A Lover's Quarrel, or Marion Marlowe's Deceitful Friend — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

: MY QUEEN. ple velvet as Marion entered, but she seemed highly pleased to see her visitor. “Do sit down and talk to me,” she said, gayly, as she moved a chair toward Marion and then went on with her work, after a brief apology. “You see, it’s my costume for the ball,” she said, with childish gayety. “I’m making it exactly like yours, Miss Marlowe. I knew you wouldn’t mind, you are so good-na- tured.” - Marion bit her lips,.but she could not af- ford to be offended. She had come in from a sense of duty to study this girl. It was due to both Bert and herself that she should not misjudge her. “Do you like this room better than the other?” she tried to ask, pleasantly, thus changing the subject. “It seems to be better furnished and is ever so much larger.” “I like the two exits,” was the young woman's somewhat extraordinary reply. “You see there is a hall upon each side and I can go out either way. When I own a palace I shall have a thousand exits.” Marion’s eyes flew open. She could not quite understand her, but Miss Fredericks only laughed merrily as,she saw her expres- sion. ‘ “Oh, I'm a creature of the wildest fancies,” she went on, gayly. “I just live in day dreams and air castles, Miss Marlowe, and now my loveliest dream is about to be real- ized! I am actually going to be introduced into society.” | Marion controlled her voice by a wonder- ful effort and looked the young woman squately in the face as she asked a question : “Is it true that Bert Jackson is to be there to introduce you? Mrs. Burnside told me, but I could hardly believe her.” “And why not, Miss Marlowe?” asked Miss Fredericks, opening her blue eyes very wide. “Why shouldn’t Mr. Jackson take me to the ball if he wishes?” . “Only that his. allegiance lies elsewhere,” answered Marion, slowly. “Bert is engaged to be married to Miss Lena Ellis.” , A merry peal of laughter broke from the young woman’s lips and her eyes filled with tears of amusement. , “As if that-made any difference!” she ex- ‘ir 15 claimed, lightly. ‘Why, my dear Miss Mar- lowe, engagements are like bubbles; you make them in thoughtless moments and ex- plode them at pleasure, or they explode them- selves, which is the casé in this instance.” She looked so innocent as she spoke that Marion could hardly believe her senses, but Miss Fredericks went on talking, as though there was nothing unusual in her sentiments. “I guess Mr. Jackson liked Miss Ellis once,” she said, demurely, as she examined her work critically, “but, dear me, how could she expect it to last forever! Doesn’t she know enough about men to know that they are all fickle?” She rose as she spoke and selected a bit of silk from a roll in her dressing-case drawer and, as she seated herself again, she gave a furtive glance toward her wardrobe. Mar- ion’s glance followed hers, but did not linger an instant, for the young woman continued her remarks, and her face attracted her like a magnet. ‘ “T’ve seen a lot of men and I know them, root and branch,” went on the babyish lips again. “I’ve met dozens and dozens of them and they have all made leve to me, but—will you believe it, Miss Marlowe, they were only a host of deceivers! I am twenty-four and I _ have never had a lover.” “I am sure I am sorry for you,” begat Marion, a little hesitatingly ; then, once more, her glance wandered involuntarily toward the wordrobe, and this time she kept her eyes upon it fixedly. . “But I don’t need sympathy now,” broke in Miss Fredericks, who had not happened to look up. “I-have a lover now—Mr. Jackson is my lover. Of course, I feel sorry for the old sweetheart, Miss Marlowe. but the poor little goose will have to learn by experience, —€very one has to, you know, so it wil] not hurt her.” The wardrobe door moved a little as Mar- ion was about to reply, but the young gir] kept her wits about her and went. right on talking. “I should hate to believe all that you say about men, Miss Fredericks,” she said: calmly. “I have met a good Many men, too, but they were nearly all of them ] aay EMcOmiciGorcice