Marion Marlowe in St. Paul, or, The Company's Mascot in a Double Deal — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

18 MY QUEEN. dozen times during the day. He had very little faith in Miss Watson's promise. When he was admitted at the stage door, » he could hardly believe his senses, and at midnight, as he sat at a table in Denham’s, with the beautiful girl at his side, it was a difficult matter to conceal his satisfaction. But Miss Watson was not so easily dis- posed of as he had hoped. She had earned her promised reward and become wonder- fully indifferent. Why should she care for the vicious pleasure of a perfect stranger, who had the poor taste to prefer Marion to herself and could hardly keep up the pre- tense that his own craftiness had suggested? It was a question that she asked herself as she pocketed a good-sized bill which Hobart passed to her under the table. After that she drank little and got careless in her act- ing, but she did not for a minute dream of leaving them. Bert Jackson and Dr. Brookes occupied seats at another table, and neither of them hardly took his eyes off Marion during the dinner. In another corner of the big dining-room sat Archibald Tupham, but he had hidden himself carefully behind some heavy dra- peries. Though Tupham had won the first move the night before by dining with Miss Wat- son, Hobart had now received the first mark of favor from Miss Marlowe, and Tupham was furious with rage, not only at his vic- torious rival, but at the little soubrette, who was smiling as blandly as though she had not tricked him. But there were still twen- tv-four hours in which to win the wager, and “Tackets’”’ was on the watch to report the do- ings of his rival. Miss Watson had proven herself a treach- erous accomplice, but there was still another way open to accomplish his purpose. When Marion left Miss Watson that night + was at her door in the hotel. She had kept her promise, and now she was ready to express an honest opinion. “T don’t like him,” she said, simply; “but | am sure I° don’t know why. He seems but Ido not think he is honest.” reply astonished her fairly nice, Miss Watson's greatly. “I guess you are about right!’ she blurted out, with a burst of hysterical laughter ; “but you have done me a good turn, my dear, dear sister! You've helped me to make a three-weeks. salary in one evening!” She slammed the door in Marion’s face and bolted it on the inside: then the inno- cent young girl heard her screaming with merriment. Marion went to her room, feeling sick at heart. She had been duped and deceived by this girl, but how? It was a question that she could not answer at present. As soon as she reached her room, she told Alma the whole story, and the two stared at each other for the space of a minute. : “T did not believe she was sincere, but I did not like to say so,” said Miss Allyn, finally, “especially after you mentioned that she reminded you of Dollie! Oh, Marion! It doesn’t pay to be too sympathetic! You have made a sacrifice for this girl, and what is your reward? Why, you may have done vourself an injury this very evening!" Marion raised her head proudly, and a calm light shone in her eyes. “T have done what I thought was right. and I will abide by the consequences,’ she said, quietly. “I shall never refuse to help any one, Almz, and, if they deceive me, the wrong is on their shoulders.” “You are a noble girl,’ was the answer, just as some one tapped uporsheir door. “Ts Marion safe?” whispered Bert’s woice, through the keyhole. Marion went at once and opened the door. “I’m safe; ves, thanks,” was her smiling answer ; then, as Bert was about to speak, she put up her finger, pleadingly. “Don’t scold me, Bert! I know it was thoughtless! T ought not to have gone with- out telling you all, but Alma knew, and, then. it was such a little distance—right in the heart of the city—so I was as safe as anvthing !” “Well, we didn't get there quick or anv~- thing, did we?” laughed Bert; “hut. good- night, girls! T won't scold this time! | suppose that little minx inveigled you into +! Your heart is four sizes too big for your body, Marion!” Gomichooks.com