Marion Marlowe on the Prairie, or, A Thrilling Ride Across Kansas — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

a ae a ae suffering from his wound, and she had not heard a word from him since the adventure. It was very funny that his friends should wish to see her. The commodore must really have been badly smitten to have told them about her; but, then, of course, the account of that exciting drive had been in the Omaha papers, and there was probably a grain of curiosity mingled with their interest in her acting. But there was no time for reflection now. She was obliged to shake off the spell that the fortune teller had cast over her and go down to the stage, for the cat-calls were be- . ginning. When Marion reached the footlights she was greeted with such effusive cheers that, just for a minute, she did not understand it. As Dr. Brookes passed her he said, in a whisper: “That ‘hold-up’ ad. caught them the first night, allcight; but what’s the matter with ‘our audience this evening, Marion?” , Bert was passing on the other side, and he offered an explanation in a clever undertone. “It’s the fact that she refused the richest man in Arizona! little bit! commodore out here, and when the old fel- They can’t make it out a You see, every one knows the low let it out that you were not to be caught 9) by money, they “Did he do that?’ quickly, “Look at the Omaha Bee, if you don’t be- lieve it,” was the answer. whispered Marion, “Why, in an in- terview with the commodore the whole thing Was explained, and these people think you are nothing short of a curiosity! They can’t im- agine a poor actress refusing such an offer!” _ Marion could not reply, but she smiled very proudly. She was not the girl to let wealth influence her affections, MY QUEHN. | 7 CHAPTER IV. A YOUNG CULPRIT. “Now, we wig] discuss that fortune again, - dearie, if you don’t object,” said Alma Allyn, the minute the curtain fell on the first act. “l can see that it has made you nervous, and I don’t much wonder, after all the thrilling experiences that you have passed through. Do please go over it once more, and tell me the details; all I can seem to remember is that something dreadful is about to happen.” She wound her arm around her friend’s waist as she spoke, and both started slowly toward the dressing-room, for neither was obliged to change their costumes between these acts. Marion lowered her voice so that the stage carpenter and the scene-shifter would not overhear her as she responded to Alma’s re- quest. “She said it would be in the nature of a calamity, but she could not tell what,” she began. “Some terrible event is to take place that no one can forsee or prevent, and I am to be in great danger; but, oh, Alma, here is the { did not tell it Oh, I I wish I had never part that worries me most! before, but you are all to be with me! can't bear to think of it! seen her!” “We were foolish to go in there; but never mind,” said Alma, soothingly. “It is all euesswork, of course, SO we must put it out of our heads! What could that funny old woman really know of the future 2?” “Oh, Miff Marlowe!. Here you are! I'se been looking everywhere for you!” called out little Ruby, the child actress, at that minute. She came running across the scene-room holding out a letter, and, as Marion caught her up in her arms the child put one arm around her neck and hugged her energeti- cally. “Me loves ’oo, Miff Marlowe!” cried the little one, sweetly. “Mamma says I can love Cconniclooolkks (CO)