An Interrupted Wedding, or Marion Marlowe as Maid of Honor — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

- “tracted that statement whi you made to injure your sister!” A moan from Gladys made her almost _repent her outburst. The girl was thor- oughly frightened and was beginning to sob pitifully. “T didn’t think: of that,” she wailed, hys- terically. “I hated Al and I hated myself! Oh, it is too late, now! Why did you try to save me!” r “You are not fit to die,” said Marion, sol- emnly. “You are a wicked girl and you must repent your sinfulness. Promise me, Gladys, that you will retract that statement. Promise me this minute; do you hear me, _ Gladys?” Marion was so excited that she shook the girl by the shoulders, and then, as an ambu- lance clattered down the pier, she bent lower and waited breathlessly for her answer. “Tl take it back, every word of moaned Gladys, faintly. ‘It was a lie. Miss Marlowe, what made me tell it?” “T’m. e I don’t know,”’: said Marion, with a Sh of relief. “You were drunk, I suppose. That is the only explanation.” ‘The officer had sent in the “call” while _, Marion was talking, and he was now ex- __ plaining the case to the surgeon. iT Oh, “Please let me go with her to the hos- pital?’ begged Marion, as they lifted the girl into the vehicle. ‘Really, | must go with her! *T must not leave her a minute! _ The happiness of two people depends upon it, doctor!’ J There was no refusing her earirest piea, -— and, after a short talk with the officer, the _ surgegn gave her his permission. Marion got in first and took the half- drowned girl’s head upon her knee, while _ the surgeon occupied his usual place in the rear and the bluecoat crawled up to the seat with the driver. | “T’ll go and tell Alma the news before she reads it in the papers,” cried Bert, as thev _ drove away. “Make her put it in writing, _ every word of it, Marion. And make her do _ it quick—hbefore she has a relapse! It would _ be a shame if this bath in the North River _wouldn’t make her honest for ten minutes!” MY QUEEN. ‘have stayed an old through another such a scene as that of yes-’ CHAPTER XII. THE WEDDING. Twenty-four hours after this scene on the pier, a happy company was assembled in Dollie’s pretty parlor. In that short space of time the little flat had been transformed into a perfect garden, and an exquisite wedding ‘bell of lilies hung in an appropriate posi- tion. Alma Allyn’s marriage was to be cele- brated at last, and the guests who had been present at the interrupted ceremony were now all talking at once in the cozy parlor. “Tt is so sweet of Dollie to let me be mar- ried here,” said Alma, as she stood in the very center of the group, clad in her bridal garments. “Really, I could not think of a church wedding now! I believe I would naid rather than go terday.” “T don't blame you, Alma! -It was awful!’ chimed in Flora Villard, “but it is too sweet for anything here! I do like a home wedding. But why in the world doesn’t Marion come? It isn’t like her to keep & wedding waiting.” “Here she is!” cried Bert, as Marion and Dr. Brookes entered. “And here’s the dominie, too, so now we are all hunky!” “Ves, here ] am, Alma!” called Marion, gayly, “and in just a second I'll be ready to do my part, but first I must tell you the news of Gladys. She has sent her love to you and Henry and begs your forgiveness and adds that she sincerely hopes that your married life will be happy.” There was a moment’s silence, in which the tears sprang to Alma’s eyes. “Poor Gladys! Where is she now?” asked, in a whisper. “She is still in the hospital, but she will be out to-morrow,’ was Marion’s cheerful an- swer, “and then she is going into a sanitar- ium and, in a year, PF predict that she will be cured of her drinking! It must be, Alma, so please don’t look so hopeless.” She kissed the bride as she spoke and then hurried into Dollie’s bedroom to don her bridesmaid’s costume and make ready for the service. she COMmiclooo® <SEIGO