Marion Marlowe's Triumph, or, In Spite of Her Enemies — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

3S “ MY QUEEN. “Ye gods! what a temper!” she muttered to herself. “Well, I thank my stars that my name is not Marion Marlowe.”’ ‘ CHAPTER IV. A WOMAN'S WARNING. And well she might, for Marion had made a dangerous enemy. Vera Villette, in spite of her assertions to the contrary, hated her, both because of her peerless beauty and because her purity and sweetness had won the praise of the one man on earth for whom Vera cared. For she did love Ed Gordon madly. It was a strange, jealous love that could turn readily to hate, but it was the kind of love that was typical of her country. 3 ‘No man should scorn her affection and escape,’ she had said. Ed Gordon had done the first ; to be seen what would follow. When she asked Marion to go to the the- it remained . . . . ~~ -atre with her it was with a base design in her heart She intended to compromise the fair girl in the eyes of Gordon, and she was willing to spend time and strength to accomplish her intentions. | An hour after she left Nona she was seated in a Broadway chop-house with a friend, a big, coarse-Jooking woman, who fairly glit- tered with diamonds. They sat for an hour, sipping wine and talking softly; then Vera suddenly glanced at table, » ‘ 7 her watch and rose from the saying: “You will help me, then, Rita? And you will keep the thing secret? word and I'll retaliate with a hint about those Remember, a diamonds!" “Pooh! You neednt threaten me, Vera, i'l help you all right. help a friend, and you ought to be one if you I'm alwavs ready to said the woman, coarsely. l'm a friend—so long as things go ain't,” “Cn. my way,” said the actress, quickly; “bat if 4 they defy me—look out! I’m none if no vindictive.” ae sts - She had drunk so much wine that her cheeks were flushed, and there was a lig her eyes that was thoroughly unpleasant. — es 2 bs “I believe that, all right,” said the ig laughing ; woman, “and you are the most Se dangerous when you are the sweetest, | my charming Vera.” | ma ts — 3 2 girl darted out of the restaurant, | leav- | There me a rehearsal at eleven, and she had to ‘be at a > « the theatre. - “8 ing the woman still at the table. “She'll help me compromise that girl, a she muttered, as she walked along. “Rita is all right when she is sober, but it, a is just as well that I mentioned. the diz = monds.”’ right,” 7 i, Five minutes later a handsome young man It was Ed Gor- don, the actor, in a tearing hurry. dashed into the chop-house. “Give me a cup of coffee,” he said to the ee waiter, and just at that moment he caught sight of the woman. | “Hello, Gordon!” she called out, in her . masculine voice. ~ %e' 4 The actor looked annoyed, as several peo. } ple turned and stared at him, but he went over politely and answered her greeting. . : “What's the matter with you, Gordon?” _ She asked, in a lower voice. “You are as _ white as a ghost. Why not have something — stronger than coffee?” “T'vy sworn off—that’s why I’m pale,” was the young actor’s answer, “I signed the — pledge last night—in my mind, of course— _ ; and this morning I was confronted by a cup — It was a little too ~ Sorry to be in a rush, but there’s a rehearsal this morn- a ing.” nail “Oh, T sav, Gordon! The woman had spoken softly as he wa ECOmMicboo Senge mi Peet of hoarding-house coffee. much for me, so I ran in here. he