Marion Marlowe on the Prairie, or, A Thrilling Ride Across Kansas — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

@ MY QUEEN. ion! Do tell us, quick! I hope it was some- thing nice! Which did she say you would marry, Archie Ray or the dottor ?” “Dear me! As if she was restricted to those two!” broke in Miss Allyn. “Why, she has a dozen others, at least, to choose from! There’s Howard Everett ana Mr. Temple, and———” “Pshaw! There don’t any one stand a ghost of a chance but Archie Ray and Dr. Brookes!’ persisted Miss Ellis. “Mr. Ray was Marion’s first love, when she came from the country to the city, and I know she has a tender spot in her heart for him, and, as for the doctor, well, if she doesn’t love him some day I shall miss my guess! Why, it isn’t in human nature for her to always be indif- ferent to the doctor.” They were all looking at her now, and She knew, that they were only in fun, but it was very em- Marion’s face was scarlet. barrassing just the same*“to have them teas-. ing her about her lovers. “By the way, I hope the doctor is success- ful in his errand to-day,” broke in Bert, who was beginning to feel a little sorry for her. “Te wouldn’t come on this drive because he had something on hand on the Missouri side, and all-fired mysterious about it he was, too! I sincerely hope he isn't plotting to level any of the hills of the city! He’s a born philan- thropist, but that would be the limit.” Marion looked at him gratefully, and then tried to speak, but Miss Ellis was by far too mischievous to let her. “Oh, I know what the doctor is doing, of, at least, I can etiess!” she cried, excitedly. “He is on the warpath for a marriage license, just as like as not! There was something about that in my palm; the gypsy said | was to be present at a wedding within a very me, and the bride was to be very dear 4 hlonde and Mar- short ti friend, only she was to he ‘on does not answer to that description ! come true. Marion recovered her voice as well as her spirits, and her musical laugh rippled out as she answered : “T suppose I could bleach my hair to ac- commodate the seeress, if it was necessary. I’m sure I would like to see your nice fortune Really, she succeeded in making you very happy, didn’t she?” “And you have had the blues ever since you came out, Marion,” said Miss Allyn, leaning toward her. “I saw in a minute that she had told you something unpleasant, but don’t let it worry you, dearie—you know the whole thing is perfectly silly.” “T am not so sure,” was Marion's extraor- dinary answer. Then, as she saw their sur- prised looks, she added, quickly: | “T don’t mean that I believe in all of her gibberish, Alma, but there were two or three things that were really wonderful. Wait un- til we have finished dinner and I will tell you all I can remember.” “T’m not so sure I wish to hear it,” said her friend, with a grimace. “Really, girlie, you have given me cold shivers up my spine! Dear me! I wouldn't have let you go in there for the world, if I had thought you were go- ing to believe her! Why, the whole thing is mere fol-de-rol! What can she possibly know of your future?” Marion took a drink of water from her glass, and then gave them each a timid look. “Listen!” she said, softly. “TI will tell you what she said. When I have finished, you can tell me if you think I have any reason to be unhappy.” CHAPTER IIL. NEWS. “What did you think of it, Alma?” Miss Fllis asked, softly, as they were alone in Miss Allvn’s dressing-room in the principal thea- tre in Kansas City, a few hours later. Then she continued : Gomichooks, com