Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1896-05-14
THE WHITE kid GLOVE.
By J. s. FLETCHER.

last year that ! met and renewes
acquaintance with Clement Hol
ford.
| had been in Madras for ter
years and during that time had
heard no news Of Clement, whom
l had known previous to my depart
ure from England as a student al
st. Bartholemew's. Now | found
him full-fledged practitioner,
comfortably settled in fashionable
quarter Of the west end. married
20 ; very pretty wife,. .and evidently
prosperous in all his concerns.
We had been very friendly in our
student days, and / was not sorry
to revive the old friendship.
A day or two after our first meet
ing Clement dined with me at my
club. A week later found me din
ing at his house in Harley street.
1t was on the latter occasion that
he told me the remarkable story
which l am about to set down.
We were together In Holford's
study when he told me the story.
1t was late and we were smoking
our cigars previous to my retiring.
Mrs. Holford had already left us
and Clement and / were exchang-
ing and comparing notes Of our va
rious adventures during the pre-
vious ten years.
While we talked was noting the
contents of my friends sanctum, in
which were displayed various odds
and ends of medical and scientific
curiosities.
One object attracted my special
attention. 1t was a square cabinet
or small cupboard faced with glass
and containing shelves. On the
top and middle shelves were arrang-
ed q number of books Of more or
less out-of-the-way appearance,
some in French, some IN Italian,
some in Spanish, but all dealing
with one subiect-toxicology. On
the bottom shelf stood q square
glass case, evidently Theoretically
sealed, and in it lay single object
"a white kid glove.
The cabinet was securely locked,
and its general appearance seemed
to suggest that its doors were never
opened and had remained shut for
some considerable length of time.
SIS there some history attached
to this cupboard, Holford p 1 in
quired, tapping the glass doors
lightly with my fingers. 'And if
not, what is the meaning of the
white kid glove reposing in the glass
case? Is it some love token, and
if it is, why does it lie in company
with collection of works on pois-
on?'
Holford shook his head and look
ed grave.
There is g history attached to
the thing said he, 'and q very
gruesome history it is. There
must be something of the fantastic
in my nature, or l should never
keep that cabinet. My wife has
begged me to burn it, books, glove,
and all Its contents many a time
'And why don't You p
Il don's kuow-unless i. is that
l am not free from the feeling that
makes thousands visit the chamber
of horrors at the waxwork show
sAh, then, i take it that these
things have some connection with
some crime or dreadful deed p
You are right-they have
i should like to hear the story,
now that you have aroused my Gu
riosity. Is it too long to tell with
in half an hour?'
1T is not very long story he
answered. But it is a very uncan-
ny one. However, you shall have
it. Light another cigar and draw
up to the fire, and l will endeavor
to recollect all the details of the
history connected with the contents
Of the cupboard
This is the story he proceeded to
tell me:
ut is now ten years ago, since
set mp in practice. My first ven-
ture was made in another part of
acknowledgements it was in
partnership with Ferdinand Mon
tero, who was introduced to me by
old Professor Williams, of st. Per-
petua's hospital. Montero was half
English, half-Mexican, a fine, high
spirited fellow Of nv own age: bril-