Marion Marlowe in St. Louis, or, A Forger's Bold Deed — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

~ 12 only lowered her voice so that the étar should not hear her. As soon as the sound of the steps had died away she went on angrily, while both Lou and Mabel stared at her sulkily. “I was just passing the door when I heard your last remarks. You ought to be ashamed of yourselves for expressing such senti- ments !” “I didn’t. say anything against her,’ mut- tered Lou, a little lamely. “I merely said that angel faces didn’t . . “T heard what you said!’’ broke in Miss Ellis; “and now I want you to remember ex- actly one thing: I won't say a word now, but don’t you ever repeat those remarks! If you dare to think evil of Marion Marlowe or any girl in this company, you want to be mighty careful and keep your thoughts to yourself! You’d go out of the cast flying if I should tell Mr. Temple!” | There was a call from the stage, and Miss Ellis had to go, but she gave them both a parting scowl as she turned to leave them. ‘Jerusalem! What a spitfire!” muttered Lou when she had gone. “She’s as much in love with the star as the doctor, I believe! Well, I’ll be mighty careful what you hear me say in future, you young fury!” “There’s Bert Jackson, Lou! He doesn’t so on for ten minutes! Go out and talk to him,” said Mabel, softly, as she hurried from the dressing-room, Lou sauntered out into the hallway between the dressing-rooms and saw Bert standing idly at the top of the stairs, kicking one foot against a pile of rubbish in a thoughtful man- ner. “You are worried about something, aren’t you, Mr. Jackson ?” she said, sweetly. Bert looked up quickly, and in a second his usually gay spirits returned. “I'm love-sick,” he said, laughing. “Can't you recognize the symptoms? Here you have heen in the company two whole days, Miss Leland, and not a ghost of a smile have you given a fellow!” Lou’s eyes opened in wonder, but Bert's manner deceived her. If he had been actually pining for her smiles he could not have wistfully. How Jovely of you! spoken more Why, I “Dear me! MY QUEEN. did not dream that you wanted me to smile at you,’ she murmured, as she went up close’ beside him. “I thought you were desperately in love with ws Marlowe—the ingénue said that you were.’ “So Iam,” said Bert, promptly; “but Mar- ion won’t look at me! Oh, I am simply dying of unrequited affection! If some one don’t love me pretty soon, lll go out and hang myself!’ “Don't do that, Mr. Jackson! I should miss you awfully,” said the girl, as she laid one hand on his shoulder. ‘Really, I can’t understand Miss Marlowe’s actions! She must be blind not to care for you; but per- laps she is in love with some other fellow.” “That’s the trouble! They all are, every one of them!” groaned Bert. “Every girl I meet has a sweetheart somewhere! Oh, it’s no use trying; I’m a Jonah in the love busi- ness!” Lou cast down her eyes and tried to look demure. . “T haven’t anv sweetheart,” she whispered, significantly ; ‘“‘and, oh, I am so interested in your story, Mr. Jackson! Is it really true that you were brought up on a poor farm?” “Straight as a die!’ laughed Bert, with a sharp glance at her face; “only I wasn't brought up, Miss Leland; I was yanked up! T was an orphan and a pauper—how is that for a beginning!” “And now you are ‘ : Lou breathed the words softly and stood a moment waiting. She was almost trembling in her eagerness to hear how he would an- swer. “Now I am the comedian in the greatest theatrical company on earth! I’m the one and only actor who ever achieved distinction and renown without getting a swelled head and losing a few dozen of his buttons! Oh, I’m glad for your sake that you have met me, Miss Leland! You ought to have it framed and put it in your scrap-book, that you have actually beheld with your own eyes the “Bert! Bert! What in the world are you doing! Go down on the stage if you are going to make a stump speech! It’s a shame the audience can’t hear you!” called out Alma Allyn’s voice, suddenly. omicbooks;com