Marion Marlowe in Society, or, A Race for a Title — page 23: what you’re looking at

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20 turess, but their thoughts won’t hurt any one so long as they don’t mention them.” “T am neglecting you, Mr. Jackson,” said Miss Glenham, suddenly. She had been chatting with two or three ladies, but turned to her escort at last. ‘I’m used to it, so it doesn’t matter,” said Bert, a trifle loftily. “If I was a Duke now, or even a Lord, Id stand a better chance, but we can’t all be attractive, can we, Miss Glen- ham? I consider I’m lucky in one thing, though—I’m not such a jay as either Wur- temberg or Van Twiller!” “Miss Marlowe likes ‘jays,’ apparently,” ‘said Miss Glenham, softly, as she took a swift look around the magnificent room. ‘ Bert’s glance followed her own, and nis lips twitched with amusement. Marion had actually turned from the Duke and was chat- ting with the two dudes, and the noble guest was so nettled that he was actually scowling. “Gee! He is hopping mad!” whispered Bert, delightedly. “It’s little that Miss Mar- lowe cares for him or his title! There’s no toady about her—she’s thoroughly Ameri- can!” Miss Glenham turned upon him with an astonished look. “You don’t understand her—she’s tricky,” she said, severely; “as if she did not know she was tormenting the Duke and that he will like her a great deal better for her as- sumed indifference.” “So you think there is danger of his really liking her, do you?” asked Bert. Miss Glertham smiled sarcastically as she answered : “Now that he knows that Mrs. Stetson in- tends to give her a million or two—yes. Be- fore that she would not have had a ghost of a chance with Maude Rushlyn.” ‘Whew! Is that true?” asked Bert, who had not heard of Mrs, Stetson’s extraordi- nary Offer. Miss Glenham was glad of an opportunity her mind on that subject. she said, promptly ; “a marriage between her prolégee and the Duke is worth that amount to Mrs. Stetson! It would mean that she would be established as prime min- ‘eter of the royal establishment, and that is to relieve “Oh, yes!" something that she has always wanted, Of MY QUEEN. course, the old lady cannot marry the Dike herself, so she has planned to have him marry Miss Marlowe.” ' “Well, | can just see her doing it!” said Bert, with some scorn. ‘“‘Mrs. Stetson has made a mistake for once, or, in other words, she has ‘driven her ducks to the wrong mar- ket,’ this time. Miss Marlowe will come pretty near doing as she pleases, and she'll _ not marry the Duke because there is a title behind it!” | “You are very unsophisticated—you don't understand,” said Miss Glenham, sweetly. Bert was about to reply, but, just then, Roy Glenham came up and his sister was _ obliged to answer some questions. Marion was devoting herself to Jack Wur- temburg at the time, almost under the nose ‘of Jack’s watchful mamma, and Roy Glen- ham thought he saw a chance to get the Duke and his sister a little nearer together. Miss Rushlyn was thinking the same thing, only for herself instead of Miss Glenham, so it happened that both of the young ladies started toward the Duke at the same time. Marion Marlowe replied to one of Wur- temburg’s idiotic remarks at the same mo- ment that she noticed the movement of the two young ladies, and, in an instant, the spirit of mischief seemed to take possession of her. “Think they can take him away from mie,” she thought, as she read the expression on their faces. a8 The next moment she addressed the Duke in her musical voice, and that noble persen- age turned around at once, leaving both Miss. Rushlyn and Kitty Glenham actually staring at his shoulders. No amount of drilling in social etiquette could have prevented the expression which crossed Maude Rushlyn’s face. She flashed a glance of hatred from her : cold, blue eyes that would have made Marion tremble a little if she had seen it. + ee a a a eos ome ee ee oo ; t . } | “Let me get you a cup of chocolate,” said ; Rov Glenham, in her ear, at that moment. His offer was most opportune and Miss Rushlyn accepted it gladly. The smile which she bestowed upon him fully repaid him for the effort he had made to be at her side at a time when he was needed. 900 7 i all eG com