The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-03-26
CHANGED GLOVES.

discussed politics Bagshaw said, cts
my wife's birthday
You must wish her many happy re
turns of tho day for me-, said Atkinson.
I'm taking her homo little pres.
ent," said Bagshaw modestly. He
pointed TO Il small parcel which lay he
tween them. Half II dozen of gloves. "
Dear me, that's very strangcl | am
taking niy wife half dozen of gloves. %
Mr.. and Mrs. Baeshaw were a sineu-
larly united couple. Nelly was n dear
little woman, apd Bagshaw adored her.
They never quarrelcd Their lives were
u little paradise, and they had been
married two years.
Bagshaw said he had brought her a
little present. Then he put it on tho ia
bio and modestly left tho room, not
wishing to sec her overwhelmed with
gratitude and surprise
''Glovesr' she said dclightedly. ooh.
you dear old boy! That's just what 1
wanted"
Then her face fell. They were the
wrong size. Nellie had very little hands
and wore size s y; these were 716.
WELL" said her husband gayly as
he re-cntered the room, "aro they all
right?"
do you know, you silly old boy,
you've bought the wrong size? You
must change them. I've got a small
hand.
Wrong sizel I bought 5l."
"These are ~" said Mrs. Bagsbaw.
with superior smile. 1T Just shows
how they take men in
ssR1t l-,,rx,- ,,/>t A..
said, looking very puzzled, because l
examined them carefully" Then a sud
den light broke over his countenancc.
Great Scott!" he said, with look of
horror. I've given you the wrong par
cclr'
"You have given me the wrong par
cel?' she said quietly. What do you
mean?'
Bagshaw looked us if he didn't know
what he meant.
II am waiting for an explanation, -
she said, drawing up her small figure to
its full height-whcn it measured near
ly feet.
''Thcy arc Mrs Atkinson's, " he said
family.
81 don't think know her." said his
wife
"I'l tell you what I'll do, - said Bag
shaw brislSly. iii run over to Rich
mond now and give her tho gloves. She
has yours, you know"
Mrs. Bagshaw gave him look which
would have killed II man with any de-
cent feeling. Don't trouble - she said.
Bagshaw sat down and thought it all
oyer. OF course he and Atkinson had.
somehow or other, exchanged parcels in
the train. 1t was very tiresome, but no
great harm was done.
III the meanwhile the outraged wife
had gone to her room. First of all, she
sat down and cried at her husbands
treachcry, then she got up and laughed
er woman's hand.
Now. Mr.. Atkinson was careful
man, and he had scrubbed OH his parcel,
Atkinson, Laurel Cottage, the Terrace,
Richmond
She would go straight to this disgrace
full Atkinson woman with the enormous
hands-Mrs. Bagshaw positively shook
with horror when she thought of the
size of Mrs. Atkinson's hands-;nd find
out all about it, Then she would 60
home to her mother. There was lust
time to catch il train.
She scrubbed Il note for her husband
and left it on the dressing table Il am
leaving you," it ran. 81 shall never
forgive you. 1 shall go first to this wom-
an and give her your present. Then
shall go home"
Events now followed each other rap
idly. Bagshaw found tho note and trcm-
blcd. While he was still trembling and
before he could decide what 70 do next
il knock at the front door was heard. 1t
was Mr.. Atkinson.
Do you know you took the wrong
gloves?' he said rather sharply. "Thcse
arc too small, and my wife was very am
noyed with me about it"
80 was my wife," said Bagshaw
fcclingly. my wife has gone to see
your wife OH the subject, f" hecontinucd.
Il think fhcrc will be unpleasantness. -
Bagshaw explained what had hap
pcncd and showed the note.
It's quite clear, said Mr.. Atkinson.
with much dignity, that these women
have treated us very badly. We have
not met With becoming confidence"
- quite agree with you," said Bag
shaw, beginning to pluck up IL little
courage.
Your wife has threatened to leave
you; my wife has threatened to leave
me- We'll treat them the same way.
We'll run up to town, go to II thcatcr,
have supper i'll the Strand and get home
at O'Clock i'll the morning. That will
teach them to talk about leaving us F"
Just rs they reached the railway sta
ton and were about to take their tickets,
a train came i'll from Richmond. Two
ladies got out aud met them face to fnce.