The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-08-07
TO BE CALLED FOR
BY SYLVIA TURNER.

Berenice had given Hal the watch at
Christmas time. Ever since their mar
rage two years. before, they had both
religiOusly observed all anniversaries
and special holidays. She had had a
special photograph taken for the back
of the hunting case. AS she sat for
| it she had tried to imagine Halls 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 1t
in existence" she said. 81 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 a 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 final survey, ar
ranging everything just as he liked to
see it. The train arrived little past
eight the next morning and she was
going down to meet him. Everything
seemed to be exactly right, when ell
at once she remembered the watch.
He would think that she had forgotten
his little request and it meant so much
to him, she knew.
: 1t had been left at little jewelry
| store around the corner. She had often
seen curious-looking little old gen.
tleman in skull cap seated before a
rack repairing watches.
! He examined the slip she handed
I him carefully.
"That was Mr.. Demorest's watch
: yes?" he asked pleasantly. us he
e away?"
"He's coming home in the morning"
she answered with just little touch
e 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
U line"
mo, no. I have Mr.. Demorest's in
o the drawer" He drew out a tray from
u a drawer filled with envelopes contain
ing jewelry, and bent over them care
: fully.
"Ah' he said. "Here we have It.
II Mr. Demorest. To be called for
| She glanced At it as he drew it from
the case. The familiar monogram was
II on the case, and she hurried home
H with it.
II Later in the evening she took it out
of the envelope and handled it tender
~, sitting in Halls own big morris
i chair beside his desk that had been sc
horribly lonely without him. Half I'M
ri consciously she pressed-the spring and
IS 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 strange girl l
slipped out from under her thumb nal
ID easily, and on the back she saw writ
III ten. in a firm modish hand: "For dear
lie est, from EStelle."
1t was after four in the morning be
III fore she got any sleep. One impuls
followed another She had intended
~ meeting Hal at the station the follow
n ing morning, but she changed her mind
~ After looking for her in vain, Hal tool
| taxi uptown without even waiting t
ST telephone her, and burst into tn
apartment just as Berenice hurrie
away from the front window, wher
she had been watching for him surreI
- titiously.
ON "Why, darling" he exclaimed, DROP
II ping his suitcase. "are you ill?".
Don't come near me. Don't dar
touch me-" Her voice sounded littl
a faint and hollow, and one hand presse
on her throat. She looked adorable.
10 "Berenice," he cried. "What do yo
i. mean? What has happened since Tv
m, been gomez
dy She answered graphically.
ed "'To be left until called for OF
Sid you brute The tears forced then
do selves between her lashes. She pointe
to the watch on the desk "Would yo
nc mind returning my picture, since 20
have hers in there now"
rse "Hers!" he repeated. "Whom do 70
led mean?'
nd "Estelle!" She hurled the name {
it him expecting him TO wilt, but instea
his expression changed to one of s.
ca, licitude
ic sf Hadn't you better lie down, dear
no / don't think you're quite WELL
III 81 won't lie down." she retorted il
ms dignantly, crossing to the desk. "Yo
Thy needn't think, Hal Demorest, that jul
tell because I've loved you I'm going
YES stand any such thing as that" 81
snatched up the watch and, openi!
; ! the back case, thrust it toward hir
adding scornfully, "'For Dearest fro
Estelle'"
81 swear to you" began Hall sc