Marion Marlowe's Courage: A Brave Girl's Struggle for Life and Honor — page 20: what you’re looking at

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18 tle mischievously. “Do you know I can’t understand Silas yet, little sister. I feel that there is something else besides the mortgage that is worrying Silas.” ‘I was surprised that he should ask me to marry him,” said Dollie, sadly. “Men lke father and Silas are always unforgiving where women are concerned.” Marion looked at her tenderly. “Never mind about them, little sister,’ she said very softly. “There is sadness and sorrow enough, Heaven knows. I only hope that we may some day find some one to love and to love us. : As she spoke Marion put her arms around Dollie’s waist and laid her head a trifle wear- ily on the plump, white shoulder. , [t was a pretty picture of sisterly devotion, which only their guardian angels witnessed. They were alone in New York, without money or friends, except one poor girl whose heart was bigger than her purse, but who divided with them her every penny gladly. There was a step on the stairs as the girls extinguished their light, then an agonized voice called to them through the key-hole: “Girls! Girls! -Let me in for just one minute, do!” Marion opened the door quickly, and ad- mitted Miss Allyn. “Girls, my mother is dead and I've got to go home,” said the little reporter, brokenly. The next moment she was sobbing on Marion’s shoulder. CHAPTER X. A DEED OF VALOR. It was the day following Miss Allyn’s de- parture to her distant home, and Marion Marlowe was once more making the rounds ot the city. As she stood before the door of a hand- some brown-stone residence her brain was teeming with some hitherto almost unknown sensations. Why was it that some should have so much and others so little? Why should she be so utterly destitute of even the necessaries of life, while others were basking idly in the sunshine of luxury? ‘The memory of that hateful mortgage had not left her day or night, yet as the weeks passed by they left her worse off than ever. _ She could now hardly afford to buy food for her sister and herself. Since Miss Allyn’s departure Dollie had worried herself sick and was now lying at home, il with an obstinate slow fever. Good Mrs. Haley had helped them all she could, but her husband was poor and the demands upon them were enormous. : it,’ said Marion, with a sigh. MY QUEEN. 1 « , \larion groaned to think of being obliged to call upon her for anything. EE As the door of the handsome house swung open Marion stepped wearily into the hall, where she was asked by a haughty butler to state her errand to his mistress. “She advertised for a_ governess,” said - Marion, plaintively, “and I have an excellent — education, I feel sure that I could suit her.” “Know French and German?” asked the man in a hard voice. “Can you teach the Delsarte method and play the piano?” Marion stared at him for a second. “The advertisement reads that Mrs. Van _ Siegen will pay only $20 per month,” she said faintly. ‘‘Is it possible she expects any such accomplishments for that money ?” Certainly,” said the butler with a pom- pous wave of his hand. “She not only ex- pects it, but she'll doubtless get it. There’s’ hundreds that will jump at’the position which she Offers.” *--: #24 “Poor things. Well, they are welcome to | “There must be people worse off than I am in the city.” She went out of the house with dull despair in her heart. This bit of information had set her thinking. P If women with stich accomplishments were willing and glad to work for such money, it _was plainly to be seen that there was little hope for her, with only a thorough New England school education. > “What shall f do?” she whispered as she turned toward home. “I haven't a dollar in the world, and poor Dollie is illvand suffer-_ ing.” along slowly. She had been so far that day that she felt lame amd weary. ~ As she reached Union Square she started through the park, hoping that a glimpse of the grass and trees would rest her a little. It was the middle of September, and the fountain, was still playing. There were peo-- ple on all the benches and the walks were swarming with children. Suddenly Marion saw a sight that made her blood boil with anger. She stood still staring for a moment, hardly able to believe it. , | Some big boys had found a poor little yel- low dog, and were amusing themselves by throwing it into the basin of the fountain and then letting it swim out, only to compel it to repeat the operation. The dog was trembling with fear and looked utterly wretched, and Marion noticed that it was lame and limping. In an instant she was in the very midst of the group of urchins, her fair face ablaze with indignation. mn Eomichbooks mi (E(@) * It was almost dark, still Marion walked € “