Marion Marlowe's Disappearance, or, Almost a Crime — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

6 MY QUEEN. Ray’s features, but Marion was looking at the nurse and did not notice it. “You have seen the play, then?” she asked, with interest. “Oh, ves, I have seen it twice,” said Miss “Thanks to the doc- tor, | am kept supplied with tickets.” Lee, enthusiastically. “And do you like me in the part?” asked Marion, innocently. “Please be honest, now, for I do love a candid critic.”’ “| think you are beautiful,” cates the girl, impulsively; “and in the last act, where Mr. Gordon kneels at your side and kisses your hand, I have just all I can do to keep from shouting ‘Bravo! ” Poor Archie Ray ground his teeth now and turned away. He had seen the play once, and this final act haunted him. foolish as it was he had almost wanted to murder Gordon. “Strange that I don’t feel that way toward ‘the doctor,” he was thinking now, and then it came to him that Ed. Gordon was an actor, a fellow of no standing in society, while Dr. Brookes was his equal—a gentleman of wealth, refinement and honor. “Marion shall have her chance with the two of us,” he had decided, grimly, when the young physician came in to look after his fair patient. “All ready to go home,” was Marion’s ’ greeting as he entered. “Thanks to you and Miss Lee, I am feeling splendidly, doctor. Now, if you will please let me go home to Sister Dollie, I'll be almost well, I am sure, by to-night.” “Tl think IT had better pin a sign on that “A “Keep Off’ sign, or something of that sort, for every arm.” said the doctor, laughing. As” one that touches you will hurt you, Miss Marlowe.” | : “Oh, I shall warn them all to be careful,” said the girl, laughing; “and you know I’m not acting in any love-sick plays. I have de- cided that no man shall embrace me in any scene on the stage. When I have to do that -[ shall seek another vocation.” “But how will you prevent it?” asked Miss Lee, quickly. “Why, all of the best plays have tots of love scenessin them, and who wants to sée an iceberg for an actress.” bs “T don’t, for one,” said Marion, laughing; “but do I act like an iceberg in my love scenes ?”’ she asked, quickly. “Indeed you do not, but suppose Mr. Gor- don was to kiss your lips instead of your hand? You'd have to do it if it was in the part, Miss Marlowe.” - Both of the young men listened breath- lessly for Marion’s next words. They had thought of this often, yet neither had dared to mention it to her. “Well, in the first place,” said Marion, soberly, “I should ask the manager to allow me to alter those little details of the act, and BOG then I would try to make my love scene suf- ficiently impassioned so that no one would miss the embrace. I do not think kissing necessary, although, of course, one can al- ways ‘fake’ it. Many actors and actresses make believe to kiss. Why, sometimes they hate each other, so how could they do other- wise ?” “True actors should forget all these reali- ties,” said the nurse, thoughtfully. “For my part, I consider that a stage kiss amounts to nothing.” “Well, it amounts to so much to me that EOMIGCHDOoks ~ “i