Marion Marlowe in Buffalo, or, Betrayed by a Rival Company — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

? ) longing to hear her friend sing under such reason which she dared not mention. There were a great many people about, and m+. they were all staring at Marion. Her beauty -was so marked that she attracted attention ‘ unconsciously, and Miss Allyn was just a good enough business woman to wish to take j advantage of this, under the present circum- Stances. Marion’s picture was displayed all over Buffalo and Niagara by now, as well as the fact that she was to appear at the Ae hambra, ' lf she could just be inveigled into singing a little song! Miss Allyn’s eyes danced with anticipation as she continued her pleading. “Tust one little ballad, Marion! See, there is hardly any one on Table Rock; you could stop, you know, if any more people came, and then think, com, how glad they would all be to hear you.”’ “T don’t wish to Herts them of the pleas- ure, | am sure,” said Marion, gayly. sa ig thought they really wished to hear me sing I would favor them in a minute, but, some- how, it seems a iittle, immodest to force my music upon them.” “TI wonder if we can get into the Cave of the Winds,” spoke up Mr. Gray. “We'll get a sleigh and drive over the suspension bridge to the Canadian side. If we can go down ito the cave it will be a sight worth seeing, — and just te place to have our music!” 7 “You'll have a ‘first’ for once, sure!” laughed Miss Allyn; “but do come, Marion! It is a splendid suggestion !” “My voice will be literally ‘frozen out, was the young girl’s merry answer,but she turned at once and followed her companions. There were a dozen or more people ahead of them when they reached the Cave, and among them were several members of the Temple Theatrical Company. ~ “Oh, we are all here!” called out Miss El- lis, as she caught sight of Marion, and then she disappeared with Mrs. Burnside into the __weird, frozen cavern. a Marion waited until her own party was __ close beside her: then, choosing the loftiest Spot in the cave that she could find, she burst _ Out in the grand measures of “The Star- _. spangled Banner.” | _~ a5 : es be poetic environments, but there was another> MY QUEEN. 11 The effect was so curious as to be almost uncanny, but no one could mistake the won- derful range of her voice, and the icy cavern seemed flooded with mellow harmony. The other tourists came hurrying back from the end of the cave, and, as Marion’s song was finished, she found Dr. Brookes standing close by her side. There were delighted calls for another song, “but the young girl only laughed, and, as the doctor offered her his arm to help her over the slippery floor, there was a round of applause in the echoless cavern. They were all slipping and scrambling now, but the doctor held her tightly, and, just before they emerged from the « cave, he bent a little nearer to her, “Marion, dear Marion, your song was glo- rious,’ he murmured. “Oh, Marion, dar- ling, will you never say ‘yes’ to my old, old question? I would give my life to win your love, my goddess! Let me beg you just once more—won’t you try to love me, Marion?” There was a depth of tenderness in his voice that the girl had never heard before, and for a moment her heart beat so loudly that it almost choked her. “Here, with all this glory about us, Ma- rion,’ went on the doctor, pleadingly, as they again caught sight of the rushing cataract; ~ “with the music of your voice thrilling the very spirit of the waters, say that you will try to love me, darling! Say that my adora- tion, my affection, will not be in vain! Oh. T could conquer the world with you beside me, Marion!” Again the throbbing of her heart almost choked her utterance, but Marion placed her band affectionately upon the young man’s arm. “Wait, Reginald—please wait,” she mur- mured; “if it comes, I shall be glad, for I long to make you happy—but love—imy love —is long incoming! I seem to be incapable, some way, of ever loving.’’ “Impossible! Your whole nature is love.” came in an eager answer. The doctor moved a little nearer and held her more closely. “Now, Marion, sing the Water Song,” called out Miss Allyn at that moment. “You know the one [ mean op hart ith ts antec