Marion Marlowe's Courage: A Brave Girl's Struggle for Life and Honor — page 28: what you’re looking at

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

26 pression of horror, and Mr. Vondergrift, like a wise man, decided to say 10 more about her appearance. “She'll come to it after a little,’ he said to Marcus Rosen, when he left her. St. T ‘had insisted to- night, she would have ‘kicked over the traces,’ and, anyway, it will be a novelty. I hope it catches.” When Marion’s turn came, she was fairly. trembling: Never before in her life had she felt so embarrassed. Only the thought of Dollie and Ralph Moore gave her courage to go on. It was imperative that she should earn that one hundred dollars. There was a blaze of light as Marion reached the stage, then a blare from the or- chestra that sounded strangely confusing. She had never seen the big hall lighted be- fore, and the row of lights at the front of the: stage dazzled her. eyes for a minute so that she could hardly epen them. Almost as if in a dream she heard Mr. Von- dergrift’s voice whispering to her to hurry, and she advanced toward the centre of the stage and tried to collect her scattered senses. ‘As the orchestra changed to the opening bars of the prelude to her song, Marion be- came more composed and was able to look about a little. What kind of a place was she in? Her eyes were wide open now as she asked her-- self the question. Men and women, scores of them, were seat- ed all over the hall, and before them were small tables loaded with bottles and glasses, while men with white aprons moved swiftly between them, carrying trays which contained more glasses and bottles. A whiff of villainous tobacco smoke floated to her nostrils, and just then the opening chord of her song was struck. Marion closed her eyes and commenced her song. There was hardly a sound in the house while the young girl sang, and the silence helped her to coneentrate her thoughts on the inspiration of her song, which was her sister Dollie. It was a simple ballad, filled with pathos and love, and Marion’s exquisite voice thrilled even the most callous of her hearers. As- the last note died away, there was si- lence for a moment, then the audience rose to its feet and fairly yelled its ” sravos !” “You must go back, they are encoring you,’ cried Mr. Vondererift, meeting her in the “Oh, T can’t! I can’t!’ said Marion, almost , crying. “Clan vou sing ‘Comin’ c a . ~ ; asked Mr. Vondererift, spiration. 5) 99 Thro’ the Rye? with a sudden in- MY QUEEN. “Why, OR one » said Marion;:: a little sur- prised that he should ask her, “Then go back and sing it!” said the man peremptorily. Marion went back to the _footlights and was greeted with a perfect storm of ap-— plause. A signal from somewhere told the ao to be silent. ‘ In another. second Marion started the well-& known ditty. The cheers that followed faitly g ; shook the Serene ‘ . os af. CHAPTER. XV. MARION SEES MR.° MOORE. “Carlotta” and “The Olio” were eclipsed — entirely, and Otto Vondergriit took occasion to brag a little the next morning. “That hundred wasn’t a bad investment, af-_ ter all,” he said to his friend Rosen. “Why, there wasn’t a dozen people left in “The Olio’ ~ after Ila began singing |! Ee “Here she comes!” said. the song writer, as Marion entered. “I'll leave you to make love to your little rustic prima donna!” “Here are your hundred dollars, miss,” said Vondergrift, promptly, “and Pll give you the same price if you will sing again this evening, and to-morrow Pit make a contract to hire you for the season.” Marion put the money in her pocket, and then faced him tremblinely. “I had no idea, sir, that I was to sing ina drinking place,” she said, slowly;: “believe me, your money would not have tempted me if I had known it. [ ama temperance wo- man—TI don’t believe in drinking liquor.”’ Otto Vonderegrift was so surprised that he — could hardly speak for a moment. “What, do you mean that you refuse my | offer of one hundred dollars for an evening? © W hy; g girl, are you mad, or are you dream- @ ing?” ‘ , “T must refuse it, sir!” said Marion, stern- ly. “I do not approve of ‘your concert hall, and I should feel disgraced were I to again appear in it!” “Well, I'll be blowed!” was the German’s © only answer. “q am very much obliged to you for the money,” said Marion, coolly, as she turned | toward the door, after bidding him ‘ ‘good- morning.” In a second.a wave of disappointment and | chagrin thrilled the manager's frame; his — face. grew livid with rage as he took a step toward her. “So they have bought you. off at “The Olio,’ have they?” he sneered. “You've gone — back on your benefactor, you little country — innocent!” i» a of she, sort" aid te “T have done neta