Marion Marlowe in St. Paul, or, The Company's Mascot in a Double Deal — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

] MY QUHEN. paper again! It is so much more fun to write’ up plays than to act them, and, then again, none of the Western critics quite do you justice, in my opinion! They all say that vou are beautiful and clever, but their reports lack feeling, while I—well, if [ took a pen in Re <) | my hand to describe you, Marion, I'd branch off involuntarily into perfect heart-throbs of language!” Marion burst out laughingy but she looked at her friend tenderly. “That is because you are so fond of me, Alma,” she ‘said, happily. “I think I could write a few sonnets about you, too, dearie, in spite of the fact that I am not gifted with poetry.” “You are a poem in, yourself,” said Miss Allyn, sweetly. “Dr. Brookes said that last night; so it isn’t originai—and it ign’t the — only nice thing that he said about you, either !”’ She glanced slyJy at Marion, but the young girl only blushed painfully. “My friends all make too much of me. They will spoil me,” she tried to say, calmly. “I wish I felt that I deserved it all, but it only humbles me, Alma, to have you all so fond of me!” “Another proof of your sacoth: dearie,”’ was the quick answer; “but here comes the doctor at last, and Mr. Temple with him.” The two voung ladies rose and Mr. Tem- ple came forward at once. “Has any one seen Deering, the stage-man- ager?” he asked. ‘“He’s been ‘lost in the shuf- fle,’ as Bert would say, and it is pretty near time to start the rehearsal.” “Here I am, Mr. Temple!” called the stage- manager's voice, and he and Bob Hinton, the calcium-man, came hurrying from the scene- room. “I’d have been here before, only I was met outside by a gentleman. He wished to pay his respects to Miss Marlowe in person, and, of course, I told him that it was against our rules to admit him, but that I would carry his wishes as faithfully as possible.” ~“ “Then what did he say ?” Dr. Brookes asked the question. There was a look in his eyes that amused Miss Allyn. “There'll be a duel at the stage-door if you tell,” she said, laughingly. don’t make any difference. ‘the same ‘in the deal. “Why, what could ry 4 he say, doctor? Of course, it is that he ad- mires Mifion, and that he is only waiting for a chance to cast his heart at her feet, sur- round her with his love, and pour into her ear the endless cataracts of his brain’s mad passion. The doctor laughed and the ugly light lett his eyes. “Well, if that was the nature of his com- munication it is all right,’ he said, amuably. “Marion is used to that sort of thing! I was afraid it might be something in the form of trouble, and there’ll be no tragedies in St. Paul if I can prevent it!” “Indeed, there will not!” spoke up Mr. Temple, quickly. “That Chicago business was enough for me. I want no more tragedies except our fake ones!” ; “The fellow did not look. as Sesliofy as he talked,” went on Mr. Deering, thoughtfully. “He was old enough and intelligent enough to know better than play the masher, but he gave me the same old gags; so I guess it When one man gets love-struck, he’s exactly like the others— ave, education, position; they all come out Well, I don’t know as [| blame them, after all,” he added, laughing. “Nobody blames them when it is our star that they are gazing at,’ laughed Miss Allyn; “but, hello! here comes Bert, looking as glum as an oyster! What in the world has hap- nened to our giddy eomedian ?” “You've hit it right! I am a trifle giddy,” said Bert, disgustedly, as he dropped into a chair. “What do you think of me, anyway? Ain't I a blooming chump ! Come from New York to St. Paul to get pinched of my val- uables !”’ “Oh, may. “Is it possible! Why, Bert, you must have been asleep!” echoed Miss Allyn. “Lost your watch and chain! I see!” said the doctor, catching sight of the unadorned vest. “Well, that is a shame, Bert: but have you tried to find it ?” Bert pulled himself together and a funny look crept into his eyes. “If somebody would just take a fall or two out of me I'd be much obliged,” laughing, Bert!” cried Marion, in genuine dis- he said, “i may as well own_up. rasnt Conlichooksscoin