Marion Marlowe's Noble Work, or, The Tragedy at the Hospital — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

, MY QUEEN. heroic act of saving a life, had brought her sufficient money to pay off the mortgage on the old homestead in the country and so save her parents from a home at the Poor Farm. But aside from these bright spots, it had been all sorrow and suffering, but Marion had hoped it was all over when Dollie se- cured the position in Lawyer Atherton’s of- fice, and’ she, herself, was accepted as a nurse in Charity Hospital. Miss Allyn had fitted up a cosy little flat in Harlem and taken Dollie to live with her, and Miss Allyn was so wise and so fond of the girl, Marion’s lieart was full of gratitude toward the noble woman. “Oh, Dollie, my poor, weak sister!” she whispered to herself, “why is it you cannot learn to trust those who are wiser than you? Have you not had bitterness enough already in your young life, but that you miust persist in wilfully inviting more sorrow ?” It was a happy moment when Mr. Ray and his sister were announced. They were the first friends she had made in the city, but they had been abroad almost from the week they met, and their homecoming brought a pleasure that was most wonderfully sweet and consoling. “Miss Marlowe! cried Adele Ray, as she clasped Marion in her arms. Marion !” “How glad I am to see you again, but how unutterably unpleasant to find you in a hos- pital !” ; “As brave as ever, I hear,” were Archie Ray’s first words, as he extended both hands and grasped the girl’s slim fingers. Marion gazed from one to the other in eager delight. : “Oh, I am so happy!” she murmured over and over, ‘‘and I am going home to-morrow, so you will not have to see me here again, Adele. I know it must have been a shock to you to see me in a hospital.” The two girls chatted together, while 11 Archie Ray looked on. He was a tall, hand- some young man, with dark, pleading eyes, and possessed a charmingly aristocratic manner. He had been deeply in love with Marion before he went abroad, and now, when he saw her again, all the old tenderness came back to him, and he longed almost uncon- trollably to press her to his bosom. ; But if Marion read his thoughts, she did not show it by so much as a glance. ‘There was an open cordiality in her manner that baffled him completely. Suddenly Adele Ray’s face grew clouded in the midst of their talking. It was evident to Marion that she was thinking of some- thing unpleasant. “Oh, Marion, dear, I want you to help ith” she said, slowly. “We have a terrible secret for your ears, but it has to be told, and the sooner the better. We want you to do us a favor, my brother and I, and, oh, Marion, dear, do give us your sympathy!” She looked jso distressed that Marion’s cheeks grew pale, but she took Miss Ray’s hand and held it tightly, Archie Ray bit his lips and his face cloud- ed a little. He had been momentarily dread- ing this particular moment, for he knew what was coming and would almost have given his life to have prevented it. ; “I will help you gladly,” Marion whis- pered quickly. “There is nothing you would ask that I would not willingly promise.” The fair girl little realized the blow which she was about to receive, else she could hard- ly have smiled as bravely as she did at that minute. Adele Ray leaned over and whispered something in her ear, and as Marion listened her cheeks grew as pale as death itself. “Ts it possible?’ she murmured, in a far- away voice, and then her wavering eyes met the glance of Adele Ray’s brother. COmicooe CSG)