A Lover's Quarrel, or Marion Marlowe's Deceitful Friend — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

‘ “ o % a BE _. . a > ieee MY QUEEN. 9 if she was at liberty to tell all that Miss Ellis had told her. “I don’t mean that I think she is ultra- refined,’ went on Mrs. Burnside, quickly; “but I did think she was respectable and hon- est and ali that sort of thing, but there are rumors flying in the air about her. Every one is wondering where she gets her money.” Marion’s cheeks grew pale, but she set her lips determinedly. She had decided not to tell quite all that she was thinking. Since the day of the fire, which was now nearly a week past, Bert had been seen in the parlor of the hotel repeatedly with Miss Fredericks and, after what Miss Ellis had told her of that conversation behind the curtain, she could easily account for Miss Fredericks’ affluence. It had been a terrible grief to Marion to think that Bert was so foolish, for she had always loved the boy exactly like a brother. That Miss Fredericks had infatuated him made his sin no less black, and, after that short interview in ,the parlor, Marion had steadily refused to see him. ; As for Miss Ellis, ‘She had refused posi- tively to.even look at her lover, and, at pres- ent, she had fled for refuge to Marion’s sis- ter, Dollie. Marion was~ thinking hard while Mrs. Burnside talked and, as the lady was deeply interested in her subject, she did not notice the young girl’s manner. “Of course, one must not heed rumors,-at least, one must not always believe them,” she continued, slowly, “but, now that Bert and Miss Ellis have quarreled over, Heaven only knows what, I can’t help thinking a lot about Miss Fredericks. I wonder if she could have had anything to do with it.” Marion bit her lips, but she knew that she ‘nust answer, and a second later her friend was staring at her. “I have thought the same thing,’ Marion admitted, finally ; “she looks innocent enough, but one can never tell. -If I thought she had wronged Lena, I believe I would hate her, but how is one to find out, Mrs. Burnside?” “T am sure I don’t know,” began the lady, when a boy tapped upon the door and handed a card to Marion. The moment the young girl’s eyes rested upon the, name her cheeks flushed prettily and a light flashed into her eyes that made them shine like diamonds. “It is easy to guess who your caller is,” ““Ask the doctor to come right up here—it will be lots more cozy - laughed Mrs. Burnside. than the parlor.” The boy departed and Marion turned to her friend gratefully. | “Tt is so kind of you to think of our com- fort, dear Mrs.° Burnside, I do so hate that stiff old parlor. It makes me feel as if I was at a prayer meeting or a funeral.” “Yes, a chair with prim little legs and a straight, stiff back is the most uncomfortable thing that was ever invented,” remarked her friend. “I just pity the lovers who have to sit on such chairs! It’s a wonder the fount of their affection doesn’t freeze up solid! It would take a phenomenon of a lover to make love in a hotel parlor.” “Oh, but we don’t make love now! Our love is all made,” laughed Marion, merrily. “We merely recapitulate the old, old story, and it sounds sweeter every time, if you will believe it.” “I ought to know! I was engaged for five years before I was married, and saw my lover every night,” was the answer, “and then. oh, Marion, we were married lovers for five years more, and when he died—but I cannot talk about that. I just pray and pray that you may never know my sorrow!” The gentle eyes were full of tears and Marion’s arms were around her in an instant, and the young girl’s head nestled lovingly on the motherly shoulder... elbnoolks.conn