Marion Marlowe in Society, or, A Race for a Title — page 27: what you’re looking at

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

24 “You like Bert, then! Mrs. Stetson!” “He’s as clever as they make, even if he is young, Marion, and listen! Lord Curry is not the only man who is smitten with your charms. Young Jackson is only a boy, but he loves you dearly.” “Oh, that is an old story,” cried Marion, gayly. “Bert has loved me from childhood, if one can trust his word—and, what is more, he has plainly stated his intention to marry me.” “Well, he has encountered a formidable rival, now,’’» laughed her hostess; “it is not every youth of eighteen who can measure weapons with a Duke for the hand of a beau- tiful maiden.” “T doubt if Bert considers him a rival, he is so sure of his ultimate victory,’ began Ma- rion, then both ladies stopped speaking and stared at each other. The report of a pistol sounded directly over their heads. As Mrs. Stetson darted from the room, Charlotte, the maid, came rushing toward her shrieking hysterically. ) “He’s killed himself, madam!” was all she could say. “Quick! Come, Marion!” cried Mrs. Stetson, as she dashed up the stairs. “Poor Lord Curry! I am afraid he has met with an accident!”’ Oh, I am so glad, CHAPTER XIII. MORE SURPRISES. But it was not an accident that Lord Curry had met with, and both Mrs. Stetson and Ma- rion knew it as soon as they reached his cham- ber. The young man was sitting in a chair, the revolver still in his hand, and there were evidences of deliberation in all of his ar- rangements. Mrs. Stetson’s level-headedness was never used to better advantage than when she at- tempted to adjust affairs so as to conceal the true motive of the young Englishman's death, and, after the first shock, Marion was as calm as she, and both ready and willing to carry out all orders. Of course, netther of them attended Mrs. Glenham’s tea, but the “ead accident’ which had occurred came too late to prevent the function, although it cast a gloom upon it. Bert Jackson was there, with his ears and eyes wide open, and before he had been in the spacious rooms an hour he overheard an interesting conversation. Pert had seated himself on a divan just outside of the conservatory, and the persons who were cotiversing softly together were standing just inside behind an urn of rare exotics. MY QUEEN. _and did not care to hear it. “I heard it through the servants,” said Maude Rushlyn’s voice. “Mrs. Stetson’s maid told our cook that Lord Curry commit- ted suicide after proposing to Miss Marlowe _ and being refused by her.” : “Curry was a fool to dream that she would 4 have him,” answered Roy Glenham, softly. “Why, it’s as plain as daylight that she had her eye on the Duke, but I’ve ‘queered her game,’ if you will excuse my slang, Maudie.” “How? lyn, in a breathless whisper. “Oh, I was fortunate enough to meet him in the park this afternoon. I threw out a gentle hint as innocently as possible, and you ~ ought to have seen how greedily he snapped at it.” | “You mean be believed you?” asked the young girl again, > “Every word, and almost begged me to tell him more,” was the prompt answer. “Of course I told him it was all hearsay and might not be true, and of course he agreed with me, but that doesn’t matter an atom. The seed is planted in his mind, and, you mark my words, it will grow and rankle!” “Until he decides to choose a woman who ~ 33 answered Miss Rush- © He needed just is his equal socially, lyn. “It serves him right! such a lesson!” “But, Maudie——” Roy Glenham’s voice had sunk to a whis- per now. | Bert Jackson got up suddenly and walked away. He knew about what was coming, “T’m not interested in their love making,” he muttered, as he caught sight of a young girl that he knew, sitting alone and almost neglected. “I’m only interested in what con- cerns Marion! So the cad has poisoned the Duke’s mind. Well, his day ts coming— when it comes, the Lord help him !” Kittie Glenham was particularly attractive as she poured tea for the Duke, and all the time Bert was talking to his companion he ~ watched them intently. If Miss Glenham was distressed over Lord Curry’s sudden death she was more than usually clever in concealing it. : She was pale, it was true, but she smiled as brightly as ever, and to the Duke no wo- man could have been more gushing and ten- der. “Kittie doesn’t. take it as much to heart as we thought she would,” said Bert's compan- ion, suddenly. “Why, we all supposed she was in love with Lord Curry, but it looks very much as though we were all mistaken.” “T fancy it is hard telling just how you young ladies do feel,” said Bert, smilingly; Ld ‘ou are so clever at concealing your real “ Eomicbooks com When?” demanded Miss Rush-. = in tt ~ . ) . | | | | 7 1 ‘ ee ee eee ae ae