An Interrupted Wedding, or Marion Marlowe as Maid of Honor — page 13: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

LO the force ofasledge hammer. The next sec- ond, with a grasp of horror, she came to her senses. It took but an instant to rise and noiseless- ly close the reception room door: then, al- most without knowing what she was doing, the young girl crossed the room and paused before a full length mirror. A white face and dilated eves stared back at her from the glass. There was not a ves- tige of her great happiness visible upon her features. What should she do? | Should she release him at once? The two questions flashed into her mind almost simultaneously. Another interval of time passed, but she did not move. she heard the outer door slam and the other door opened softly. | As she turned slowly to greet her lover, her lips quivered with agony, but one glance at his face made her cry out in genuine amazement. Dr. Brookes came toward her as smilingly as ever. There was nota trace of annoyance, even, upon his handsome features. : CHAPTER V. MORE ECSTASY: “What is it, darling?” Dr. Brookes asked the question sharply, then he suddenly stood still and a frown distorted his broad forehead. “How stupid of me not to have closed the door! Of course, you heard what Mr. Car- son said, and you are in agony this minute, my own dear Marion.” “But if it is true—what he said—we must never do it, Reginald,” Marion burst out, im- petuously. “If it is against your father’s wishes, we must never marry!” “Nonsense!” retorted the physician, as he put his arm around her. “As if an actor could not marry an actress! I would like to see the will or the law that could pre- vent it.” “Oh, but you are not an actor by profes- sion,” said Marion, quickly, “you only act for fun and that is altogether different.” “Perhaps I am not an actor at all,” said — Then MY QUEEN. the doctor, slyly; -“perhaps I am only a make-believe, or a ‘fake,’ as they call them.” Marion had to smile, but she was still greatly excited, for she knew instinctively that his love would conceal the truth if he thought by so doing he could save her any suffering. 2 “See here, Marion,” he said, suddenly, in a decidedly matter of fact tone, “I’m half glad and half sorry that you overheard our conversation. It is true that father was bit- terly opposed to what he was pleased to term a mésalliance, but you see he had never been honored with your acquaintance, so he did not know what a lady you are, actress or no actress. Now, suppose our marriage does cut me out of a hundred thousand or so! I still have the income that I inherit from my grandmother, and when my profession fails me there is always another alternative—I can go back on the stage and earn a fairly good living.” He was so genuinely happy as, he spoke that Marion slowly recovered her spirits, and the roses came back to her cheeks and lips, while her eyes sparkled with eagerness. “And I have my fortune! Oh, I did not think of all that, Reginald! Still, I would not wish you to digobey your father if there was one thought in your heart that you were wrong in doing so!” “Which there is not, dearest,” was the prompt response, as the doctor touched her rosy cheeks with his lips. “T presume I loved and respected iny fa- ther as much as any son ever did,” he went on, gayly, “but in my opinion a parent over- steps his authority when he interferes with his child’s love affairs, without knowing all the circumstances, and, if T would not let a live man interfere, I éertainly shall not let a dead one—that is stretching the boun- daries of sentiment out of all proportion, Marion,” “T think you are right! A parent should not interfere in such a case,” repeated Mar- ion, slowly. individuals who must work out our own des- tinies. No one can live our lives for us or answer for us at the Judgment Day. No, there is no real need for you to obey your father, Reginald. I should. say the, same. if GOMIGERVOOKS: EO te | | “a “We are separate and distinct ,