The Argosy — page 178: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

A Glove’s Evidence. 163 what must have happened when [I tried on that glove in my maid’s room. I remember pulling it off in just such haste, thinking I heard somebody coming and not wishing to be caught. The ring was always a little large for me. It must have remained in the glove finger and I never missed it until to-day; though I firmly be- lieved I had put it away with my other rings. So Margaret Johnson is Innocent after all!” “Thank you, Lady Jakes. I have won my wager,” he said, quietly, with a look of intense satisfaction. ‘“‘ And now I must request you to send for—Miss Johnson. The communication I had to make to you must be made in her presence.” While Lady Jakes sent for her maid, Mr. Bywell paced up and down the room, his eyes fixed on the carpet, his lips compressed, and his appearance generally betokening that he neither desired to speak nor to be spoken to. At last the door opened, and Margaret—very pale, and evidently suffering acutely—entered. When, however, she perceived who was with Lady Jakes her face became suffused with blushes; she drew back as though about to leave the room. Ina moment Mr. Bywell was at her side. ‘“‘ Courage, my dear!” he whispered. Then aloud, and taking her nand in his: ‘‘ Lady Jakes, I came here this evening to claim my promised bride. My uncle—on whom from boyhood I have been dependent—refused to acknowledge me as his heir if I married my old tutor’s daughter. This dear girl wrote me a brief note bidding me farewell; and rather than blight, as she supposed, my worldly prospects, she left her native place, and, being poor, sought a situation, believing thus to raise an insurmountable barrier between us. ‘This was at my uncle’s instigation and by his help. His opposition now is ended.” He paused. Margaret raised her eyes to his wonderingly—the look of love and joy that shone in them she could not hide. ‘“ Your uncle at last consents ?” she asked. ‘““T had news this morning of his death,” was the reply. Lady Jakes, enchanted with this dénouement, kissed Margaret im- pulsively, forcing her into a chair beside her while she recounted with genuine feeling how the mistake about the ring had occurred. “T shall never like tan Suede mousquetaires again!” she added, with a sigh that was almost a sob. ‘“Pray do not blame those gloves,” said Mr. Bywell, smiling. “I gave them to Margaret. ‘The accident might have happened with any other kind.” There remains nothing more to add, except that Margaret Johnson was shortly afterwards married to Mr. Bywell; that Lady Jakes, dis- carding her mourning, was present at the wedding ; and that this story is a true one. E. M. Davy. GOnmlGoaooks (SO) An