Marion Marlowe in Salt Lake City — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

bd hand for the envelope. MY QUEEN.. 6 sergeant, don’t you, Alma? I do not wish to do it unless you all approve of it!” “T’ll mail the letter, Marion, and that will show you how I feel on the subject,” was her friend’s quick answer, as she held out her “T hope to goodness they court-martial the brute and then keep. him in the guard-house as long as we stay in Utah!” The last call from the stage sounded just then, so the conversation ended, and, the next minute, the beautiful star of the com- _ pany was before the footlights. “No one would ever believe she was so brave and noble, would they, Miss Allyn,” whispered Ida Inez, the soubrette, as she and Alma waited for their cues just back of the flimsy canvas. > “She looks like a gentle, timid girl, and so she is,” was Miss Allyn’s answer, “but | have learned that gentleness is often coupled with strength, and that timidity of manner often accompanies fearlessness of spirit! Marion is a wonderful combination of all that is loveliest in woman!” “I wish you would let me say those things, Alma,” remarked Dr. Brookes, as he joined _ them. “Of coufse, it sounds angelic com-. ing from a sister woman, because they so rarely praise each other, but we men muttst insist upon the privilege of expressing such sentiments, so I repeat that Marion is the embodiment of all that is desirable in woman, She is sweet, gentle, just and, above ail, loyal. Now, what do you suppose she would say if she heard us?” “That you were a couple of individuais possessing sadly distorted intellects. no doubt,” chimed in Bert Jackson, promptiy, as he put his hand on the doctor’s shoulder. “Marion does not enjoy hearing our ‘!lat- tery,’ as she calls it. She is too nim listen to it and too humble to belic’ “She is making a hit out here a\. do listen, Bert! The house is as still as death! When Marion is acting you could almost hear a pin drop!” whispered Ida Inez,. soitly. “And you ought to see the row of bald- headed Mormon elders in the front row,” “There’s a regular line of Why, if po- lygamy wasn’t dead, Marion could have answered Bert. them, clear across the theatre! forty-nine husbands before she leaves Utah, and her combined number as a wife would probably be something like two hundred!” “Ouick, Bert! pered Miss Allyn, suddenly. There’s your cue!” whis: Bert darted.out upon the stage, and, as he Dr. Brookes sprang forward and kept it from did so, his foot caught in the scenery. falling, and Bert advanced to the footlights Dr. Brookes: steadied the bit of canvas while one of the “scene as calmly as ever. shifters” fastened it, then he put his eye to a hole that had been torn in the canvas. “Colonel Hayes is in the audience, and there is an elegant-looking gentleman with him. Do take a look, Alma,” he said, as he stepped back softly. “He is handsome, the other gentleman,” was Miss Allyn’s comment, “and, dear me, doctor, how they are staring at Marion! They both have their glasses leveled at her in a way that is positively alarming!” “T can’t quite make out who that distin- euished old fellow looks like,” said Dr. srookes, taking another peep. “I know!” cried Miss Allyn, with a sud- den inspiration. “It’s old Brigham Young, just as sure as shooting!” The doctor laughed, but his face bright- ened instantly, “I don’t just see how it can be Brigham. inasmuch as he is in the Mormon heaven, according to all accounts, but it certainl, does look like the clever old fellow.” “Perhaps it is his astral body,” suggested . GOmlGooo SH 5(CO)