The Argosy — page 228: what you’re looking at

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

Miss Oldhamn’s Choice. 2IT He stopped dead short, for Miss Oldham had drawn herself up to her full height, and was looking at him. Whatever there was in that look it seemed utterly to deprive the man of the power of speech. For fully five seconds she kept her eyes fixed upon him; then she put her hand to her brooch, with the same involuntary little gesture as before, and an instant after took hold of the two pieces of Indian silk. | ‘“T chose this silk, and gave orders that it should be entered to. my account. ‘The mistake, zf there was a mistake, was on your part ; and I think I am justified in considering that the silk belongs to me. I shall, therefore, take possession of it on my own responsibility ; and, perhaps, you will be good enough to let Mr. Brattley and your cus- tomer know that I have done so. Good afternoon!” An instant later she was walking easily through the bustling shop: with the soft-glowing, golden silk thrown over her left arm. At the lace counter she paused, and looked critically at the Valenciennes and Honiton, even remarking with a smile to the shop girl behind: that one could hardly tell now the imitation from the real lace ; and yet the truth was she barely saw the laces: she was so angry; she was SO angry. Dr. Werner! Was she to be always haunted by this man? She counted, as she stood there, with a morsel of the airy-like fabric in: her hand, how many times this man’s individuality had been thrust. upon her, since she had arrived six weeks ago at Boroughbourne. Five times, if she was not mistaken. She put the lace down, and: taking up another bit, began to go over them in her mind. First, there was the incident about the rooms at the hotel. After engaging them she went back to the station for her luggage, and at the: door of the hotel again met the landlord. He was so sorry, but Dr.. Werner had also arrived by that train—from a tour on the Continent. Dr. Werner always put up a night at this hotel on his arrival from the Continent, and always occupied these rooms ; and as she was a stranger, etc., etc., he had taken the liberty—just for one night—of removing her to the other side of the passage. ‘That was once. Then she had wanted to hire a particular phaeton by the week, and a particular horse. ‘The man regretted much that Dr. Werner often went out with them. That was twice. A friend of hers had contributed something to the current number of the Quarterly, and she had left word at the circulating library, which: she had joined, that immediately upon its arrival it should be sent to her. The next morning the librarian rather thought there must have been some mistake : at any rate the Quarterly always went first to Dr. Werner’s. ‘Three times. Some friends had come down from London to see her, and she had ordered a dainty little supper for them from the French Cook of the hotel. At the supper everything was wrong; game burnt, meringues tasteless. ‘The landlord was again profuse in his apolo CONnnicloolkks (CO) am