Marion Marlowe's Courage: A Brave Girl's Struggle for Life and Honor — page 11: what you’re looking at

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CHAPTER V._ A SAD PARTING OF FRIENDS. When Dollie burst into the little room she was breathless with excitement and indigna- x tion. Much to her surprise, she found Mar- ion there before her. “Oh, sister!” she blurted out, “Silas John- son is here! And what do you think! he ~ still wants me to marry him!” - Marion stared at her in genuine astonish- ment. “What! Silas here in the city, and you have seen him, Dollie?” “T met him in this very block just as I was coming home,” said Dollie, pulling off her gloves, “and, oh, of all the awkward-looking gawks! I never realized before that Silas was so homely!” oe” ish men before you came to New York,” ~ said Marion, quickly; “I find myself compar- ing every one I ever met with Mr. Ray—city ; men are sO handsome—and then they dress so much better.” — “Silas had on a flannel shirt and cowhide e ~~ 4 shoes,” went on Dollie, laughing, “and Bigs z as. never before believed that they could look - “Se ugly! But listen, Marion, he says he has a mortgage for five hundred dollars on fath- ex’s farm, but that as he thinks I could save -. “him that. amount in time he is willing to let aq it go iff will marry him!” : “He expects you to earn it weeding gar- : dens, SNS cows and churning butter, I | suppose, ’ said Marion scornfully. “But, sister, just think! Where will father get the money? He can never, never pay Sile such an amount, and he'll turn them out it he doesn’t get the money!” “Turn them aut of the old homestead!’ exclaimed Marion, turning pale. “The thing 1s outrageous! He must never do it! te an we =" ¢ Pe . . * Never !” “Then I'll have to marry him,” said Dollie, dolefully. “There’s no other way to settle the matter.” “I’m not so sure,” said her sister, shutting her white teeth together. “There are nearly three months before the mortgage is due. I must think a little, Dollie; but hush! Here comes Miss Allyn!” - Miss Allyn came in, carrying the type- 5 MY QUEEN. _ “That is because you had never’ seen styl-_ tangled up in a divorce suit. get in ten miles in the country. 9 writer in her arms, and for the next hour the cirls almost forgot their troubles. “T’ll learn just as fast as I can,’ ’ said Dollie, clapping her hands. “And I'll do my best to get you a posi- tion,” said Miss Allyn, kindly, “but I warn you it will be with some old codger who has a red-headed wife to look after him! You shall not have any champagne luncheons and tete-a-tetes with your employer 1f I can pre- vent it!” ‘What do you mean?” asked both girls together. ; “Just this,” said Miss Aliyn, with her char- acteristic brevity—‘‘a pretty typewriter is often looked upon as lawful prey by some mcn who employ one in their private office. I know some typewriter girls who tell me that they go to business in a regular mask—, don’t dare wink or smile for fear they'll be Of course it is not so in all cases, but a working girl must keep her eyes open in a big city. There’s more temptation to the square inch than you Look out, girls! Take my advice, wear green yeus over those pretty faces.” ~ “Thank you for your good advice,’ said Marion, sadly ; “we have already learned "that there are many pitfalls in the.city, but with a friend like you we are forewarned, Miss Ailyn. Oh, how fortunate "we are to have won your sympathy.” “Nonsense!” said Miss Allyn, as she start- ed for the door. “I’m only a poor reporter doing space work for my living. It’s not in my power to be a friend to any one except to give them a few points on the things I am most familiar with, and they are—the ways of the world and the wiles of the wicked.”’ She went out laughing, and just then there came a peal at the bell. Marion ran out and looked over the banisters, and then ran down to greet Mr. Ray and his sister. “Oh, I am so glad to see you!” she cried as she hugged and kissed Miss Ray—“I was so afraid you would go away without com- ing to see me.” Mr. Ray shook hands with Dollie and then turned to Marion. He seemed older and sadder than she had ever seen him. Not much like the gay-hearted young man who CORNICE OOO (c SS (C (0)