Marion Marlowe in Society, or, A Race for a Title — page 29: what you’re looking at

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

26 - should be only too glad to have you hit ine,” he said with a sneer; “for it would give me an excuse for lambasting you this minute. However, as it is, I have a little warning to give you! Another lie from your lips in re- gard to Miss Marlowe, and I'll thrash you so thoroughly that you'll lose your identity com- pletely. You'll imagine you are a whipped cur instead of a well-dressed coward!” “If you were not a boy I would kill you,” muttered Glenham furiously, but as he spoke he half turned as if to leave the building, “You wouldn’t do that—you are too afraid of the law,” sneered Bert. “You are only a cad who attacks women’s reputations !” Glenham closed the door angrily and rushed off up the street, while Bert smiled to himself and walked calmly into the club- rooms. It was several days before the social circle met again, for all invitations had been recalled while the young ‘Englishman’s body ~ lay in its casket at Mrs. Stetson’s. The day after it was shipped back to Eng- land the Duke made a formal call. It was really upon Marion, but he asked also to see Mrs. Stetson. No one in the charmed circle knew exactly what happened in the spacious Stetson par- lor, but when the Duke left he drove directly, to his apartments at the Waldorf, and from there secured passage on the first outgoing steamer. she was far too polite to show it, and, after all, she had the satisfaction of knowing that her protégée had won the race over all her proud competitors. It pleased her to let the matrons of her set see how easily she could outwit them, and she was particularly glad to be able to laugh quietly at Mrs. Rushlyn. [t was a pity that the affair could not have been prolonged through one season at least, but Marion's spell had beem too potent—the Duke could not withstand tt. “Such a pity that he should have taken it so to heart.” Mrs. Stetson remarked to Mrs. Van ‘Twiller the ‘day the Duke left. “I lenew. of course, that Miss Marlowe would refuse him, but with Miss Rushlyn and Miss CGlenham to console him, you know—it seems really too bad that the Duke should have been at @ | gilly o If Mrs. Stetson was disappointed, MY QUEEN. “Did she really refuse him?” asked Mrs. Van Twiller, eagerly. Why, my dear, she actually spurned him,” was Mrs. Stetson’s confidential answer. “Of course, you won't tell it to a single soul, | but Marion actually had the coronet in her very grasp, and she tossed it from her as_ though it was nothing.” “I can’t believe it! And she only a simple country girl!” murmured her hearer. “A simple American girl, you mean, Mrs. Van Twiller; Marion is so sweet and lovely that even the Duke was willing to marry her without a penny, for at the hour of his pro- posal Marion told him plainly that she would never accept so much as a shilling from me, yet he only pressed his suit more ardently. Oh, the Duke is a splendid fellow, and no — mistake, but in spite of the fact that I hon- ored him for his choice, I am truly thankful that Marion refused him!” “Maude Rushlyn will never forget it nor forgive—dear me—they will be enemies at Newport, I am sure, Mrs. Stetson.” Mrs. Stetson had invited Marion to visit her the next summer at the famous Rhode Island resort. accepting her invitation when the unfortunate death of Lord Curry caused her to change her mind. . “Oh, Marion has changed her mind’; she is not going,” said Mrs. Stetson, loftily. “To tell you the truth, she is not impressed with society.” “Well, did you ever!” This was all that Mrs. Van Twiller was able to say. Such audacity as Marion’s took her breath away completely. And a few days later, when Gus- Van Twiller and his chum, Jack Wurtemburg, met again, they shook hands so cordially that the clasp was painful. “Worked like a charm, that ideah of yours, didn’t it, old chappie! B’ Jawve, I can see a difference in Kittie alweady,” said Jack; “and the. little actwess isn’t so bad; weally, she is vewy pwetty. If it wasn’t for Kittie’s cawsh, I believe I'd fall in love with her, ‘pon honer !” “And Miss Wushlyn is not so cold, by hawf, as she was. Oh, a capital scheme that, of flirting with the actwess! Gomicbooks: Marion was on the point of | Why, do com - CO OO a ee . defy _ = — a a