Marion Marlowe in Washington, or, Meeting the President — page 17: what you’re looking at

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

\ > MY QUEEN. | 15 The voung girl spoke truthfully. She was trembling like a leaf. The terrible ex- citement of the last hour had been almost too much for her. ‘He expresses his most sincere thanks for the inestimable favor you have done him, and wishes to assure you of his unbounded ad- miration of your loyalty and courage, and oh, Marion, just listen! He intends to thank you publicly as soon as opportunity offers!” Marion put her hands to her face and sank back in her chair, while Bert threw up his hat in the excess of his exuberance. “The President isa brick! Just wait until J am old enough to vote for him! But loan me that letter a minute, Marion, and I'll go out and get a frame for it!” “It’s too late, Bert, and, besides, there are no shops open,” said Mr. Temple, laughing. “Marion can wear it next to her heart, and, perhaps, it will prove a talisman for good and keep her free from dreadful adventures.”’ “She needs something to do that, ail right,” said Bert, soberly; “but her adven- ture in Washington has been the right sort. She came here unknown and she is going away a heroine! For once she is getting the best of a thrilling experience!” “Oh, but the day is not over yet,’ said Miss Ellis, thoughtlessly. “It is always Marion’s luck to get into some. sort of a scrape, still [ don’t just see how ‘she can when we are all of us with her.” : “This is to be a red letter day in her career,’ spoke up Dr. Brookes, quickly. “She has already done something that will make her name known to the ends of the earth! I prophesy that to-night will add lustre to her laurels! She will be the belle of the Inauguration Ball; without a doubt, and, more than that, she will be the most honored among them, for has she not, to- day, saved the life of the Chief Executive?” The silence was almost profound, and then Marion dropped her hands from her face, suddenly showing that her big, gray eyes were sparkling with mischief. ~Oh, just think of it! That fellow might have missed his aim! .He might have put a bullet in a brick wall of one of the houses opposite. There’s no way of proving that he would have killed the President,’ she cried, merrily. ‘Nevertheless the chances are that he would,” said Bert, firmly. ‘We are not go- ing to allow you to detract from your own glory, Marion.” “Then I have nothing more to say,” mur- mured the young girl, sweetly. “Only IJ wish I was half as wonderful as you all say I am. It is awful to feel that one is only a plain, simple girl, and that all one’s friends are laboring under a delusion.” “We enjoy the delusion, dearie, so don't begrudge it,’ laughed Miss: Allyn; “but I move that you gentlemen adjourn, so that we can dress for dinner.” ~ CHAPTER IX. THE TWO COLONELS AGAIN. “Alma, dear, I want to ask you a ques- tion,’ said Marion, as the two friends sai down to rest for a few moments. Miss Allyn leaned her head back upon the handsomely upholstered chair and smiled as she answered: “What is it, Marion, or, perhaps, I can guess. You are going to ask me what I am thinking of ordering for din- Neb” “Nonsense. It is not half so important a question as that,” said her friend, as she curled herself up on a broad couch and ar- ranged the soft pillows so as to be perfectly comfortable. “Then, you are intending to ask me how I expect to feel when we get “back to our work. Well, I can answer that easily. I expect to feel pretty ‘shaky.’ ” “You are a poor guesser, so I'll relieve your mind. My question is this: What do you think of our staying away from the In- auguration Ball? Would it be a great disap- pointment, Alma ?”’ Miss Allyn straightened herself up and tried to look severe. “Now, see here, Marion Marlowe! i know what you are driving at!’ she said. shaking her finger, threateningly. “You are trying to avoid being thanked in public. Well, now, you can believe me, dearie. it will not be done this evening in fact.I very Conall ClNOOOKS a GOIN