Marion Marlowe in St. Louis, or, A Forger's Bold Deed — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

~ MY QUEEN. 5 me so only last night. They correspond reg- ularly, but the doctor knows it. | suppose he thinks it doesn’t matter, so long as she 1s not engaged to him.” “There, I can actually see across the - street,” called Lou, suddenly; “and as I’ve got to get a pair of gloves, | guess | must leave you. There are some stores located soinewhere in those clouds, I fancy.” “Oh, ves; and good ones, too!” said Miss Ellis, quickly. “Shall I go with you, Miss Leland? I know the way, and I'll be glad io be of use, if you happen to’ want me.” “Oh, Lou will find the way all right,” spoke up Mabel, quickly; ‘‘and if you please, Ellis, ‘I'd like you to help me. I’m not sure I know my part, and I want some one to rehearse ae ; “Why, certainly I'll stay,” said Miss Ellis, promptly; “and you must be at the theatre at eleven, Miss Leland, so you had better go. It’s only four blocks to Barr’s.” Lou gave another look at her chum and hurried away. She would not be obliged now to write an anonymous letter. “So you like Bert Jackson, do your” asked Miss Ellis, as soon as she was gone. here’s a secret for you, Miss Maitland: There’s no use in losing your heart to Bert, but there is one man in the company who is very susceptible. Don’t tell a soul that I told you; but it is Mr. Temple, the man- ager.” “I surmised that,” was the answer, as Ma- bel went for her manuscript. “He looked un- utterable things the day he engaged me; and say, didn’t he blush when I flattered him a | little !”’. It was the imgénue’s turn to start a little “now. She could hardly imagine Mr. Temple blushing. “You must have charmed him, Miss Mait- land,” she said, very gravely. “Why, I never areamed of his being so susceptible as that, and yet I always knew he was a great ad- mirer of women.”’ Miss Maitland had found her part now, so the rehearsing began and there was noth- ing more said about the members of the com- pany. When Miss Ellis left the room she still “Well, wore a puzzled look. She could not quite get over the thought of Mr. Temple’s blush- ing. “Some girls are such fools,” she whispered to herself. ‘Why, if I should tell that to the others they’d never stop laughing! Your days are numbered in this company, my dear, if you have been flirting with Mr. Temple.” “Oh, Miss Ellis!” It was Alma Allyn who called. Miss Ellis stopped at a half-closed door and promptly pushed it open. “T’ve been in rehearsing the new sou- brette,’’ she said, a little guardedly. “She's all right in the part; she’s dead letter-per- tect.”’ “That is good; better than I fancied, even,”’ was the pleasant reply as Miss Allyn drew a letter from her pocket, “I wasn't particularly impressed with those two additions to the company when I saw them yesterday. The little blonde looks treacherous, and the big one looks surly; but, of course, 1 may be mistaken. I hope Iam, but come in and shut the door; I want to read you something. I have just received a note from Mr. Temple.” Miss Ellis did as she was told, and Miss Allyn opened her letter. “ “Dear Miss Allyn,’”’ she read, in her jolly voice, ‘please do me the favor to see, that all of the ladies remain on the stage after the final curtain to-night, as a little scene that is not down on the bill will then be enacted.’ That is all he says,” she went on, as she closed the letter, “and Marion and I have nearly worn out our wits trying to fathom the secret in his very brief letter.” “I do hope it is something pleasant,” said Miss Ellis, quickly. “We've had so many tragedies to enact that were not down on the bills that, just for a change, I hope this will be a comedy.” “So do I, indeed,” said Miss Allyn, em- phatically; “but it is too much for me! [| have given up guessing !” “I expect the Mayor of St. Louis, or the Governor of Missouri has fallen in love with Miss Marlowe, and they are going to- give a reception in her honor or something like that,” began Miss Ellis, when a laughing voice stopped her. “Or perhaps it is the President of the GOMmiGoIoOoksaconm