Marion Marlowe in Denver, or, The Tragedy of Pike's Peak — page 16: what you’re looking at

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

yer once more placed his hand over hers and leaned a little nearer, as if to scrutinize her - features. Marion drew her hand away quickly and SP nest rose to her feet. } “Pardon me, but I am detaining you,” she tried to say firmly; “Mr. Wilson brought me here to sign that paper. Shall we call him, Mr. Waldo, or have you it ready?” | A curious smile curved the lawyer’s lips, put he turned at once toward the desk and Peron searching for the paper. As he opened a secret drawer and began turning over the contents, the shrewd man deftly changed the conversation. - “Your leading man is very handsome and _ very talented,” he said, pleasantly; “who 1s gfe; Miss Marlowe, if it is. not an imperti- nent question?” . Marion was only too glad to speak of her ’ friend, and her voice rang with enthusiasm as she answered promptly :, “He is Dr. Reginald Brookes, of New York, and a very rich young man,” she said, simply. “He is on a vacation, and Mr. Tem- ple talked him into playing with us! I think hei is grand, especially in the third act, where ‘g eae does the love scene. Really, if I did not _ know that his own vocation was even more noble, I would dread to see him leave the pro- - fession. c The lawyer glanced at her keenly as she spoke and read every line of her features. She was not in love with this young man, then, as he had half expected. “And the comedian, he is a handsome fel- low, too,” he went on, as he still fumbled over his papers. '“Bert is a positive genius!’ laughed Mar- ion, who was beginning to feel at ease. “He was a poor boy all his life, but has recently been adopted. His foster-father is a railroad president and very rich, so, of course, you understand, Bert is only acting for a pas- time.” | “An extraordinary company, I say,’ remarked the lawyer, dryly. should _gayly: al “Miss Allyn, our ‘leading heavy,’ as we fee call -her, is a newspaper reporter—or she was. = va: = MY QUEEN. Marion laughed aloud and went on, almost She will marry as soon as this tour 13 is over—the rest of the company are genu- ine ‘professionals.’ ’ “All but yourself, Miss Marlowe!” said the lawyer, suddenly, as he turned and faced her. ‘You were never intended to live such a life, for, in spite of your victories, you are but a puppet for the public! No, Marion arlowe, you were intended for another sphere! Your proper place is tpon the shrine of some great man’s soul. You were cre- ated to be worshiped, to he adored, my peer- less one! You were intended for love and love only, Miss Marlowe!” He was gazing into her eyes now and his voice was resonant with harmony. As Mar- ion stared into his face, she could hardly be- lieve her senses. Did this great lawyer really love her, that he could look and talk like that? s Her breath came in gasps as she asked herself the question. Not for one instant did she dream the truth—which was, that this great lawyer was also a great actor ! Little did she imagine that the greed of gold was stirring every drop of blood in his veins, and that this seeming burst of passion was but the subterfuge of malicious envy. Her money had tempted him first, then she herself, but the latter would not have moved him without the former. All the cunning of his nature was being exercised now, as this incipient miser sat gazing so admiringly upon her. “Yes, Marion, you were intended for love,” went on the musical voice. ‘Your face, your form, were created for man’s ad- oration! You should be lifted from the field of toil and hidden in the sanctuary of love, surrounded by the brightest flowers of earth—the offerings of man’s true devotion! As I looked at you last night, I nearly cried aloud in my agony! Did you not feel my heart throbs, Marion, even at the distance that lay between us? Did you not know in your soul that my soul was crying out to your Tell me, Marion, beautiful Marion, did you feel that you could love me?” _ The words had been spoken softly, but each syllable vibrated with eagerness. When the last tone fell upon her ear, Marion sat like one spellbound. What was there in thipsrmean’a\; OOKSGO