By refusing to tell Mary the truth at the end, Holmes, in essence, allowed her stepfather to win. She is going to stay at home and he will continue to have access to her money indefinitely. Holmes threatening to beat him didn't accomplish anything. I think Holmes should have arranged, say in a few months time, for someone to write to Mary with a "deathbed message" from Hosmer, leaving her free for other suitors.

Good idea! The ending of this one always bothered me, too. 'Snatching a delusion from a woman', forsooth!
Actually, what really bugs me about this story is the notion that a woman could dance, walk out, whatever with the man she sees across the breakfast table each morning - and be deceived by stage whiskers. (And...trust me on this one, guys...only the most besotted of gals will accept typewritten love letters without question!)
Y'know, now that I think about it, Mary's denseness is a rarity in the Holmes stories. Doyle's women characters are usually bright, strong, resourceful types.
One last comment...'Hosmer Angel'? Hosmer Angel? I know Victorian names tended to the ornate, but...sheesh.