An Interrupted Wedding, or Marion Marlowe as Maid of Honor — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

4 Marion tossed her hat upon the table and then laid her hands determinedly upon Miss Allyn’s shoulders, almost forcing her friend to look at her squarely. “Alma Allyn, you ought to be ashamed to make such a remark to me,” she said, sober- ly. why shouldn’t you tell me! Why, I tell you You know I do, don’t “Aren’t we sisters, I’d-tike to know, so everything, Alma! you?” Miss Allyn turned her face away, and the tears began trickling through her lashes. She could not answer for a minute, so Marion went on more softly: “T think it is just dreadful, Alma, that you should have any troubles upon the very eve of your wedding day, but you must tell me one thing, if you do not tell me any more—is anything wrong with Mr. Fairfax? Has he disappointed or deceived you?” She whispered the last half of her question almost in terror. The thought was too hor- rible for her to express it without shudder- ing. But another glance at Alma’s face re- lieved her immediately, for a flush of pride and joy spread over Alma’s pale features. “No, indeed, dearie! Henry has not dis- appointed me the least mite in the world! He is the dearest, truest fellow that ever lived, but, oh! Marion, I believe I would be happier if he didn’t love me!” Her composure had given way at last, and she was sobbing on Marion’s shoulder, while the young girl grew momentarily more distressed and excited. “Sit down, Alma, and try to tell me all about it,” she said, soothingly. “Something awful must have happened, or you would not feel like that, and it is right that I should share your secret with you,” “Qh, if it were only a secret !’ wailed Miss Allvn, as she sank upon the sofa with her head still upon Marion’s shoulder, MY QUEEN. “If I could only have kept it a secret! I have tried so hard, but it has been utterly impossible!” | followed the broken statement, and Marion's heart almost A perfect storm of sobs broke with pain as she suffered in sympathy. Alma was the nearest and dearest friend she had in the world, and she loved her al- most as much as she did her sister Dollie. She had left her only the day before fairly radiant with happiness over her coming mar- riage, and now she was convulsed with grief -—she could not undetstand it. But Miss Allyn was a brave girl, and, after a moment of bitter sobbing, she man- aged to stifle her grief and at last she raised her head from Marion’s shoulder. “T ought to have told you months ago, _dearie,” she said, brokenly, “and, oh, how I blame gwiyself for not telling Henry! But you know, don’t you, Marion, that there are some things that one simply cannot tell, not even to the friends who would be only too glad to help you bear them.” — < Marion nodded her head and drew her friend a little closer, then she took one of Alma’s hands and held it tightly. “It was a family secret before mamma died,” went on Alma, after a minute, “and since her death there has been no one but. me to keep it! Oh, Marion! Just think what it must be to have a skeleton in the A disgrace which one musf be for- - closet ! ever concealing!" , She rose as she spoke and began pacing the floor, while a flush of shame mantled her very forehead. Marion stared at her mutely ; she could not speak. Not for an instant could she imagine — what her friend was about to tell her. As Alma moved swiftly across the room, some one touched the door on the outside and, for a minute, Marion was amazed to see her friend stop abruptly and begin trembling all over. . Eomichooks com ——— “— |