Marion Marlowe's Disappearance, or, Almost a Crime — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

MY QUEEN. CHAPTER III. AN OPINION ON STAGE KISSING, When Archie Ray entered the private office, Marion held out her hand to him. . F She was sitting in a big, comfortable chair, | looking pale, but smiling brightly. = “Oh, Marion! Will you ever forgive me 4 for this injury?” cried Mr. Ray, penitently. _ _Marion’s merry laugh rippled out in amuse- ment. ‘a “Oh, I’m not hurt a bit! It’s only a scratch!” she said, gayly; “and I'm sure that > fellow that you whipped must be smarting . - terribly. You must have hurt him dread- fully, and yet he never moved a muscle.” “His hide was as tough as his appearance, never forgive myself for not being more cau- tious. I might have known by his looks that he would carry concealed weapons.” ‘Marion burst out laughing again as Mr. Ray drew a chair up close to her. “What an ad. this will be,” she said, with a roguish twinkle in her eyes.” “Why, I am sure it ought almost to give. me an increase ee in salary.” “2 Mr. Ray’s face darkened in spite of her - jest. It was always an unpleasant thought to him that Marion was obliged to earn her living. | 3 ape! He was independently wealthy and could . have given her absolute ease, and it cut him to the heart that she should prefer this bitter struggle for existence. ‘ , “Yes, I am sure we will have a full house to-night,” she went on, merrily; “and that will mean that Mr. Temple will be more pleased with his ‘star’ than ever, and I shall I guess,” said Mr. Ray, smiling ; — but. 1 ‘shalt = $ 5 have a lot of curtain calls and any quantity of roses.” | “And which do you like best?” asked Mr. Ray, trying to smile. b] “Oh, the roses, I guess,” said the young girl, quickly. “The roses are so fresh, so sweet and so pure, and sometimes the ap- plause—well, it sounds shallow, I fancy.” “Nonsense! No one ever applauded you except from the heart,” said Mr. Ray, look- ing down at her gently; “your acting is su- perb, yet 1 wish you were not an actress.” “And I love it—at least, some parts of it,” replied the girl, quickly. “Of course, there is a lot about the profession that is uninterest- ing and unpleasant, but the acting itself is simply delightful.” Her great gray eyes glowed radiantly and her face flushed as she spoke. It seemed to Archie Ray that she had never looked more beautiful. , There was a light tap on the door as Miss Lee, the nurse, entered. As she caught sight of Marion, her eyes sparkled merrily. “You are feeling all right now, aren’t you, dear?” she asked, sweetly. “You'll soon be able to go home and get thoroughly rested.” “Yes, | must go,” said Marion, “for I must be entirely well by evening. Oh, dear, I do hope that every one on the stage will keep in their places this evening.” She had moved her arm and felt a slight twinge of pain, but she smiled heroically so that no one should notice it. “That handsome Mr. Gordon who plays the opposite part to you, Miss Marlowe— you must warn him to be careful when he embraces you,” said the nurse. smiling. Another heavy frown rested on Archie COoMmicboOoks.com