diary"
The methodical man hunted out
his book of the previous year. He
never forgot the date OF his daugh-
ter's birthday. IL was o day of dou-
BILE memories To him. Ii had given
him Lalite and taken away her
mother.
Here il is, he read in a murmur.
Feb. 2, gave Lalite her watch.
Jan. 80. %, 70, Of. How thought
less of me, Lalitel | didn't keep
.he number after all. Never mind.
The monogram ought to be sufficient
10 trace it. Now Lalite. in case it's
been lost we'll advertise it, and in
case it's been stolen wen quietly
notify the police bureau tn send
word TO the pawn shops and the big
jewellers.
He wrote a few lines quickly, in
terrupting himself to ask: mo
other marks of Identification about
it anywhere, we're there, daughter?'
The girl flushed deeply and went
around his chair.
There were the monogram and
the make and the plain gold case, p"
she said, with some embarrassment.
Eyes, yes. I've put them down al
ready, he said, little testify.
What else could there be, father?"
asked Lalite.
"Oh, dents, scratches or other
marks, he answered carelessly.
Lalite laughed aloud, almost with
relief, it seemed.
Daddy, dear" she said, 81 have
not bitten or scratched or bumped
my things since | was n baby. No,
the watch has no scars on il. AT
least, she added, wistfully, 1T didn't
have any when | had il last.
There, there" said the Judge,
patting her face gently. II hope
you II get it again all safe and sound.
I'll send these messages off right A.
way, and then"
Il forgot, said L.alite, as he reach
ed for the bell. Howard is waiting
down stairs to see whether there is
anything he can do. He'll send
these for me. Do let him, for he
feels almost as sorry as do
For three days afterward Lalite
was on tiptoe with nervous expect
ancy. She vibrated between the
windows and stairs. She watched
the street inteutly and jumped at
each ring of the door nell. She re-
fused to leave the house for any
length of time.
If some one brings back my
watch, she said, II want to see
him myself"
Daughter, demonstrated the
Judge one morning as she helped
him into his fur lined coat. 1T isn't
worth while to lose your color and
your watch too. I'llget you another
watch if this one doesn't turn IN.