Marion Marlowe in Buffalo, or, Betrayed by a Rival Company — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

= - an affectation of agony. is ‘ ‘fe “Has it come to this? Are you really = smite, Marion? Quick, tell me the truth ; who is the lucky fellow, this Mr. ‘Gray, as you call him, that I have never even heard of?” ana . _ Marion explained as fast as she could, and - _ Bert burst out laughing when he heard how » he had foiled the youths with the cameras. o"8) -momentlater, when she was telling him about their “super’s” share in the affair, Bert —= — did not make any comment, but he did some Be serious thinking. | | mo. Un, Mit Marlowe! Me wants to wide 3 on the Maid of the Mift!” called out a ‘child’s voice, and little Ruby, the child actress of the z ompany, slid down from her chair at the _ next table and ran over to Marion. ey The young girl picked her up and iaaerd a © ler er tenderly. . = e “The Maid of the Mist is not running, I’m E 2 afraid, darling,” she said, very tenderly. “It ; 1s SO_ cold and icy in the water now, you a “en ow! Why, if little Ruby went down under = Eerie x Falls now, she would get a big icicle on | r pudgy little nose, and perhaps she wo ald Presse’ solid, so that no one could thaw Fe -— se 4 BT he child looked at her very soberly for a — _ and then gave her a hug. eS “Den me will do an’ see de g’ate, bid water wif mamma, an’ wear my ‘ittle kitty muff,”’ she said, contentedly. \ ; _ Marion kissed her tenderly as she put her ¢ nN , and the little one ran back to her seat beside her mother. ) tee d like to see the Falls in summer, when =; they: are in their glory,” spoke up Bert; “and, Say, wouldn’t it be fun to shoot the Rapids?” “It would be a trifle chilly to do it now, tached Miss “Allyn: “but I think I would _ rather see the Falls frozen over! That is a : en one does not see very often.” F _ “I wonder how many victims the Falls can a count,” spoke up Mrs. Burnside, suddenly ; : ae n told that a great, great many people wae fav gone over the cataract, and I am sure I Em think a them all the moment I see the a é - - > e t ae a E MY QUEEN. S you wail like Mr. Gray, Alma; he is pesbectly “That is why I never go to Niagara now,” lovely. . . spoke up a solemn voice near het. ad ‘* Bert clasped his hands over his heart with They all turned quickly and saw an elderly, sad-looking man sitting at the next table. “T saw a man in a boat go through the Rap- ids once,” he went on, ‘‘and the sight has haunted me ever since. It thrills me with horror every time I recall it.” “How awful for you,” Marion murmured, sympathetically. “A trifle worse for the man, I’m thinking,” said Miss Allyn, uneasilv. “That was in summer, | suppose, said Bert, with interest. “No, it was mid-winter,’’ was the answer ; “he had tried to cross the stream and a cake of ice struck him. He could not get clear of it. By the time he was free the current had ~ mastered him! Oh, it was horrible! horri- ble!” . The speaker’s face grew ashen and he put one hand over his eyes. In an instant the silence grew op] ressive in the spacious din- ing-room. “But he did it on purpose, didn’t he?” asked another of the guests. “It was the third accident that winter, and the only one that was witnessed, if I remember.” | “You are quite right,” spoke up another of the guests; “I remember that man. They called it a suicide!” “It did not matter to me which it was, ac- cident or suicide,” said the old man, sadly; “it gave me a shock that I have never gotten ever. I never look at the Rapids now—they are too cold and cruel.” Marion shivered slightly. The words chilled her very marrow. Some way this mental picture had spoiled the enjoyment of her anticipated drive along the river. “Ugh! He gave me cold chills up my spine!” murmured Bert, as the first speaker left the dining-room. “I guess [’J] stay in Buffalo and not go to Niagara.”’ “I must go, because I promised,” rion, soberly. said Ma- “Well, be sure you are back by eight this evening,’ answered Bert, “for you have a feat to perform to-night that I am interested in seeing. It beat all. your previous achievements all hollaacsanicloool|ks.conn will