Marion Marlowe in St. Louis, or, A Forger's Bold Deed — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

6 United States coming out to St. Louis to pay his respects to the twinkling star of the Tem- ple Theatrical Company! Honestly, Miss El- lis, | wonder sometimes that you do not make me vain! I wish I deserved half of your admiration !”’ CHAPTER I. “TROUBLE IN PROSPECT. Marion Marlowe herself was standing in the doorway, her great gray eyes bent laugh- ingly upon her two companions. “No one could love you too much,” an- swered Miss Ellis, promptly. “Oh, I just wish I was a man! How I would make love to you!” “And get beautifully sat upon for your pains,” laughed Alma Allyn, slyly. “Why, I would really like to see the man that Marion would let make love to her. There’s been plenty of them to try it, but with what suc- cess? Marion is as heart-whole and fancy- free to-day as she was before she saw them!” “T don’t believe that any girl knows who she loves before she is eighteen,” said Mar- ion, as she crossed the room; “and just think how awful it would be to marry the wrong man! Any number of girls have done it, and, oh, how I pity them!” “Tt must be dreadful!” murmured Alma Allyn, in a thoughtful voice. “Why, I would not dream of marrying if I were not absolute- ly sure; but I know I love Heyry; I am cer- tain sure of it!” “And I do hope you will be happy,” said Marion, putting her arm around her; “al- though I shall miss you terribly, Alma, when you are married.” She leaned her beautiful head against her friend’s shoulder, and Alma Allyn bent down and kissed her forehead. “That is my only regret, Marion,” she said, very softly. “We have been together ever since your sister Dollie was married! And, oh, what a lot of trouble we have seen! I don’t know how I will ever bear to part with you, dearie!”’ “But vou will be in New York, and so will I,” said Marion, trying to recover her spirits. “Mr. Temple has secured a theatre, and he 7 MY QUEEN. wants me to stay with him. I haven’t decided vet, it is so far away, but I’m almost sure to be in New York doing something or other.”’ “Trust you for that,’ laughed Miss Ellis, cayly. “You are always doing something or - other, Miss Marlowe.” The girls all laughed, and then Marion leoked at her watch. It was almost time to go to rehearsal. “T wonder where Bert is?” said Miss Al- lyn, as they went slowly down the stairs. Mr. Olcott, the “villain” of the company, came up just in time to answer her ques- tion. | i eg, “Jackson is down by the depot looking on at the fun, Miss Marlowe,” he remarked. — “There’s a big strike on, and the railroad men are scrapping like the mischief. Why, the scrimmage when I left almost amounted to a riot!” | “I heard that there was a lot of trouble onatbe railroad,” said Miss Allyn, quickly ; “the men are determined to win their point, and, as the railroad company will not yield an inch, it looks as if they are going to have a seridus time of it.” \ “That’s what I told Jackson,” said Olcott, quickly. “I advised him to come away when the men began fighting, but it seems his father is interested in one of the roads, and Bert expects he’ll be sent for at any min- ute.” “Then I don’t blame him for being inter- ested,” said Alma, quickly; “St. Louis isn’t the safest place in the world for the presi- dent or directors of any of the railroads, just at present. It would be like shaking a red rag at a bull to let them see an official while they are so excited and angry.” “But isn’t the mayor or somebody doing anything to quiet them?” asked Marion, anxiously. Olcott shook his head. “They're used to it, I guess. Of course, if anybody gets killed there'll be something done: but a few bricks and stones, and a few cracked skulls, won’t cut any ice!” ' “IT fancy we shall play to poor houses, if there is so much excitement,” said Miss Al- lyn, anxiously. “Not a bit of it! The house is sold out —- mecomichooks. com