Marion Marlowe Entrapped, or, The Victim of Professional Jealousy — page 7: what you’re looking at

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

y! mured, brokenly. 4 MY QUEEN. 5 the place of her frown, for Carlotta was an actress as well as a singer. “T am ill, but only from grief,” she mur- “A dear friend has died, and I have only just now heard of it.” She turned her face a little and put her handkerchief before it. She wanted to be sure that she had perfectly controlled her features. “Oh, I am so sorry,” said Marion, sym- | pathetically, as she took a step forward and held out both of her white hands. “Tt is dreadful to lose a friend. “Tam truly sorry for you, Carlotta.” By this time the wicked woman had formed her plans, and, as she turned and accepted the young girl’s hand, she said to her, plead- ingly: “Dear Miss Marlowe, you are so has and sweet to me that I am almost tempted to ask wea favor ; “What is it?” asked the girl, with impul- “Oh, I shall be so delighted if I can comfort you.” _ sive eagerness. “Come home with me to-night, dear,” begged the woman, brokenly. “I shall grieve myself to death if I have to stay alone to- night. Do come; there is nothing to hinder you, 1s there?” Marion Marlowe looked astonished at this request from a stranger, but she was not ac- customed to stand upon ceremony when the opportunity was offered her to do a kindness. “Only my twin sister,” was her thoughtful answer. “Dollie will expect me, of course, and will be waiting up. You see she is mar- ried, and I am living with«her at present. I would feel dreadfully to give her a night of. mralchy.” = eta She spoke so honestly that once more the woman felt a twinge of but she steeled herself promptly weet all feelings of sympathy. ae oh shame, she said. “Dll write it and tell her how kind youare “You can send her a message,” to me. So, now, that is settled, and you are coming. carriage is waiting.”’ Marion helped her to adjust her wraps and then followed her to the carriage, the old door-keeper at the stage door staring after them curiously. , “That is queer,” he muttered, with a shake of his head. I’m-as sure of it as I’m living.” “There is mischief in the wind; But poor, innocent Marion did not dream of*mischief; she was only happy to think that Almost the first night of her’ appearance with the com- pany she had felt that Carlotta disliked her, and her gentle heart had been pained by the thought. lotta should be jealous of her. she was befriending this woman. She could see no reason why Car- “She is far more experienced and clever than I,” she said to herself, for she was too ‘thoroughly modest to ever overrate her own talents. ‘Now the woman was smiling at her and. chatting pleasantly, and the noble girl’s heart was rejoicing in the belief that she had been mistaken in the prima donna’s sentiments ana that Carlotta was really a friend to her “Is your sister as pretty as you are?” asked Carlotta, after they were seated in the carriage. She was gazing steadily at Marioa with an expression of admiration. “Of course you know you are pretty,” she added, quickly. “All pretty women do, so you need not look so horrified.” “T think Dollie is much prettier than I,” was. the low, soft answer. “She has golden hair and eyes like the violets: then her form is so plump, and so pretty and graceful.” éxx7, 0) ee Wasn't there something about the two of , you in the papers not long ago?” was the singer’s next question. ‘““Wasn’t she abducted or something, and didn’t you rescue her 2?” <¢ e ° A man who boarded with us in the coun- try abducted her, ves, I'll be ready in a minute and my. GCOMULCHOOKSCO