From Farm to Fortune, or, Only a Farmer's Daughter — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

Marion watched her for a moment in sympathetic silence. The woman's agony was so genuine that it could not be mistaken. “Oh, I shall despise myself utterly if I do not save her!” she muttered, “for the others it did not matter, but this poor child is in- nocent!”’ Marion sprang to her side as she compre- hended her meaning. “You surely do not mean that he would harm me!” she whispered sharply. ‘Never! Never! Miss Gray, the thing is outrageous! Come! Let us leave this place at once,” she urged. “Surely you can get a position else- where! You need not work for such a mon- _-ster!”’ The woman hesitated a moment and Mar- ion doubled her entreaties. “Come, Miss Gray, put your hat on and we will leave this place at once! We will ‘ Be somewhere, anywhere, so that we escape _ from that creature!” “If he finds me I am lost!” muttered the woman slowly, then she raised her head de- ~ fiantly, as she added, “but I will risk it!” F “But surely he is not your jailer,” cried _ Marion in surprise. ; “He is worse than that,” was the woman’s answer. “He has wrecked my life, and made 3 me his tool, but it shall end to-night, yes, _ by your purity, I swear it!” There was a sudden fierceness in her speech that startled Marion. She resembled nothing so much as a creature at bay, a poor, wounded creature who had turned upon her persecutors and was thirsting for vengeance. A church clock struck ten as they left the building, the country girl, as innocent as an _ angel, and the woman who admitted that her life was clouded and blackened. * “Where shall we go?” asked Marion as they. reached the curb. The lights of the big city were already bewildering her, A cab rattled up to the entrance as she spoke and a man sprang out,and started into the building. Miss Gray caught Marion by the arm and pulled her into the shadow. * “That is Emile Vorse — your pseudo uncle’s boon companion,” she whispered savagely. “It is the man who watched me at the heii sail * a MY QUEEN. 15 “ttn, depot,” answered Marion, as she gave him a sharp glance. “Oh, I never knew before that such creatures existed!” “Come,” said her companion, as she hur- ried down the street. “I must get as far away as possible now that Emile has come. He will arouse his friend, and that means that my hours are numbered.” “What injury could they do you?” whis- pered Marion as they hurried along. “They could tell the truth about me and make me lose my soul!’’ was the woman’s strange answer. ‘One more goad from that villain and I shall commit murder!” Marion shuddered violently, but there was nothing to be said. Her companion had hailed a cab and was helping her into it. CHAPTER VIL. ON THE TRACK OF THE ABDUCTOR. A half hour later Miss Gray and Marion alighted before a small, third rate hotel and Miss Gray paid the cabman with a bill which seemed to be all the money she had in her purse. Almost as if in a dream Marion followed her into the office and up the stairs to a room on the top floor. “We'll stay here to-night,” said Miss Gray, as she locked the door carefully, “and to- morrow you shall go to your real uncle, Miss Marlowe. Just remember that “The Nor- ~ wood’ is on Fifth avenue; any officer will direct you if | should not be able to go with you.” “But, dear Miss Gray—you are in trouble yourself, J am sure of it,’ said Marion eagerly. “Can't I help you in any way? Just think how much I owe you!” “You can help me, yes, but I will not tell you how, now,’ was the woman’s an- swer; “neither will I tell you my story. It is not fit for your ears. Some other time, when I have vindicated myself perhaps—but come —let us retire, for you are weary and sleepy.” Marion went to bed gratefully, for she was almost worn out with excitement and fatigue. In spite of her anxiety and be- wilderment she soon fell asleep and slept soundly. Ww hen she awoke next morning the sun GOMIGIOOKSAGO