Marion Marlowe's Christmas Eve, or, The Treachery of a Factory Inspector — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

° MY QUEEN. 3 body of a poor little chap who has small rea- Her beautiful eyes flashed with Bott fire son, I’ll admit, to thank me for having suc- as she spoke, and the splendid tones of her ceeded.” : voice rang with a pleading cadence. “Then you think " “Well, if you insist, Marion, | suppose | “T think it would: have been better for him ust let you,” said the doctor, laughing ; “but if I had not possessed the skill to save his I can think of but one way in which we can life,” said the doctor, sadly. “Why, Marion, work together. you have no idea of the misery and woe in Tell me quickly—what is 1t? Oh, 1 am some parts of.this great, overcrowded city.” glad there is a way! It will be such a posi- “And you are spending your time in such tive delight to fee! that I am useful!” places?” said the young girl, ‘You are giv-| ing a share of your time and talents to these CHAPTER Ii. 2 ha ’?) poor creatures! A GLIMPSE OF THE “SWEAT SHOPS. The physician said nothing, only blushed A few hours later Marion Marlowe was a little deeper. i seated in’ a dingy office of a still dingier “It is noble of you!” exclaimed Marion, building, which was hemmed in on all sides in open admiration; “but tell me, please, why tn hecnt Heasds. cannot I help your” She had ridden down-town in the doctor's “I would not wish you to help me in such carriage, but left it a few blocks away at his work,’ said her friend, quickly. “You are suggestion. He was afraid of being consid- too pure, too sweet; you should not come in ered a “swell mug” by his ignorant patients, contact with such wretchedness !” and such a reputation as that would greatly It was the young girl’s turn to blush, but curtail his usefulness. she answered firmly: “That is mere senti- ~ As the doctor and Marion had entered the ment, doctor; no one is too pure or too good ‘office, a middle-aged man arose to greet to be useful to their fellows. Here I am, them, and the two gentlemen shook hands with time to spare at present, and I shall in the most cordial manner. not be happy until I am doing something.” “Miss Marlowe is anxious to make herself “But, Marion, you must think of the fu- useful to our poor people, Mr. Landale,” the ture,” urged her companion. “You are an doctor explained, after he had introduced his actress now, you are to be a singer later. companion. Your beauty and talents must not be neg- ‘“T’m afraid we haven’t much that is fit for lected.” her to do,” were the gentleman's first words, “Please leave my wonderful attributes out as he glanced sharply at Marion. of the question,” said the young girl, laugh- “T think vou may trust me to do anything ing. “Il am nothing more nor less than a_ at all,” replied the young girl, quickly. “It healthy young woman, with a fairly active is true that I am inexperienced, but I can conscience. I must guide my actions accord- learn very-quickly? ' Ing to my conscience, and to be merely or- “My plan was this,” spoke up Dr. Brookes, namental is not at all congenial. Now, tell at once. me,” she added, sweetly; “why can I not help you with your charity work? I am young, healthy and strong, and I would be glad, indeed, to aid in so noble a labor.” “Of course, Miss Marlowe could not be a regular Government Factory In- spector without going through a lot of red tape with the Civil Service laws, but I ‘thought she might accompany a regular in- COMmiICcoooks.CO©