The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-06-13
EVENING STORY
To Be Called For.
(By SYLVIA Turner.)

,
Berenice had given Hal the watch at |
Christmas time. Ever since their mar
riage, two years before, they had both |
religiously observed all anniversaries |
and special holidays. AS Berenice |
said, this was done not only in loving i
remembrance of each other but it was |
such fun proving how. perfectly their |
tastes ran together. For Halls birth |
day she had given him a silk umbrella
with heavy monogramed silver han |
die. For her birthday Hal had given
her beautiful desk-set of morocco
and silver, heavily monogramed. They
both had mania for initials and
monograms. 1t seemed to Berenice as
tho she were tangibly tying the knot
between them every time she entwined
their initials in embroidery.
She had had a special photograph
taken for the back of the hunting
case. As she sat for it she had tried
to imagine HIS face before her and
hers smiling at him. The result was
all she had hoped for. Hal said it
was the dearest, sweetest picture of
her he had ever seen.
And there isn't another one like it
in existence" she said. II made the
man destroy the plate. SO that you
would have the only one
The watch had kept perfect time,
and in the spring Hal mentioned one
night at dinner that he had left it at
the jewelers. to be regulated, until
called for.
Then he went away on two weeks
trip up the state. establishing new
agencies. Berenice promised him to
get the watch before his return. The
night before he came home she gave
the little apartment a final survey, ar
ranging everything just as he liked to
see it. The train arrived a little past
8 the next morning and she was going
down to meet him. Everything seemed
to be exactly right, when all at once
she rem embered the watch. He would
think that she had forgotten his little
| request and it meant so much to him,
| she knew. He had even said just be-
| fore he left that he would miss kiss
| ing the little picture in the watch
goodnight while he was away from
her, he loved it so.
1t had been left at a little jewelry
store around the corner. She had often
seen a curious-looking little old gen.
tleman in a skull cap seated before a
| rack repairing watches.
He examined the slip she handed
him, carefully.
That was Mr.. Demorest's watch,
yes ?'' he asked. pleasantly. rs he
| away"
He's coming home in the morn
/ ing" she answered with just a little
touch of brides dignity that still
| chung to her even after two years of
married life. He said that the watch
was left to be called for. am Mrs
Demorest. l think it is the second one
on that inc"
| No, no, 1 have Mr.. Demorest's in
| the drawer" He drew out a tray
from a drawer filled with envelopes
containing jewelry, and bent over
| them carefully.
All" he, said. Here we have it.
Mr.. Demorest. To be called for'''
| She glanced at it as he drew it from
| the case. The familiar monogram was
on the case, and she hurried home
with it.
Later in the evening she took it out
OF the envelope, and handled it ten
derby, sitting in Halls own big morris
chalr beside his Gesk that had been SO
/ horribly lonely without him Half un-
consciously, she pressed the spring and
opened the back case In utter horror
| and surprise she stared at the face
that looked back at her-not her own
but the face of Il strange girl Even
IN that first moment of dull agony she
realized the charm and beauty of it.
1t slipped out from under her thumb
nail easily. and on the back she saw
written. in a firm. modish hand For
! dearest, from Estelle"
1t was after in the morning before
she got any sleep. If it could only
have been some natural tragedy, she
told herself over and over, walking the
floor. If there could have been an
accident and Hal could have left her a
| widow with all her illusions and love
for him preserved. 1t was not only the
! discovery of another woman in his life,
but that he should have been so cal
loused, so hardened as to put the crea-
lures picture where hers had been in
that watch that was her gift to him.
i One impulse followed another She
longed to go away: to leave him with
out scene, or a any chance for him
to try and explain with the usual
tricky little falsehoods men thought up
to cover such situation She had not
been reading the smarter monthlies
for nothing. She knew what was ex-
pected of a bride in such an emer-
gency.
/ She had intended meeting Hal at the
station the following morning. but she
changed her mind After looking for
her in vain, Hal took taxi uptown
without even waiting to telephone her.
and burst into the apartment just as
Berenice hurried away from the front
window, where she had been watching
for him surreptiticusly.
why, darling" he exclaimed. drop
ping his suit cases, ARE you HIP
Il Don't come near me- Don't dare
touch me- Her voice sounded little
faint and hollow, and one hand press
ed her throat She looked adorable in
her pale pink negligee- Even her
pallor was an enhancement, Hal
thought as he looked at her eagerly.
- "Berenice!" he cried What do you