Marion Marlowe in Indianapolis — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

é ) MY QUEEN. ‘all star’ cast could have done much better ; and yet, Bert and the doctor and I were not even amateurs. Not one of us had ever heen before the footlights until we made this venture.” “And yet, with all our success, Mr. Tem- ple is not happy,” sighed Marion. ‘Poor man, he seems wretchedly distressed at times. I can’t understand what ails him, Alma!” Her friend turned and stared at her with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. “Well, every one else knows if you don’t, Miss Innocence!” she said, gayly. “Why, the man is love-sick—out and out love-sick, Mar- And it’s no mild attack, I can tell you, you little siren!” “Oh, Alma!”. Marion’s cry was pathetic, for her friend’s words hurt her. When she finished the ex- ‘clamation her voice fell lower. | ion! “T am sure he loves me, but, really, I did not think it was thatewhich was making him so miserable! Dear me, why is it that I cause so much grief? I don’t want to make people unhappy, Alma!” “And you can’t make them happy by marrying them all,” said Miss Allyn, putting er arm about her. “Why, dear me, Marion, you would have no end of weddings! Surely, the men must be geese not to understand your - 4: ” position. Marion’s white lids fell and her cheeks flushed a little. “The doctor loves me, yet he does not grow pale and fret as Mr. Temple is doing,” she whispered, softly. “He cheerful as ever, and as brave as a lion.” There’s not is as bright and “Dr. Brookes is a wonder! snother man on earth like him!” was the en- thusiastic answer. “He is noble straight through fo his backbone, the dear fellow! Why. even Archie Ray ran away because he loved you @ “Yoo and in so doing deprived me of the company of two of my best friends, himself and his sister,’ said the young girl, sadly. “Oh, I can’t understand why he should be so silly! If a man did not love me, I would not show that I felt it, I can tell you.” “It’s harder for some natures to hide that sort of thing than for others,” said Miss AI- lyn, soberly; “but we had better go back to the theatre now, dear. You know Mr. Deer- ing has called a rehearsal at eleven.” “Oh, Alma! Do see that young man on the corner!” cried Marion, suddenly. “I am almost certain he is sick or something!” Miss Allyn glanced around. There was a handsome, athletic-looking young man lean- ing heavily against a lamp-post on the corner, He was well-dressed and so fastidious in his appearance that it did not seem possible he could have been drinking. “Drive a little nearer that corner,” Miss Allyn called out tothe driver. “If that young man is sick, you had better help him!” The driver reined the horses nearer to the curb, and, just at that moment, Marion gave an exclamation of astonishment. “Oh, Alma! Is it possible you don’t know him?” she cried, sharply. “Why, that is Mr. Fairfax—your own Mr. Fairfax!’ Alma Allyn stood up in the carriage, her eyes dilating with terror, which was rapidly changed to delight. — | “It is! Oh, it is! And to think, I didn't know him! Oh, Henry, where in the world did you come from, and what is the matter?” At her excited cry the young man turned quickly. In an instant the girls could see that his face was wreathed in smiles, and that his peculiar attitude had all been assumed, “Your sharp eyes have spoiled all my fun, Miss Marlowe,” he cried, gayly, as he came quickly to the carriage and clasped Miss Al- lyn’s hands in an ardent manner. “T did not mean that you should see me until to-night. You see, I was sent here on business of a very JIOOKS as ao hb eee (ECO AMIE