Marion Marlowe's Noble Work, or, The Tragedy at the Hospital — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

MY QUEEN. 7 Dollie and her employer were not there, The instant she looked in, she saw Dollie sitting so Marion made her way to the parlor. by the window. Marion walked over to her quickly and put her hand on her shoulder. With a little scream of surprise, Dollie turned and looked at her; the next .second they were hugging and kissing each other. There was only one person besides them- selves in the parlor just then, so for a minute the girls talked freely, but ‘in low tones so as not to attract attention. “But, sister, what are you doing here?” “T went to the office and could not find you, and the office asked Marion, after a little. boy told me you were lunching with your employer.” “I wonder how he knew?” remarked Dol- lie, innocently. “Why, I came out five min- utes before him and waited at the elevator. That boy is very impudent to be watching: us,” she added. “And your employer is very thoughtless to invite you out with him,” said Marion, stoutly. “A man of his age ought to know better, Dollie.”’ “But he did not mean anything by it, Mar- ” said Dollie, quickly. ‘‘Why, he is as nice as he can be, and he’s almost as old as father.” ion, “That is what I said; he is old enough to know better,” safd Marion, grimly; “but here he comes, Dollie; I know him by. your de- scription.” “Yes, here he comes,” repeated the fair- haired girl, gayly, “and I do so hope he has He is going to take me to a matinee, and I’ll make arranged everything satisfactorily. him take you, too. He won’t mind, I am sure, for he has plenty of money.” Mr. Atherton looked surprised when he _ saw Dollie talking to a magnificent young with a slight sneer. woman, and he smiled more blandly than ever when the blushing girl introduced them. “T am delighted to meet you, I am sure,” he said, with a gallant bow to Dollie’s sister. “And I am delighted to meet you also, sir,” said Marion, coldly, “for it gives me an opportunity to tell you what I think of you!" CHAPTER TY. MARION MEETS WITH AN ACCIDENT. Dollie Marlowe gasped at her sister's words, and for a moment even the wily old lawyer looked a little disconcerted. “T am sure I hope you do not think ill of me,” he said, politely. “I was only tak- She is as safe with me as she would be with her ing your sister for a little outing. own father.” ‘Nevertheless you have not considered the risk to her reputation,” said Marion, calmly. “Dollie is your typewriter; she is in your employ. It is not proper at all for you to make a companion of her.” “But if I choose to, Miss Marlowe, surely there can be no harm. And as for the opin- ion of the world, what does that amount to?” “Tt amounts to a ereat deal to a poor girl,” was the quick answer. “A man may shock the proprieties all he pleases, but the woman who does so will always have to suffer. We must take the world as we find it, sir, and conform to its edicts.” “Then you think it is wrong for your sis- ter to eat her lunch with me?” he asked, “Perhaps you imagine that her employer is not respectable?” , ‘“T mean, sir,’ said the brave girl, firmly, “that I love my sister dearly, and that I will not knowingly allow her fair name to be sullied. She is engaged to be married, sir, to a noble young man. What do you suppose he would say to your remarks about the luncheon?” "Oh, if she is tied to some whipper- CONnnicoooks.corm