The new North-west., 1885-05-22

auuuuHCtu- 4SONt LdaJ Edh io0hoA
forward to receiving the handsome barri ster,
should he call, In a calm, even stately
fashion; but the painful occurrence that had
just transpired efectually effacei all such
intentions. After apologizing for making
50 late a call, explaining briefly that he had
been detained in court, he said: II was most
anxious to see you on a private matter OF
my own. Indeed, tind myself In position
of such difficulty that am in a measure
bound to take you into my confidence. Mar
garet Johnson"
"Oh, Mr.. Bywelll" she interrupted,
eagerly; "have you come to speak to me
about that wretchei girli Whatever it Is,
1t can scarcely be worse that / already
know. How infamously she had deceived
US ALL"
pardon Inc, do not understand you in
the least"
moi / thought of course 1t was some
thing about her character you had come to
tell me Well, then, it is for me to impart
confidence to yoI After all your uncle,
the canon, said of her, after all the kindness
and consideration have shown her-would
you believe it'll She has turned out to be
"A thiefp
mo. / would not believe it'll" the young
barrister said sternly, while his face turned
pale with passion and his eyes cleaned
ominously. Lady Jakes moved a little un-
easily on her chair.
"Of course it has distressed me terribly
she continued, "for have made quite a COM
panion-a friend-of johnson. But when
missed my most valuable diamond ring to
day, sent for a policeman, had my servants
boxes searched, and the ring was discovered
in her box-why, then, you see, there could
be no question Of her guilt"
Mr.. Bywell rose from his seat. The hand
resting on the table shook, but his voice was
steady as he asked, with studied calmness:
You sent for policemani Suspected herI
Had her things searchedi
NO. no. You do not understand. did
not suspect her. / told the man to search
the other servants boxes, bat not hers But
she insisted. 1t was her own fault she was
found out l suppose she thought in such a
iidlng. place the ring would not be discov-
cred"
What hiding placer
THE finger OF a glove. Clever idea, was
it notl The policeman himself said so, and
Lut for the fact that he was struck with the
smartness of the gloves, he says it might
never have been discovered"
Good heavensl Where is she nowl"
"Oh, she is in her room. She tainted dead
off when she saw the case was SO strong
against her. | told the policeman | would
not turn Ter out tonight He is to call in
the morning In the meantime shall have
decided what am to do"
While Lady Jakes was speaking her hearer
resumed his seat. He appeared TO have been
extraordinarily affected. she thought, by her
disclosure; but now he recovered his self
possession and looked quietly thoughtful, as
though he were going over in his mind all
she had told him. She wondered if she had
told it we'll
THAT is the ring, those are the gloves"
she observed presently, handing both across
the table.
Pushing the ring from him with little
scornful gesture. he took up the gloves, and,
passing his hand across his forehead, fell to
gazing at them with the greatest intentness.
1t almost seemed that he appealed to them
mutely for revelation of the truth, and
that ho waited expecting it might come to
him. His next proceeding was to examine
them closely.
They were a pair of long, tan-colored
Suede gloves, of the make known as NOUS
quetaires, and new He noticed that the
rght-hand glove only had been tried on.
He placed the ring in the third finger Lady
Jakes began to find the silence irksome.
Presently he looked up The expression
of his face had SO completely changed that
1t startled her. II should like to make lit
tie bet with you," he said playfuliy. "a
dozen pair Of those pretty gloves to one that
the accused is innocent-and that you shall
prove her So"
Il prove her innocent, when l know
well she is notf'
Il take eight and quarter, Lady Jakes;
your size is - let me see -. Ali these
gloves will be guide sufficient They will
exactly fit you"
No. Those are quarter of size too
large"
"Indeedl Still they look small enough.
dare say the numbers are not always to be
relied on. irrespective Of figures, believe
these gloves will fit you"
How persistent you are, Mr.. Bywell! /
tell you they are too large"
"But, s.riously, you cannot be sure with
out"
"Trying them on. Well, suppose l have
tried them onP
You, Lady Jakes' Impossiblen
Yes l have. And as you seem SO much
surprised I'll tell you how it happened. One
day went into my maids room and saw
her box open. 1t contained her colorei
things, which she is not wearing. On the
top of them lay a lovely pair of Suede
gloves. One doesn't expect ones servants
to wear such gloves as these Tan-colored
Suede mousquetaires had just come into
fashion when my poor husband died, SO l
have never been able to wear pair"
"And you tried on this glove-just to sec
how tan mousquetaires would suit you," he
inquired, with an easerness he could not re-
press.
Il did; for that reason partly. And for an
other. ! thought my hand was less than
"Try this OH now, dear Lady Jakes To
oblige ms. Do"
Laughing and blushing, she complied,
scarcely noticing that hs slipped the ring
upon her finger nrst
The glove was too large as she had said
He appeared about to button it, and leanel
over her for that purpose, when. suddenly,
looking toward the door, "Quicki Take 1t
OFF, he cried, as though fearful Of some one
appearing on the scene.
It was false alarm, but one that answered
his purpose better almost than he had dared
to hope.
The glove was pulled off with all the haste
he could desire. Mr.. Bywell pointed to her
hand.
@Where on earth is my ringp she asked.
Without speaking, he turned it out Of the
third finger OF the glove.
But this was not enough for Mr.. Bywell
He waited for the lady to say something
more.
at is the most extraordinary thing / ever
heard of" she exclaimed, flushed and breath
less with excitemsnt at is exactly what
must have happened when / tried on that
glove in my maids room. remember pull
ing 1T off In just such haste, thinking heard
some one coming and not wishing to be
anrht he al1 fta In For
me. Ii must have remained in the glove
finger and i never missed it until to-day;
though firmly believe had put 1t away
with my other rings. So Margaret johnson
is innocent after allT
"Tnank You, Lady Jakes, / have won my
wager" he said quietly, with a look OF III
tense satisfaction. @And now must request
munication / 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 bis appearance generally betokening
that he neither desired to speak nor to be
spoken TO.
At last the door openei and Margaret
very pale, and evidently suffering acutely-
entered. When, however, she perceived who
was with Lady Jakei, her face became suf-
fused with blushes; shs drew back rs IL
about to leave the room. In a moment MIR.
Bywell was at her side.
Courage, my dearln he whispered. Then
aloud, and taking her hand In his: @Lady
Jakes, came here this evening to claim my
promised bride My uncle-on whom from
boyhood | have been dependent-refused to
acknowledge me q, his heir il / married my
old tutors daughter. This dear girl wrote
me a brief note bidding me farewell; and
rather than blight, rs she supposed, my
worldly prospects, she left her native place,