Marion Marlowe's Disappearance, or, Almost a Crime — page 18: what you’re looking at

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16 before I could get such notions as that into my head! No, Marion: I’m not so slow! Little Bertie wants to be loved for himself alone, not for the ducats which are at present in the dim and distant future.” Marion looked at him admiringly, and just then one of his father’s friends passed the table and glanced sharply at Bert’s compan- ion. ‘“Want’s to be introduced, and I don’t blame him,” muttered Bert, on the sly. “Shall I present him, Marion? old codger.”’ He’s a nice Marion nodded her head and a moment later Bert had introduced him. Judge seated himself at their request, and began Graham, the “nice old codger,” chatting pleasantly in his courtly manner. “Whew!” exclaimed Bert, his breath, when the Judge finally left them, “ain’t he just a Jim Dandy at flattery, Mar- under ion?” Marion’s laugh rippled out, for the old gentleman’s compliments had amused her. “He certainly does do it well,’ she said, merrily. “Not too plain to be offensive—but just plain enough to make one feel good.” “T’d give a hundred dollars if I could do it,” said Bert, honestly ; “but I make a perfect muddle of it when I try to say soft things.” As soon as their dinner was over, they made their way through the dining-room and every neck was craned for a glimpse of Mar- ion, “T think Miss Marlowe is the prettiest girl IT ever saw,” said Howard Everett’s sister, as she watched her. ‘‘And that Bert Jackson is a fine looking boy—they say: he’ll be worth a mint of money some day.” “Does that fact interest the young lady?” asked her husband, with a sly glance at Everett. “T’m sure I don’t know. lutely unfathomable on that subject. Tf she Marion is abso- MY QUEEN. has a preference for any ome, not one of her — best friends knows it.” “In which respect she shows great clever. ness,” said Howard Everett, calmly. “Marion Marlowe does not ‘wear her heart on her sleeve’ for the world to gaze at.” “I did so hope that she would fall in love with you, Howard,” said his sister, in a lower | voice. “I just love the dear girl.” A deep flush mantled the handsome feat- ures of the critic. _ | “Marion does not love me and never will,” he said, in a quiet voice. her, she is young and beautiful and can do much better.” “I’m not so sure!”’ said his sister, proudly, “Noble fellows like my brother don’t grow on bushes! Marion may look a long while before she does any better.” She was watching Marion all the time as she spoke, but, as Bert and his companion passed out of her sight she turned and smiled sweetly at her handsome brother. Leaning on Bert’s arm, Marion had left the dining-room, little realizing the admiring comments that had been passed upon her. As they reached the walk, Bert turned to~ speak to an attendant and at the same time Marion became aware that a small boy was addressing her. “Please, miss, gimme a penny; I’m a poor ’ orphan,” said a small, squeaky voice. “T do not blame © The young girl glanced down and sawa | dirty little hand held out to her, imploringly. She drew a nickel from the beaded purse at her belt and pressed it into the palm; then, as she caught sight of the weazened face, an idea occurred to her. “Here, do you want a flower?” she asked, quickly. [n an instant she had torn one of the blos- soms from her belt and put it in the hand of the little beggar. The eyes of the beggar boy glowed hap- pily. ecomicbook