Marion Marlowe Entrapped, or, The Victim of Professional Jealousy — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

12 the doorway of a big dressing-room, which she shared with a dozen others. “Do you think so much ‘make-up’ is neces- sary?” asked Marion, pleasantly. ‘Somehow, I am always afraid of getting my nose too white and my ears too red. I do wish there wasn’t such a thing as having to use it!” “Oh, we'd all look like ghosts if we didn’t,” said the girl. “Those footlights make you ghastly if your face isn’t painted.” “It makes some people look like frights, “aL is Just too funny to see some folks prink when anyway, called another voice, shrilly. they can’t be anything but scrawny and ugly, no matter how much they paint and white- wash !” The girl in the doorway glanced over her shoulder scornfully. “You wear ‘symmetricals’. yourself, Miss Impudence,”’ she said, tauntingly. “I may be scrawny around the shoulders, but my legs are all right, and legs are all that is wanted in the chorus nowadays.” “TI thought it was voices that were desired,” said Marion, dryly; “but, then, I am new; I don’t know much about requirements.” “TI notice you are mighty careful not to wear your dress short at either end,” called. “What is the matter with your shape, Signorita Ila?” Marion Marlowe flushed a little, but did not reply, so the girl in the doorway prompt- another voice. ly answered for her. “Oh, she’s too modest and shy, don’t yor understand! But just wait a week, girls— then you may have to look to your laurels. Can’t make me believe that the little ‘greeny’ isn’t all right! She’s fresh from the coun- try, and ought to be as plump as a partridge.” “You are the only girl in the chorus that ain't jealous, Jennie,” called a coarse mascu- line voice, as Jack Green, the “property man,” came by at that minute. Jennie was just stepping into her slippers MY QUEEN. ~~ when she caught sight of Jack. In an instant one of them went spinning in his direction. Jack caught it deftly and held it, in his hand. “Out on first,” he said, with a grin. “Now, when you want it back you’ll have to kiss 3? me. “Oh, I don’t mind doing that a little bit,” cried the girl, unhesitatingly, and in a sec- ond she had both arms over the property man’s shoulders. “Yowre a daisy, Jack, and I’m awfully mashed on you,” she said, candidly ; “but you haven’t got enough wealth, so, you see, I must stick to the Johnnies.” “Qh, I don’t want you,” was the fellow’s equally honest answer. “I’m stuck on the new beauty, the cHarming Ila. ‘I wonder if she would ‘give me a kiss if I asked her.” Marion was standing right in front of him as he made the remark, and in an instant all of the chorus girls came out to see how she took it.. “No use to play the prude,” thought Mar- ion, with a shudder. “These people see no harm in kissing, so I must try and get out of it nicely.” | . “No, Mr. Green,” she said, with a half smile, “I would not dream of kissing you be- fore all these young ladies! Why, they would scratch my eyes out, and Lam sure I would - deserve it.” 5 said Jennie. She had got her slipper back now, “That’s not so bad for a ‘greeny,’ ’ and was adjusting it carefully. ‘Make less noise up there, girls!” called out the stage manager from the stairs, The girls scampered back into their dress- ing-room, leaving Marion and the property man together. “Won't you kiss me, sweetie?” said Jack (Green, in an undertone, as he came closer to her. “TIT wasn’t joking a little bit, Ia. I’m just dying to kiss you.” Gomicboo <SiGom