Marion Marlowe's Courage: A Brave Girl's Struggle for Life and Honor — page 27: what you’re looking at

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whole soul, and she was soon almost uncon- scious of time or surroundings. a ~ After playing the song over two or three times, the young man motioned for her to sing it. | ‘ ~ She did so, and with such an intelligence of expression and such a ready ear that both the manager and the composer were highly delighted. — “ -Mariort rehearsed the piece several times in the next four days, first with, the piano accompaniment and then with a full orches- & “> ” ~ . “= The afternoon before the concert she re- hearsed for the last time, and as she hurried home to Dollie, she was flushed with excite- “7 don’t quite understand about the con- cert,” she said, anxiously. “It is to be in the big hall that Mr. Vondergrift owns, and there’s another hall called ‘The Olio’ right across the street that is also to be opened with a concert this evening. There are a dozen or ‘more people to sing, or do something at’ Mr. Vondergrift’s concert, for, of course, he wishes his to be the most attractive.” _ “What kind of people are they?” asked Dollie, wha was sitting at her typewriter. She was so much better now that she could prac- tice daily. 7 : _ “That is what I can’t understand,” said Marion slowly. “They can all sing fairly well, and some of them are quite pretty, but some way they seem to me to be very rude— I might almost say, vulgar.” _ “What a pity you should have to mix with them,” said Dollie. ares _ “Oh, I don’t!’ was Marion’s quick answer. “Mr. Vondergrift has managed that! Why, _he lets me wait my turn in a little room all by _ myself, and to-day he brought me a delicious — jittle luncheon!” @ _ “How lovely of him!” said Dollie, going on with her work. — ~ Not once did it seem to either of these simple girls that Mr. Vonderegrift’s attentions meant anything more than kindness. ~~ see here, Dollie!’ cried Marion, with a jolly laugh, “they’ve actually advertised that Tam to sing to-night, only they’ve given me a _ queer Italian name. I suppose they are try- ing to make out that I am some great singer.” _ Dollie looked at the programme that Mar- ion held out to her. “Signorita Ila de Pailoa,’ she read, in an _ amused voice. “What a terrible name! And what a lot of deceit! Why in the world _ couldn’t he have called you just plain Marion _ Marlowe?” __ ~Oh, that wouldn’t do at all! He explained _it_to me,” said Marion, a little dubiously. Lhe public insist upon having foreigners, so MY QUEEN. 25 he is obliged to fool them. And, besides, Dol- lic, my name would not suit for another rea- son—I’m: only a country girl, who has had her name in all the papers.” | “Vou have, indeed, but it was always as a heroine!” said Dollie, proudly, “First they told all about your rescuing me, and then the way they spoke of you at the fire was simply delightful !” tei “Well, I’ve had quite enough of it,” said Marion, decidedly. “I shall be glad to be able to stay in the background in future.” “T wish I could be there to hear you sing,” said Dollie, plaintively, “but I don’t feel very strong yet, and, besides, Mrs. Haley is coming this evening, you know, and I shall surprise her when [tell her that you are singing in a concert.” : “T hope I have done right in keeping it from her,’ said Marion, slowly. “Some way, I was afraid she would not approve of my singing in public.” “If she only knew your motive Dollie, plaintively. | “She must never know,” was Marion’s de- cided answer. ta : “See here, Dollie, what I am to wear,” said Marion later, as she was opening a bundle. “They have loaned me a dress, because mine |? sighed is not suitable, and J had to bring it home to. see if it needed to be altered.” She took out a pretty silk dress that just suited her complexion, but both girls were horrified to find that it was very low in the neck, and had no sleeves whatever. “T don’t mind about the sleeves so much,” said. Marion, blushing, “but I’ll never wear a low neck like that, never!” “Here’s a big piece of lace,’ said Dollie, pulling it out of the package. “I expect it is intended for a veil or a mantle, but you can just drape it around your neck and shoulders, and you'll be as pretty as a picture.” Marion dressed in the little room that Mr. Vondererift had set aside for her, and al- most before she was ready her employer came to find her. | “What's that stuff around your neck?” was his first words of greeting. Marion blushed to the roots of her hair as she answered: “The neck was too low, Mr. Vondergrift,” she said, simply. “It was fortunate I had the lace, so that I was able to fix it.” “You are a goose,” said the man, with a frown of displeasure, and just at that moment one of the other singers came to look for him. Marion took one look at her and almost gasped, for the woman’s dress was cut so low in the neck and so short in the skirt that to Marion’s mind she might almost as well have been naked. There was no mistaking her ex- SS Cc (0) ConniGhoo