The Argosy — page 230: what you’re looking at

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

Miss Oldham’s Choice. 2X3 “Oh!” said Miss Oldham, and moved aside to let some people pass out of the shop. ‘Then she looked again at Dr. Werner and continued: ‘‘I bought these two pieces of silk in this shop about half an hour since, and left word that I would call again for them. When I did so it transpired that through some unjustifiable mistake of the shop people they had been resold in the interim—to you. I am very sorry that such a mistake should have occurred, but—of course I retain possession of the silk.” “Ha,” said Dr. Werner, again, and continued to study Miss Oldham. ““T am given to understand,” she pursued, with the seemingly unavoidable little bridling movement of her throat, ‘that more material of the same description and of the same shade of colour may be procured with only some slight delay. I am sorry that I shoule find it impossible to wait for this material; but I am told that Mr. Brattley would be happy to order it. Good afternoon!” Just as she was turning away, the man with the King Charles beard made a sudden step to confront her. ‘“‘ But,” said he, ina tone which gave out the idea of his having just. remembered some small incidental point forgotten in the previous argument, ‘‘ where are you going with my Indian silk ?” No words can describe Miss Oldham’s surprise. She stood where she was, perfectly motionless, and simply looked at Dr. Werner ; much as she had looked at the shopman not five minutes before. In Dr. Werner’s case, however, it appeared to have a reanimating rather than any other effect. Miss Oldham had never been in such a position before. If she would have confessed it to herself, she wished now that she had left the silk alone. “Dr. Werner,” she replied, drawing herself up haughtily, “I have explained the matter to you as well as [am able. I bought the silk. I spoke to the shopman as distinctly as J am speaking to you now. There could be no misunderstanding on his part, and his error was unjustifiable. Good morning!” Dr. Werner suddenly took off his hat and bowed almost reveren-. tially to Miss Oldham. ‘“'The destination of the Indian silk is decided. The mistake was indeed unjustifiable—and the Indian silk belongs to you.” Ten minutes later, Miss Oldham going up the broad staircase of the hotel at which she was staying, looked down with unusually troubled. eyes upon her left arm, and muttered half aloud: “ He also said that it was unjustifiable.” Had she begun already, like the rest of Boroughbourne, to be swayed by Dr. Werner? Just about the same time, Dr. Werner’s horses swept round the corner of Barrington Crescent, and stopped at the foot of his own steps. As he got out, and went up them, he remarked aloud, so that the footman heard. him, and repeated it in the kitchen: “ Beautiful woman! Still more beautiful, no doubt, in my Indian silk.” Conniclooolkks (CO)