Marion Marlowe Entrapped, or, The Victim of Professional Jealousy — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

& MY QUEEN. The knowledge had shocked him beyond | expression, but-he had borne it like a man and Marion had helped him. Only a short time after the discovery the wretched crea- ture died. She had drifted to Blackwell's Island as a “drunk and disorderly,” her face | disfigured by vitriol which had been thrown -upon her by another low woman. ei It was Marion Marlowe's lot to round out the fearful tragedy, for at the very last mo- ment, when poor Mary Ray’s body was en route for Potter’s Field, it was she who res- husband and to a Christian burial. Since that time Marion and Mr. Ray had That was at Dollie’s wedding — _ met but once. -at the little flat in Harlem. And now he was thinking of going away, ; yet she knew that he loved her more deeply than ever—she could read it in his eyes and in his voice when he spoke to her. But the beautiful girl was not so sure of her own sentiments as she was of his, for the question of love had always been put aside 5 by her—there was too much else to be con- sidered in the fearful struggle for existence. Until Dollie was safely settled’ she did not :. dare to think of herself, but now with these _ tender eyes looking almost into her soul, ~ Marion was forced to, in a measure, analyze her feelings for him. “You will come and see us, will you not?” she asked earnestly, as she raised her lovely eyes to his face. “Dear Dollie is so happy in her little home. Do promise me that you will come and see us.” There was something in her voice that thrilled his very soul and in an instant every barrier seemed to melt from between them. A sudden pallor appeared upon his hand- some face at her request, then a flush rose swiftly to his very brow as he answered: “[ will conie, Marion, on one condition,” he murmured, eagerly. “Oh. Marion, dar- cued her remains and gave them back to her. 21 ling! Don’t you know that I love you? May I not come to you-as your lover, dearest ?” He had taken her hands in his as he spoke and his dark eyes were looking into hers as though he would read her heart's every secret. 3ut after the first flush of excitement the loyal girl’s lips became firm and she raised her eyes to his face with a tender, anxious expression. “Oh, Mr. Ray! I am so sorry! But it cannot be! I am too young, too inexperi- enced! I do not know my own heart! Do, please, please forget that you have asked me that question !” Archie Ray’s face paled to the lips, Gist he smiled at, her bravely. ¢ . 7’ he. said, “Forgive me if I have pained you, “As you will, Marion almost sadly. but, oh, my darling, do not decide too quickly! Give me a month, a year, and I will wait patiently.” Marion bowed her head. “She could not answer. This avowal of love had almost overwhelmed her. CHAPT BR. XE MARION IS LURED INTO A TRAP. When Marion reached home she was de- lighted to find Bert Jackson there. come from Canada the day before and ex- pected to sail for Europe in two days, but his first thought seemed to be for the welfare of Dollie and Marion. He was a fine-looking lad in his stylish clothes, and when Marion first caught sight of him she hardly knew him. “You don’t look much like the bare-footed boy in blue jeans that you were last summer, Bert,” she said, laughingly, as she finally pulled her hands away from the grasp he had given them. “No, I’m a dude how,” said Bert, very gayly. “All I lack is an eye-glass, a walking- He had. ECORNIECLOO (C KS (GO