Marion Marlowe Entrapped, or, The Victim of Professional Jealousy — page 22: what you’re looking at

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20 still I can’t think that she would actually murder him, for, in spite of her bad temper, I believe she loved him.” “It was probably done in a second; she | had, no doubt, lost her self-control com- pletely when she Allyn. Marion dressed herself hastily and ate her shot him,” said Miss breakfast; then, as soon as she could, she started for the theatre. There was quite a group of girls at the stage door when she reached there and, of course, they had all come on the same errand. . “The notice on the call board says that the treasurer will take charge at once,” said one of the girls just as Marion came up. “He is Graham’s brother and I believe he has money in the enterprise.” “Well, there'll be no performance to- night, anyway,’ said another girl turning away, “but the new manager has called a rehearsal for to-morrow.” Marion waited to see for what time the rehearsal was called and then started back uptown to tell Dollie what had happened. A block from the theatre a carriage was driven closely to the curb and a handsome young man, tall and aristocratic in appear- ance, leaned out of the window and greeted her eagerly. } “Oh, Mr. Ray!” cried Marion, as she recognized her old friend and champion. “T am so delighted to see you again!” In an instant Mr. Ray was out on the pavement beside her. “Do let me drive you wherever you are going,” he said, quickly. “>, Dollie’s, then,” laughed Marion, as she entered the carriage. Her lovely.face was radiant as Mr. Ray smiled down into her eyes, for in a second Marion’s beauty seemed enhanced a hun. dred fold. MY QUEEN. + ue Her cheeks flushed and paled at the un- expected pleasure and little dimples ap- peared that were not often seen and which made her face for the minute almost as childishly sweet as her twin sister’s. ' | “And I am delighted to see you also,” © murmured Mr. Ray, softly. “Both my sis- ter and I have been striving to meet you, but you have no idea how busy we are, _ Marion.” i a. He uttered her name as though it was sacred to him, and the fair girl’s eyelids drooped shyly as she heard him. “You see we have sold our house and are storing the most of our things,’ he con- — tinued, rather sadly, “for there are only two I am in wretched health, and I know it is better.” ‘He spoke a little doubtfully, as if arguing | with himself, but Marion understood and } hastened to turn the subject. ite “T am sure that you must be busy with all that to do,” she added, quickly, “but have you heard that my manager is dead, Mr. Ray? do not know for how long until I see our of us now, and we intend to travel. I am to have a vacation perforce—l new manager to-morrow.” “T read of the horrible occurrence,” was — the answer. “I am glad all wothen are not like that dreadful Carlotta.” Once more he gazed down into Marion’s eyes with his tender smile, and the fair girl’s — heart throbbed with a sweet emotion. - | She knew only too well what he was long- ing to say, and she knew also why it was — that the words could not be uttered. | Archie Ray had loved her almost from the hour they met, and then, poor fellow, he sup- posed he had aright to love her—but later, — before the sweet question had been asked, he discovered that the woman whom he had married when a boy at college, and who he- thought had been dead for two years, was still alive, and, more, that she was now 4 thoroughly dissolute character. Gomicboo Geom 2 a cS