An Interrupted Wedding, or Marion Marlowe as Maid of Honor — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

‘2 MY QUEEN. swer, “and the worst of it is, he knows my Henry. He saw him on two or three oc- casions when he was a newspaper reporter. “That makes it easier for us to trace him,” said the doctor, cheerfully. “Mr. Fairfax will not forget his cleverness as a detective, you can bet, particularly when it is for his sweetheart that he is working. I will order my carriage and go to him at once and, meanwhile, I will call a cab and send you ladies—where? To the hotel where Alma is stopping or up to sister Dollie’s?” Marion smiled at him sweetly as he added the last; then, with just a glance at Alma, she answered, quickly: “Send us to Dollie’s, please. We will be just in time for dinner. Besides, Bert is up there and, of course, he will wish to help us. I will tell him to start at once and try to find Gladys.” CHAPTER VI. CON FIDENCES. Easter Tuesday dawned with a cloudless sky, yet Alma Allyn awoke with a shadow on her heart, for she had been obliged to retire without hearing from Gladys. Marion hurried down to the hotel at an early hour and, as they took a last careful look at the wedding finery, the two girls sadly talked over the situation. ‘Bert says that he visited every beer gar- den and music hall in town pretty nearly,” said Marion. ‘‘He came in this morning and reported as he promised, and I never saw him look so bitterly disappointed.” “And Henry sent me a note at breakfast time,” answered Miss Allyn, as she drew it from her pocket. “He says he glanced in at a dozen theatres and fully double that many restaurants, while Dr. Brookes took it upon himself to visit some horrible places, regular dives and dens of iniquity, Marion.” VMarion’s cheeks paled a little as she thought of her lover’s danger, but, know- ing that he was safe at the present time, she did not express her feelings. “Tust think of my sister being hidden in uch places as those, and by her own desire,” went on Miss Allyn, bitterly. “Oh, Marion! MO, vou think it is wrong for me to feel hard toward her just now? Just think how completely she has wrecked the happiness of my wedding!” “Let us hope that she will reconsider her threats and stay away,” said Marion, cheer- fully. “She may, you know, Alma, and then you could be happy.” “She will stay away if she is too drunk to come! That is my only hope!” said Miss Allyn, more bitterly. “Well, I never hoped for any such thing® before, but I do honestly hope it now,” said Marion, slowly. “If nothing else will save you, Alma, I can even long for that. I don’t care how drunk she is so long as she doesn’t disturb you! Really, for once, I could al- most look upon intemperance as a positive blessing.” “There is another note from Henry, I guess!” cried Alma, as some one tapped upon the door. “Bless-his dear old heart! He knows exactly-how I am worrying, and he is trying to relieve me.” She opened the door as she spoke and a bell boy handed in a basket of flowers, be- sides a dainty note from her lover. Miss Allyn deposited the flowers in Mar- ion’s lap, then hastily tore open the note and read it. “Not a word of Gladys! She has van- ished completely,” she said, soberly, “and Henry asks if I do not think it would be wise to change the hour of the ceremony.” “T don’t just see how you can,” said Mar- ion, thoughtfully. “It would be the surest way in the world of advertising your secret, for, of course, the clergyman and the guests would be curious to know the reason. No, IT wouldn’t do that, Alma. I would just go ahead as you have planned and we must all be on the lookout to prevent trouble.” “T guess you are right,” said Miss Allyn, gloomily; then she put the note back in the envelope and kissed it tenderly. Another tap at the door followed and two lovely bouquets were brought in, then came a tiny parcel, which Miss Allyn hastened to open, “The flowers are from Howard Everett and Archie Ray,” cried Marion, as she glanced at the cards, “and they are exquisite, 9 Alma, especially those bles. oo eee ~~ oi ae