A Lover's Quarrel, or Marion Marlowe's Deceitful Friend — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

live expensively,” MY QUEEN. 5 lover! I have to depend on a crusty old uncle for everything, so there is not much chance of my getting into society.” “But you have beautiful clothes and you ventured Marion. Miss Fredericks tilted her head and her lips parted slightly. | “Oh, I can manage him all right, only it is very tiresome,” he! fig be glad to get married and be done with him for good, but I must run along now and look she said, indifferently. at my new room. I do hope it will be hand- somer and larger than the other.” There was a peculiar light in her eyes as she spoke which Marion could not quite un- derstand, but, as the caller moved toward the door, she did not detain her. “T can’t understand her a little bit,” said Miss Ellis, disgustedly, as the door closed. “She looks as innocent as a cherub, and yet there’s that letter! I’m as sure it was from Bert as I am that I am living!” You have only to ask Bert when he comes,” said Mar- on, “but what did you mean by saying he was ‘cold’ last evening ?” Miss Ellis blushed and her eyes fell be- neath Marion’s gaze. = guess | was mad when I said that, Mar- ion,” she admitted. “Bert was loving enough, “Don’t worry about it, dearie. but he was just a little queer in his manner. I was mean to say that he was cold when I meant that he was only quiet.” “So Miss Fredericks longs to enter so- ciety,” said Marion, after a minute. “Did you see the eagerness in her eyes when she said that, girlie? Really, it is the only thing [I ever heard her say that impressed me as be- ing’ serious.” “She’s just dying to cut a dash: I can see it all over her,” was the answer, as Miss Fllis rose and started for the door. “Did you like the costume 2” asked Marion, absently; “because I don’t quite like it now that I have had it made, and it cost a lot of money, too; but, of course, I must wear fine things when I go to Mrs. Stetson’s!” “T should say so, especially as you can well afford it! You will look sweet in it, Marion, and the doctor will fall in love with you all over again,” was the answer; then Miss Ellis paused with her hand upon the doorknob and looked back at her friend with an appealing “And you think Bert is inno- You think I am mistaken about that letter?” ° “T think Bert will tell you the truth,’ Marion, earnestly, borrow trouble.” expression. cent, don’t you, Marion? ’ said “so I don’t advise you to _ Miss Ellis slowly turned the knob and closed the door behind her. As she reached the hall she suddenly thought of something. “T tfink I’ll run down to the parlor and see 1f that book is still on the table,’ she whispered to herself. “I must do something to distract my Foye Beat and I was really i in- terested in that story.”’ It was a small hotel and.very quiet and, as she entered the parlor, there was no one in sight, but the sound of low voices issued from a curtained alcove. “Oh, I am per tectly wretched, Mr. Hick son, really I am,” came in wailing accents from the lips of Miss Fredericks. “Just think, I have lost every garment that . IT had in the world, and just at a time when my uncle is far away, so that it is absolutely . impossible for me to get any more money.”’ Miss Ellis held her breath and stood per- fectly still for a minute; then her own affi- anced lover’s voice answered the mournful statement. “It’s a deuced shame and I’m all-fired sorr y for you! But don’t you worry a little bit— welll fix it all right. I'll just give you a lift myself for immediate necessities then Miss Ellis waited no longer, but darted from the parlor. She was too excited to con- trol herself a minute longer. Comichoooks.conn