Marion Marlowe in Buffalo, or, Betrayed by a Rival Company — page 27: what you’re looking at

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

MY fam going to ask you to allow some one else to tell you the story.” Her voice trembled a little and the people understood her. The frightful tragedy was too recent for her to speak of it calmly. As she finished, Mr. Gray rose from his seat in one of the stage boxes. His figure was so commanding that it could be seen by every one. “T will tell you briefly what has happened,” he began, distinctly. “An hour ago, at Ni- agara Falls, | was told that one of the boats belonging to my steam launch, the Dauntless, had drifted down the river. I immediately wired to my villa and learned that the boat was missing. It had either been cut from its moorings by floating ice or deliberately stolen by some vicious person. Another telegram tells me that the latter is the case. The boat was stolen by some one who supposed that both my guests and myself were on the other side, and it was done in order to detain Miss Marlowe, so that she would not be able to appear at the Alhambra this evening. The man who stole my boat was Robert Rose. Whether he was in her when she capsized is at present a mystery.” There was a murmur of horror through the house as the gentleman sat down, for the audience seemed to have grasped the full sit- uation immediately. CHAPTER XI. EXPLANATTIONS. Mr. Temple was shocked and astonished as he listened to Mr. Gray's startling words, but the conditions existing at the other theatre were explained at last. They had_ probably learned of the fate which had attended the vicious act of their manager, and had promptly retired from the field of treacherous competition. As the curtain rose on the first act of their pretty melodrama Mr. Temple was still think- hut his audience was waiting in ing deeply, of the reappearance breathless interest for Viarion. Her magnificent beauty and simple speech had won their hearts, and this act of treachery chich had threatened her only added to their mrerniess QUEEN. Her appearance in the title réle was greet- ed enthusiastically, and almost before she spoke they were under the spell of her mag- netic beauty and queenly presence. There was an earnestness in her voice that thrilled them to the soul, and, in the scene of her first meeting with her lover, Mr. Temple felt, as he had rever felt before, the wonder- ful charm of her genius. Half way through the first act the ‘“‘villain” appeared, but it was not the stage- manager, nor any one that resembled him. What the audience may have thought, no one could tell; but Mr. Temple, with his ex- perience, knew at once that the new acquisi- tion was a woman. He stared a little at first, but he was soon over his nervousness. Whoever she was there was no mistake about her cleverness. Marion had barely told him of her promise to $9 their rival's “mimic,”’ so it did not occur to him that it was the new member of the com- pany who was before him. ~ Of course, there was some pfomptixig and hesitation, but she filled the réle admirably, and, at the close of the third act, both she and Marion were called before the curtain. Both bowed and smiled, but the applause continued. Some one in the house evidently had a suspicion of the truth, and was ce- termined to force an explanation. At last Marion turned and took the “vil- lain’s” hand. It was a ludicrous situation, but her manner was thrilling. ‘ “Stage villains are not always as bad as they look,” she began, smilingly; “and this par- ticular villain, ladies and gentlemen, is a very rice person indeed—so nice, in fact, that the Temple Theatrical Company has engaged her permanently, although she has been adver- tised all day to be in the cast at the Palace,” There was a gasp from the audience, and then there followed a bit of scene shifting and calcium light throwing tkat could hardly be rivalled in quickness, . Before a word could be spoken the lain” had disappeared from view and a smil- ine young girl stood in her place beside “vil- Marion. “This. ladies and gentlemen, is the actress who has been advertised by Rippel and Rove as Miss Marion Marlowe! icbooks. ; 1 ig ile cle . ee oe ae Bice Santen gh whe in . ee ee © milla! — ee a