Marion Marlowe in Denver, or, The Tragedy of Pike's Peak — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

& MY QUEEN. badly, for he was certainly a fine fellow,” an- swered Mr. Temple, slowly, as he drew her out of the way of a heavy Piece of scenery that was just being placed. “But don’t worry about Marion! She’ll come out all right. She played superbly this afternoon, and she’ll do better to-night. The applause when she appears will put her on her met- tle.” _ Miss Allyn moved away a few steps and then turned back, “Mr. Waldo, the lawyer, called on her at the hotel just after matinée,” she said, slow- ly. “Do you know, I believe he is just a lit- tie bit sweet on her.” Mr. Temple laughed, harshly, and his brow clouded as he spoke. ‘We can’t blame him for that,” he tried to say, carelessly, “but Marion will take care of herself, never fear! But I must leave you now and go around to the box office. I want to count the house during the first act and the second. I find that my man is not over particular.” He hurried away with a scowl upon his face, and, as Miss Allyn turned to leave the stage, she came face to face with Orrin Ol- cott with little Ruby, the child actress of the company, upon his shoulder. “Hello, what's wrong with Temple?’ asked Olcott, under his breath. “‘He looked as black as a thundercloud! Has any one riled him?” “Not that I know of,” began Miss Allyn, when Bob Hinton, the “calcium man,” inter- rupted her. “Don’t you understand what ails him?” he asked, in a whisper. “He’s got on one of his jealous tantroms again! Has to have them now and then, you know! Poor fel- low, he can’t help it!” “Who in the world is he jealous of now?” asked Miss Allyn, smiling. “Why, Marion has shown no preference for any one that I know, so the manager need not fear that he is roing to lose her.” “Tt isn’t that,” said Hinton, shaking his “Tt’s that money that’s bothering him. lTunderstand the manager. He thinks he’s lost her now for good and all, for, of course. she’ll leave the stage as soon as she head. ’? aptures the hoodle. “Clear the stage!” called the stage man- — ager, just at that instant, There was a wild scamper for the dressing- rooms, and, just as Miss Allyn reached her own door, she nearly collided with Marion. “I found her!” shouted Bert, who was hurrying with his costume. “She was down in the scene-room, gazing at a tinfoil moon and planning how she was going to spend that fortune!” 3 “Oh, Bert! What a fib! I was not thinking of the money at all! I was run- ning over my lines and trying to calm my nerves! Really, I am at a.loss to know what ails me, Alma!” | There were tears in her eyes as she spoke, and her voice trembled a little. In an in- stant her friend drew her into the dressing-- room and closed the door behind them. “You are upset over the commodore’s death and the money, dearie,” said Alma, gently. “It is enough to make any one nerv- ous and hysterical Why, I was aston- ished to see how well you played this after- noon. Ifit had been me, Iam sure I should have gone all to pieces!” Marion wiped her eyes and shook her ~ head dolefully; then, with an impulsive movement, she laid her head on her friend’s shoulder. *‘Alma,” she whispered, brokenly, “I want you to answer me a question. Do you really believe there is such a thing as love at first sight? Don’t laugh at me, please, for {} am very serious.” ‘Alma Allyn put_her arm tenderly around the fair girl’s waist, and there was a little quiver in her voice as she answered, soberly: ‘| suppose there is, Marion. We certain- ly hear of it often. But, my dear, dear chum, do not be afraid to tell me all. Do you really think you have fallen in love with the lawyer, Mr. Waldo?” ; Marion started up suddenly and glanced at her friend’s smiling face, then, once more, her head droaped and her sweet lips trem- bled, 4 “T don’t. know, Alma! I really don’t!” she murmured, softly. “T only know I like him very, very much; and, oh, I am so nerv- ous and scared when I think of playing be- fore him!” Eomichbooks.com