The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1908-08-20
THE LOST WATCH.

THE LOST WATCH.
''Harsh speeches are an evil brood O
chickens that always come home t.
roost." On the morning after she ha(
| flung the betrothal ring on the floor anC
dashed out of the room, leaving young
Ausley alone with his CONSERVATION, tht
i words occurred to Joyce Oldfeld as al
appalling truism. The packet the post
man had just placed in her hands bore
distinctly ominOus and hateful aspect
it was so fatally like the one she haC
mailed less than a week ago! Tearing
leaned weakly against the door casing
and stared at the shining surface OF the
silver box with hot, aching eyes. Then
she turned suddenly, and rushed up tc
her room, locking the door behind her.
Finally, when she had somewhat
Gained herself, she sat down and placed
the casket on the table in front of he1
turned everything; the little pearl scarf.
pin, the seal ring, made from old family
gold: the card case, the silver box in the
lid of which was mounted her latest pho
tograph. and which she had sent him
only five days ago. There was lock
of her hair, too, lying against the pale
blue satin like circle of sunlight.
For long time joyce sat looking
from one mute article to the other, with
a hundred different pictures of her lover
floating through her mind, her eyes
trimming with tears of passionate re-
greet. But she pulled herself together
determinedly after a while, and rose
and crossed the room to her desk. She
pulled open a drawer and placed the
casket in it locking it security and hid
ing the key.
The days that followed were dreary
enough. All her old life seemed to
flicker out as completely as a candle
without a wick; it had crumbled to
dust. vanished like dream, but with
tie bitter recollection still wildly upon
her. mocking, Elusive.
A month had gone by. One morning
Joyce went out on the veranda aud
picked up the paper. The first item.
her eyes, fell upon, after she opened it,
caused her a start of surprise.
"Found-On Broadway, between Ninth
and Tenth, a Swiss enameled witch.
Owner may claim property by Identity
ing same at this Office"
She threw down the paper and ran
upstairs to her room and took down her
coat. 1t was just as she had expected;
the chatelaine was still pinned to the
lapel, but the watch was missing. She
ureSSeu uerSelI Idpluly anu lOOh d Cal
to The Herald office.
told the agent, when she had proved
her title to the jewel; Il am Miss Old
field-if there's anything Special
Nothing at all. The gentleman who
picked it up hoped the owner would be
located without any trouble. He would
not accept any reward, l am sure,
miss"
Joyce hesitated a second. then she
called for a pencil and a sheet of pa
per and hastily dasned down a line, in
a cramped, backhand.
'The lady whose watch you found de-
sires tt, express her thanks for its safe
delivery"
eff the gentleman calls, Kindly hand
him this she said.
A few days later a letter was for
warded to Miss Oldfeld" from the
Herald office. Joyce tore it open eager
ly and read:
''Mr. Jones is in receipt of the lady's
kind words of appreciation, for which
he begs to acknowledge grateful re-
ceipts. Was the watch Q. k? P. o.
box No. 236. 1t was written in type.
Joyce flushed as she folded it up.
Should she take advantage of this OBJ
viously designed opening, to reply? The
turbulent state of her feelings at the
present time rendered her reckless and
blinded her to the first requisites of con-
ventionality. And with a daredevil i'm
pulse, she answered: i
'"The watch was intact-many thanks.
Did you see me drop it?'' She gave an
assumed name and box number.
The reply was plausible, if menda-
cious:
''It was impossible to overtake you.
I lost sight of you in the crowd, after
which l believe you whirled past me in
a motor. Am l correct?'
The correspondence developed with
amazing rapidity between MIR. Wat
kins Jones" and Miss Eunice Smith
P. o. box No. 374. At the end of six
weeks there was tacit betrothal. A
fortnight later Joyce had promised in
sheer desperation Through her aman
uensis) to meet him in Baltimore on the
following Friday and be married from
her uncle's home.
She left New York on Thursday night
with a tumultuous heart and half doz
en- trunks, containing the wedding fnery
that had been inspired by her engage
ment to Teddy Ausley. And if the vision
of her old lover rose up to confront
her, she choked it away with her pride
and set her face resolutely toward the
new life in which he was to have no
part
Just before midnight Joyce was
shocked into consciousness by the
abrupt, violent lurching of the train
She sat up in her berth with white
cheeks and frightened eyes. Fastening
her belt and collar, she followed the eX-
cited passengers out into the night. In
the dark one of the rescuerS took her by
the arm and hurried her off through
the trees to where the crowds were as
Sembled.
In her exciteemnt Joyce stumbled and
fell. A man coming toward them with
lantern stopped moment, while her
companion lifted her to her feet.
care you hurt?" The tone sent a
whole regiment of little thrills through
her.
''N-no; not exactly" She looked up
into his face and the light from the Ian
tern flared full into her own.
'Joycey'
'sreddyv'
His arm supported her. The girl made
a little Intellectual protest, but he held
her all the tighter
sIt-it's horrible" she moaned, with q
shuddering backward glance at the
burning cars.
II don't think any lives were lost
said Ausley reassuringly, "and l d.,
know. that it was our moment-witl
Providence"
Joyce trembled. Should she tell him:
She would have to, sooner or later. 'sTed
ly, sue DeSdH III IL QuaVer1ng little
voice, "I-you mustn't say such things t.
me, and II can't listen to them. an
IN my way to Baltimore toto be mar
ried."
''The deuce you arer'
cts true" she jerked out with a sob
Then Ausley laughed-without fear o,
nervousness. so am l." he announced
lrily.
your Joyce collapsed.
That's true, too" He looked away. !,