An Interrupted Wedding, or Marion Marlowe as Maid of Honor — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

MY QUEEN. : it it were any one else, | am sure. We have a.perfect right to marry, if we love each other, Reginald.” ‘‘And we do, don’t we, darling: ?” cried the doctor, catching her in his arms. “We love ‘each other desperately, don’t we, Marion? I could not think of living much longer with- out you!” As he held her closely to his breast, Mar- ion’s heart almost stopped beating. She s overcome with the fierceness of her own newly-awakened passion. The doctor rained his kisses upon her lovely lips and, as he felt her form trembling in his grasp, he became almost intoxicated with his happiness. That this beautiful girl really loved him was bliss unspeakable. spond to his caresses was the delirium of ecstasy. Again the world was forgotten and the moments sped quickly by, while Marion was folded to the heart of her noble lover. Another peal of the office bell interrupted the tender scene, and as Dr. Brookes an- swered the summons Marion sank slowly into a chair, her breath coming in gasps, her lashes wet with the dew of happiness. The fierceness of her love had frightened her a little, for it had seized her like a tem- pest and almost overcome her. To go out of his presence now would be a strain upon her strength. It did not seem as if she could leave him even for a min- ute. A sharp exclamation from the other room made her spring to her feet. Alma Allyn was out there and was asking for her. A flush of shame mounted to Marion’s forehead, but she sprang to the door with- out a moment’s hesitation. “Oh, Alma, forgive me! I forgot you completely,” she cried, remorsefully. ‘I met the doctor and came here to talk about Gladys, but—but——”’ “But after you got here you talked about yourselves! Well, I don’t blame you a little but,” broke in Miss Allyn? “but do help me now, for I am in a peck of trouble! My sister and I have had a quarrel and she has run away from me, swearing that she will not leave a stone unturned to Mpoes my wed- ding to-morrow !”’ “The wretched girl! How wicked she That she should re-. is!” gasped Marion. “Oh, we must find her, Reginald, in time to prevent her!” Marion’s voice was ringing with anguish, but there was a tender tone in its cadence, and, as Miss Allvn detected it, she glanced from one to the other. “Qh, Marion! Oh, Dr. Brookes! Have you really been and gone and done it!” she cried, eagerly. “If you really have, please do accept my blessing! I'll be the happiest woman in the world when you two love each other !” “Then please proceed to be happy!” ex- claimed Dr. Brookes, as he put his arm around Marion and drew her head to his shoulder. | “Marion has at last discovered that she loves me, Alma, and,it is needless to say that she has made me radiantly happy!” “No, it sticks out all over you,” retorted Miss Allyn, calmly. ‘You look exactly as Henry did when [| told him I loved him. I can’t define the look exactly, because it is undefinable, but it’s a sort of a cross between angelic wisdom and total idiocy!” “Great Heaven! What a sight I must be!” cried the doctor, laughing, but Marion did not smile, for she was thinking of Gladys. “We must find her right away,” she began, decidedly. “Just think how awful it would be if she came to the wedding intoxicated. It would get in the papers, perhaps, and that would be dreadful!’ “It must be prevented!” said Dr. Brookes, sternly. “So tell us what she said and where you think she has gone, Alma, ,and I will try to come back to earth and find her.” “It seems a pity to bring you back,” said Miss Allyn, sorrowfully. “Our next flight will be just that much sweeter,” replied the doctor, as he gave Mar- ion a kiss that made her blush as red as a poppy. “T think she has run away with a fellow named Barnes,” began Alma, bitterly. “He came to the wotel just after you left, Marion. and it was because I objected to her going out with him that she abused mre so cruelly.’ “And you think he will help her to wreak her revenge?” asked the doctor, quickly, “He is weak enough and base enough to do anything she tells him,” 93 the ph KSIGO