A Lover's Quarrel, or Marion Marlowe's Deceitful Friend — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

6 MY QUEEN. CHAPTER III. THE-INNOCENCE OF MISS FREDERICKS. Miss Ellis dashed back into Marion’s room like a perfect whirlwind. She was as white as a sheet and nearly speechless from anger. “Oh, Marion! Marion! He is false, after all! He is as treacherous as she is! Oh, what shall I do, Marion ?” She dropped upon the bed and her frame shook with agony. Marion was so astounded that she could not move for a minute. “It’s all over between us, Marion! Bert is a deceiver!’ went on the poor girl, brokenly. “In spite of all his declarations of affection, he is as base and wicked as he can be! Oh, Marion, I do believe it will kill me! He is false! false! false! And I loved him, Ration | ‘ Marion found her voice at last and went over to her friend. As she bent over her, she put both hands on her shoulders and shook her. | “Lena Ellis, you must be crazy!” she said, “What in the world has happened now? Miss Ellis sprang to her feet and faced her with flash- severely. Tell me this minute!” ing eyes. “Tt is no use, your trying to protect him!’ she cried, chokingly. ‘He is a traitor, and oh, how I hate him, Marion! Go down in the parlor yourself if you don’t believe me!” Marion did not wait a minute, but started for the door. There was a look upon her face that meant that she was in earnest. Half way down the corridor she met Miss Fredericks and, for just a second, she stared at her in amazement. “Well, of all things, her breath, as the young lady hurried past, ‘her cheeks are actually tear-stained, and yet she whispered, under she is laughing.” She hurried on to the parlor and, just as she reached it, she discovered Bert walking slowly to the door, but he came back at once as the young girl called to him. “Bert, what does this mean?” she asked, sharply, as they entered the deserted parlor. “Why are you here in this hotel without see- ing Lena?” Bert shrugged his shoulders and gave a curious laugh, but he knew Marion well enough to realize that he must answer. ‘““My dear Marion, I came here to see her, but I saw Miss Fredericks instead. Now I am going out to get my luncheon, after which I fully intend paying my respects to sia sweet- heart.” Marion stared at him a minute, but she could see nothing wrong in Bert’s expression, and, while she was thinking deeply, the young man continued: “See here, Marion, I may as well tell you what is in my mind. You know Lena and I can’t be married for four years; now, don’t you think it is mean of me to bind her to her engagement when, perhaps, she might have a chance to do better?” Marion’s eyes opened if possible a trifle wider, but she was still too perplexed to think of answering. “It isn’t just a square deal for a fellow to tie a girl down that way,” added Bert, sober- ly, and was about to continue when Marion interrupted him, | “Bert, what do you mean?” she gasped. “What in the world has come over you to make you talk so strangely ?” Bert shrugged his shoulders again, and there was a peculiar light in his eyes which Marion was far too distressed to notice. “T’ve been thinking it over,” he went on, “and I’ve decided to give Lena her liberty. You know she goes on the road the first of May, anyhow.” ’ “But what has that got to do with your promise,, Bert?” gasped Marion, again, “Oh, Weomicbooks.com ey : F