From Farm to Fortune, or, Only a Farmer's Daughter — page 28: what you’re looking at

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

4 Then after a moment her good sense re- turned. “It will be a good test for his friend- _ ship,” she thought. “I'll do it for that reason as well as the other.” - An hour later Mr. Ray had taken his sis- _ ter home and Marion was alone in her room arrayed in her simple, country garments. % ~“T’m not sa stylish, but [’'m*much more comfortable,” she said to her reflection in the mirror. “How I would look going after the _ cows in a long, train dress! Why I couldn't jump a fence to save my life, and as for climbing trees, that would be out of the question.” - The people in the hotel stared at her a little the next time they saw her, but as they were not in the habit of inquiring into the private affairs of their patrons, she was not subjected to any special annoyance. _ Even in her plain clothing she was strik- ingly pretty. There was a grace in her car- riage and a flash in her eye that any queen on her throne might well have envied. ell . ”-_-_--OCOo:--:- | Ss CHAPTER XII. =. MARION DISCOVERS DOLLIE. Once more Mr. Ray proved his noble character. Not by so much as a glance did he show that he noticed Marion’s changed appearance, “Do I look very countrified and dowdy?” she asked, timidly, when he came for her hat evening. | “You look as pretty as a peach,” was the oung man’s answer. ‘There’s thousands Of women who would gladly change places with you—they’d take your clothes if they could have your face and figure.” Marion was so embarrassed that she could not answer for a minute. ge ‘Lam glad you are not ashamed of me,” she managed to say finally. What Mr. Ray would have answered under ther circumstances Marion could almost Suess, but just then Bert Jackson came in and put.a stop to further conversation of a onfidential nature. ~Oh, I do hope I am right in my sus- Picions,” she said quickly, when they were m their way to the hall. “I do hope that frofessor Dabroski will prove to be Mr. Hawson, for, while it is dreadful for my sis- ter to be in the power of such a monster, still it will end the suspense which is almost kill- ~ - hope so, too, for that reason,” was Mr. MayYs answer, “It seems remarkable that you should have found him so soon. The scvow must be a fool to be so utterly reck- | MY QUEEN. ‘to the footlights. 25 “Oh, he knew my father would never at- tempt to rescue Dollie, and there was no one else. Why, he never even gave me a thought! 1 was only a little country girl; he did not dream that I would follow him!” “Well, he didn’t read your character very well, that’s all I’ve got to say,” said Mr. Ray, laughing. “Why, my sister says you would go through fire and water for any one you loved! You have made a friend of her for life, my poor wronged sister!”’ There were tears very near Mr. Ray’s lashes now, and it was Marion’s turn to play the comforter. “Dear Miss Gray, I loved her almost as soon as I met her, but I must call her Miss Ray now-—the other name was a disgrace to her.” | “That scoundrel who deceived her is about to pay the penalty for his sins,’ said Mr. Ray, slowly. “My father is growing old, but he has lots of spunk left. Why, he has already given the fellow twenty-four hours to leave the country. If he stays, we shall make it hot for him, I can tell you, and as for Emile Vorse, the Chief of Police is after him. It seems that there is enough against him already to send him to prison!” “He deserves it,” cried Marion, “the in- famous wretch! No country girl is safe in a city like this so long as ‘it is infested with such wolves in sheeps’ clothing.” When Marion, Bert and Mr. Ray reached the dingy little theatre they found it nearly filled with a ‘crowd of ordinary-looking people. They went in at once and Marion selected. a seat behind a post, so that she could keep her face continually in the shadow. She realized that there was a chance of her being mistaken, for a bill board picture is not always over-accurate, and then, too, she admitted that there was something strange about the fancied resemblance. “It was his general contour that convinced me, not his face,” she ‘said, over and’ over. ‘Mr. Lawson was very dark, but Professor Dabroski is lighter.” “That is easily done,” was Mr. Ray’s an- swer; “‘but you must be very certain in your identification. It would be an awful thing .to accuse the wrong person.” “Tl be very careful,” was Marion’s an- swer, and then the curtain went up amid great applauding. Marion’s nerves were so tense that she felt like screaming when her first glimpse of the stage showed it to be entirely empty. the rough crowd in the theatre began jeering and whistling, and at last a man appeared upon the stage and walked directly connuicaooKks (CO)