An Interrupted Wedding, or Marion Marlowe as Maid of Honor — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

= MY QUEEN. © ° don’t know exactly,” murmured. Marion, just as a vigorous pealof the bell spoke eloquent- ly of Bert’s impatience. “Do go, Dollie, and let him in! over this in a minute! I'll be I guess I am only crying because Alma is going to be mar- ried and because, well, because she is so ' very, very happy!’ Dollie stared for a minute as if she could hardly believe her ears, then she burst out in positive indignation: : “Why, Marion Marlowe! What an awful thing to say!” she said, sternly. “The very idea of your begrudging Alma her happi- ness! Why shouldn’t she be happy, I’d like to know, when she is going to be married!” “Vou don’t understand, dearie,” said Ma- rion, brokenly, “and I really don’t see how you could! I don’t understand myself, only I know I am miserable! I do so want to be happy myself and I can’t be, Dollie!” The handkerchief went up to her eyes again, but this time a light was breaking over Dollie’s features. What she might have said was interrupted by another furious ringing of the bell, and the young wife departed in- stantly toward the direction of the kitchen. “Dear me, he'll break that bell wire if I don’t hurry,” she whispered, as she began punching the door opener, “Bert is always so impatient, but I suppose I ought to take that as a compliment. dearest little home in the world, and he is He says I have the always in a hurry to get here.” Marion was forgotten for a minute as Bert then Dollie drew him out into the kitchen and held up came bounding up the stairs, one finger warningly. “Don’t say a word, Bert, until I tell you something,” she whispered, myste riously. “What do you think—our Marion is in the parlor this minute almost crying her eyes out, and all because that blessed cir! Alma is going to be married and happy!” “Great Scott! Fairy tales!’ was the young man’s astonished reply, as he put his arm around Dollie and hugged her enthu- siastically. | “If I believed that, Dollie, I’d go out and kick the bucket! Life wouldn’t be worth liv- ing, for I’d be sure she had gone crazy!” Dollie pursed up her lips and shook her comely head, solemnly. ' “Tt’s a fact, just the same,” in the same cautious tone. herself not a minute ago. she whispered, . “She told me so Now, what in the world do you suppose is the matter with her ?” She stared at him earnestly as she asked the question, and Bert returned the glance with curious gravity. “Maybe she is ‘coming down with la grippe,’ he said, in a thoughtful manner. “People are liable to say anything when they are afflicted with that malady. What other symptoms have you discovered, Dol- lie?” , , The young girl’s pretty nose was tilted in lofty disdain as she answered: | “Pooh! Why, Marion isn’t sick a mite! If she was the grip she would be sneezing, wouldn’t she? Well, Marion never What an abominable guess! threatened with sneezed in her life that I can remember!” “Remarkable girl!” murmured Bert, with a glance toward the parlor. “Suppose we go in and have a look at her, Dollie.” “Oh, you always want to leave me and go to Marion,” laughed Dollie, good-na- turedly, but the serious look had not left her face for a moment. “Not a bit of it! the more the merrier!” “So come on Mrs. Moore, let's visit the parlor On the contrary, was Bert's answer. together.” As Bert spoke, he suddenly raised Dollie from the ground, and, tucking her under his arm, started for the parlor, Eomichooks.com