A Lover's Quarrel, or Marion Marlowe's Deceitful Friend — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

MY QUEEN. turning her back so as not to witness the parting.. “And you will be dressed in royal purple, my queen,” whispered the lover, rapturously. “You must tell me beforehand, you know, so I will be sure to know you!” “As if I could wear a disguise that you could not penetrate, Reginald,” murmured: the young girl; then her eyes flashed a little as she added: ) “No, dearest! I can’t wear that gown now! I really can’t! I mean to go out to- morrow and exchange it, if possible.” “You will be perfect in anything that you may choose, darling,’ whispered her lover; “for, under the mask will be your beautiful face, and under the silk and velvet will be the heart that loves me.” “TIsn’t he an angel?” murmured Marion, as the door closed after her lover. “Oh, Mrs. Burnside, is it wrong to be so supremely happy?” Mrs. Burnside took her in her arms and laid the fair head upon her shoulder. “If you do not deserve to be happy, no one does, Marion,” she said, sweetly; “for, just think of all the horrors that you have passed through, and you: have always been so brave and so loyal, darling!” : “I hope I do deserve to be happy,” whis- pered the young girl, softly; “and, really, I sometimes think I have a right to be, for, oh! think of the months before I knew my own heart—before I even guessed that .I was in love with Reginald!” — “Slowest love is sometimes the best,” said Mrs. Burnside, soberly. “Alma is happily married, and hers was a second love. Now, if only Bert and Lena would see the error of their ways—but perhaps they will, Marion. We may see wonders performed to-morrow.” “I shall do all I can to perform them,” said the young girl, bravely; “for I am so _ happy myself I can’t bear to see any one else miserable. Oh, I wish every deserving — z woman had a lover like my Regi- na 9 CHAPTER XII. A.CLEVER ARREST. _ At half-past ten the following night Mar- ion entered the home of Mrs. Parker-Stet- son and was greeted warmly, not only by the hostess herself, but by the servants in at- tendance. | They all remembered. the beautiful girl, and were delighted to see her again: for she om won their hearts during her stay among em. : Marion’s costume had been sent to the ‘so the young girl could enjoy Mrs. Stetson’s wish that she should come early for a chat and don her masquerade cos- tume after the other guests had assembled. At midnight the parlors were nicely filled with a magnificent array of loveliness im costly costumes. , Mrs. Parker-Stetson was moving about in stately dignity, and at last the dance was on in all its glory. It had been a hard day for Marion, for nothing definite had been accomplished, and she had not heard a word from either Bert or his father. Dr. Brookes reported all the news that he could possibly learn, which was that the de- tectives were still searching for the woman who had-cashed the checks, and Barney Mc- Gillin was still as “dumb as an oyster.” Not so much as a trace had been found of Miss Fredericks, and every effort was being made to pursue the case quietly in order that not a syllable of it should get into the papers. Bert had not seen fit to call upon his sweet- heart, so, of course poor Miss Ellis was as unhappy as ever, and, besides, she was over- whelmed with anxiety at Bert’s dreadful po- sition. All this the doctor had learned from others, for, in spite of his frequent attempts to see Bert, he had not been successful, as the young man was helping the bank detectives in their search for the woman. Marion had been obliged to wear the pur- ple robe after all, for the costumer could fur- nish nothing at such short notice, and it was absolutely impossible to get another made for her. , As she descended the wide stairs to the ballroom more than one turned to stare at her, for, although her face was covered by a coquettish white veil, her form was actually regal in its dignity. “You were born a queen, Marion!” whis- pered her lover in her ear, as he offered her his arm to lead her across the ballroom. Marion blushed under her veil, and her heart beat wildly. She was as happy as she could be under the circumstances which sur- rounded her. Glances and words of admiration followed her as she passed along, but no one knew her identity except her hostess and her escort, their praise with quiet satisfaction. “Now, if Bert were only here,” she whis- pered, as the doctor led her to a seat. “Oh, the costumes are gorgeous, and I do so won. der who they all are! Won't it be jolly Reginald, when we unmask at dinner!” ~’ ™~, The young man pressed her hand. but the lanciers were forming, EOMMIGDOOILE.CO a home of her hostess beforehand, for it was 4 * : ~ Ca - —