Marion Marlowe's Skill, or, A Week as a Private Detective — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

12 two I shall see her on the stage at the Metro- politan. Her voice is wonderful. you hear it.” “Ohi, don’t,” said Marion, quickly, as she noticed a dark frown settling over the features of the less fortunate girl. “Why, Miss Ross does not mind,” said Madame Leopold, sweetly. IT must let madame, “She is not so well favored as you, yet her voice is very good. She has already sung once or twice in concert, and of course that is her ambition.” “Indeed, it is not!’ sharply. spoke up Miss Ross, “You have told me over and over, madame, that you would make an opera singer of me, and Heaven knows I have paid you enough money already!” b) said Sut costs much more than that to make singers of “Only a few thousand dollars, dear,’ the portly madame, with another smile. some people.” Marion could not quite understand her teacher’s mood, but for once she could un- derstand Miss Merton’s words, when she said that there were times when she “almost pitied” the young woman. : ‘X “Perhaps that is why she looks so wretched,” she thought to herself. Then an- other elance at the girl steeled her heart a little. : “Well, I’m about done,’ remarked Miss “One quarter more will end my musical educa- Ross, with a cold tone in her voice. tion.” Marion waited to hear her teacher exclaim, but there was only a slight cough to cover the omission. Five minutes later Marion was out on the ‘ street. She breathed a sigh of relief to be out of Bessie Ross’ presence. The young girl walked directly to Messrs. Howard & How- ard’s. which was the largest dry eoods store in that section of the city. She experienced a peculiar sensation as she MY QUEEN. entered the door. She was going in under false colors, but her errand was tore ttele Almost before she got in the door she be- came morbidly self-conscious. It seemed to her that the clerks all read her secret, and that they were on their guard the moment she spoke to them. Suddenly she realized how absurd all this was. Not one of them had ever seen her be- fore or could possibly suspect her secret mis- sion. She walled about boldly after this, looking at the goods on the counters. There were a great many customers, and the store -was fairly htimming with business. “Poor things!” she thought, as she noticed how tired the clerks looked. Then she went over abruptly and spoke to the most dejected-looking girl whom she had thus far seen standing behind the counters. CHAPTER VIL. MARION DOES A LITTLE SHADOWING. “Will you kindly show me something in pink silk taffeta and gros-grain, please?” she said, very politely. The girl turned on her with an insolent stare. “Which do you want grain?” she asked, sharply; “and what shade taffeta or gros- of pink do you want—light, dark or. me- dium ?” Marion was astonished for a moment, and did not answer, while the girl stood scowling at her, as though she wished she would hurry. ss “Show me both styles and every shade that “Then make my choice and be perfectly satisfied.” you have,” she said finally. [ can The girl turned away-—with a toss of her head, and just at that instant another clerk came up to her. “This is the third time this morning I’ve had to pull all those goods down,” she mut- Eomilebooks. com 7 a 9 3 ; oe 7 ai ri o> i o> ce.