The new North-west., 1885-05-22
A GLOVES EVIDENCE.
London Argosy.1

parlor behind the shop.
"'Taint z yet. Wants five minutes by the
church clock" objected the boy, who. with
his hands in his pockets, was standing on the
door step watching the heavy thunder
shower.
"Do as you're bid, lad" WLereon Tommy
went out reluctantly 10 perform his task.
He had fastened the last bar Of the shutters
re-entered the shop and was about to closs
the door, when he felt 1t pushed gently from
without
"Oh, please let me in," implored the soft
voice OF a girl, who was enveloped from
head TO feet In long waterproof, the hood
Of which partly concealed her face
"But we're shut up for the night, Miss"
"OnIy the window; and / don't want to
buy woods or embroidery cotton or any
thing OF that sort wish TO see Mrs. Top
pin"
"On businessr
"Yes"
The boy disappeared into the parlor and
Mr.. TOppin at once came into the shop.
"Wef" she said, not by any means in
conciliatory tone or manner.
II wish TO enter my name for situation.
You keep registry office, believer
Il dO-for servants" And the woman
looked with practiced eye a little obviously
Mt the tall, graceful figure Of the girl, mark
ing her soft voice and refined manner as she
asked, laying a shilling on the counter.
"Wlli you write down my name, pleaseP
Mrs Toppin put on her business manner,
with her spectacles, in moment, and, hav-
ing desired her boy TO light the gas, she took
large book from a drawer, dipped pen
into the ink and said oracularly
"NameP
Margaret johnson"
"Ager
twenty-five"
"What capacityf'
"Anything."
81 suspect you've not Leen out before,
young woman. You'll require a character,
you know"
The girl took letter from her pocket
which she silently handed to Mrs Toppin.
"Canon Bywell begs to certify-Margaret
johnson Church Of England-well educated
high moral character-do her duty in any
capacity-orphan-fa "A tutor, died PEN
niless few months siucs-daughter left to
support herself"
Having made entries In her book to the
above effect, Mrs. Toppin gave back the let
ter and turned over several leaves Of the
volume before her. Then, running her fore
finger quickly down the page, she arrested
it suddenly. Looking up sharply over her
spectacles, she said:
"Lady Jakes wants a maid Immediately.
To a qualified young person liberal salary
will be given. One who has lived in a high
family preferred"
Il am afraid cannot fulfill these require
ments-"
"You are tho likelest I've seen. You
speak gentler than they do, for the most
part about here-more like a L0ndoner.
Harl lanV in ntE
she is in hurry to get suited. Here's the
address It's the large house with the lodge
and iron gates at the end Of this street.
You'd best apply at once"
Thank you. / will"
"And wish her joy Of the place, poor
young woman, il she gets i'll She's rare and
hard TO please, is my Lady Jakes' ejacu-
lated Mrs. Toppin, as she removed her spec
tacles, wiped them and transferred them 10
their case,
The rain still poured down in torrents, but
Margaret johnson walked on regardless OF
the storm. She had no difficulty in finding
the lodge and iron gates But when tho
door Of the large house was opened by a
smart footman, she felt not little nervous
as she explained her errand. In few mo-
ments she was shown into room, the amber
and gilt furniture of which looked all the
more gaudy when contrasted with the lady
sitting there-a lady dressed in the deep
est and most expensive Of widows
weeds. She was a little woman of forid
complexion, with light blue eyes, bright and
vivacious in manner and looking younger
than her thirty years Despite her somber
Grape she wore many diamond rings, which
glittered on the fingers Of her small, white
hands, and the white lisse arrangement on
the top Of her fuzzy light hair was secured
there by diamond pins.
"A young person after the place, my lady,"
announced the footman.
"Where have you livedr was the first
question of Lady JakeS when the door was
closed
Margaret profered the letter Mrs Toppin
had read. The lady ran her glance quickly
over it.
"Canon Bywellr she said, as she gave it
back "Oh, what a Canon says-especially
a Canon Of D. must he truel Ny
last maid left me because she didn't
seem TO know her things from
mine. She wasn't honest At all events,
can have no fear on that score respecting
you with such character as this. But you
can dress HART Can you sew welii Keep
my wardrobe in repairl Make and alter
my morning dressesl In fact do all that q
40 the best OF my belief, madam, ] can
do all this"
"You must always say my lady when
you speak TO me-"
ayes, my lady"
"Put back your hood, take off your hat
and let me have look at you"
The girl obeyed. Lady Jakes, looking
scrutinizingly at the sweet face blushing be.
meath her bold inspection, remarked that
the large gray eyes met hers without finch
ing and that the classically shaped head,
round which the smooth, brown hair was
simply coiled, carried itself as proudly as q
que ms.
"Ycu'll do" said the lady shortly with a
nod. II engage you for a month on trial ut
20 pounds sterling year. As this Il Satur-
day, and am terribly In want Of maid,
you hal best remain. viii send for your
things, wherever they may be tonight"
Preliminaries being thus quickly settled,
Margaret johnson turned over fresh page
in her history and began her new life in the
character of lady's maid.
Lady Jakes was the daughter OF rich
country brewer. A year before this story
opens she married an old city knight, whom
good living In general and port wine In
particular killed few months after mar
rage. buIlnk Inc pIescTlucN ptTlOu Oh neT
mourning, Lady Jaker elected TO live In the
house lett her by her father-the large stone
house with the lodge and iron gates In the
county town where she was born She
brought large retinue from London
among them the dishonest laiy's maid.
whose place she hoped now she had efficiently
supplied.
The new maid, however, had not been
many days In Lady Jakes' service before IL
became painfully evident TO the latter that
there was more Of the lady about Margaret
johnson than about Lady Jakes herself
This knowledge gave rise TO an uncomfort
able feeling which her ladyship In vain tried
70 dispel At first she resented the fact, but
ultimately determined to turn Ii 10 account
IL Is true the country brewers daughts,
had received a fair enough education at a
large school, but IL was somewhat humiliat-
Ing to find that the daily companionship OF
refined girl like Margaret johnson opened
out new branch Of learning. II showed |
her own deficiencies. She knew herself to |
he loud, abrupt In speech, quick and gauche |
In manner Her maid, on the other hand, |
spoke slowly, softly, with few words; but |
those she used were spoken In q low,
sweet melodious voice. Her move |
ments were the embodiment CT grace Her |
dresses vigorously plain--were OF soft black |
stuff that clung closely 70 her figure with |
the narrowest rim Of white at throat and |
wrist. She was In mourning for her father, |
who had died few months back she said; |
but ON all matters referring TO herself or her |
antsreiauts tina nirf xNas y.afiras,I a., tina /