Marion Marlowe's Courage: A Brave Girl's Struggle for Life and Honor — page 24: what you’re looking at

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22 Marion had felt a little embarrassed in Mrs. Haley’s company of late, for she knew that her friend must wonder where she got her money to go on paying her rent and to employ a physician for Dollie. But her promise to Ralph had been sacredly kept, and Mrs. Haley was far too courteous to ask any questions. To-day even Dollie felt a little ill at ease, for Mrs. Haley, in spite of her kindness, did not look exactly natural. “What is troubling you, Mrs. Haley?” asked Marion, at last. ““You look so worried ana pale. Has anything happened?” Mrs. Haley tried to smile, but the effort was pitiful. 3 “There has, indéed,” she said sadly, “and I feel that I must tell it, although I dread to shock Dollie, when she has so little strength, the poor dear.” “Tell it at-once, Mrs. Haley. I can hear it,” cried Dollie, quickly. “Has anything hap- pened to Ralph? Do hurry and tell us.” irs. Haley took the young girl’s hand and patted it as she spoke. “It may not be so serious, after all,” she said, more brightly, “but you know my nephew is living with me at present and, well, about three weeks ago an old family heirioom, a diamond, was stolen from the flat, and as Ralph and my husband were the only ones who knew exactly where I kept the stone, it was perhaps not unnatural that | should suspect him. Of course I put the question to him plainly, but for some reason or other he refuses to answer it. Since that time I have been at a loss to know what to do. We are trying to trace the jewel, but so far we have not been able to find it.” For a moment after she stopped talking there was not a sound in the room except the ticking of the clock, which was painfully in evidence. The face of Ralph Moore’s betrothed was like the driven snow when she turned toward her sister, but one look at Marion gave her the strength to recover. Marion sat like a statue, her face as pale as death, but with a smile wreathing her lips that spoke of heroic resolution. “He will prove himself innocent, [ am sure of it,” she said firmly. “Tt is dreadful for us all, but Ralph is sure to be vindi- cated. Please believe me, Mrs. Haley, I have absolute faith in hifn.” “Ves indeed,” murmured Dollie, in a fainter voice. She had not the strength to be as firm and determined as her sister. ' “T thought you would feel that way,” said Mrs. Haley, sadly. “God grant that you may be right, but as he has asked Dollie to marry him, I felt that she ought to know it. MY QUEEN. m emp “Certainly,” said Marion, still in her calm, clear voice. “And I think she will cling to him even more closely in his trouble, for I am sure Ralph would never do a dishonest deed. There must be a mistake. Oh, I am almost sure of it.” “I have tried hard to think so, for he is my sister's child,” said Mrs. Haley, sadly. “Oh, the. suspicion is dreadful. I wish I could evercome it.” As soon as their visitor was gone, poor little Dollie burst out crying. “Oh, Marion, he took it,” she whispered, faintly. and we had no money.” “Tt is dreadful,’’ said Marion, in a broken voice. “Oh, why couldn’t he see that it was better for us to starve. Poor Ralph, I for- give him, but, oh, I wish he hadn’t done it. And to think we have promised to say noth- ‘ing about it.” Dollie grew so sick after this that Marion was terribly alarmed. A chill came on, fol- lowed by a raging fever. - Marion looked in her purse. There was ~ ‘He stole it for us when -—t was sick — just three dollars left. Without the slightest | hesitation she ran for a doctor. | That night when Dollie was more quiet | she went out for a short walk. She felt that she must be alone where she could think over the situation. That hundred dollars must be earned and returned to Ralph. She clenched her hands together as she came to this decision. As ple just before her all standing around a man who appeared to be a street preacher. As Marion came nearer she recognized Mr. Haley’s voice. He was talking earnestly and sensibly in his eloquent manner. — At the close of his exhortation he started a hymn. It was an old familiar air that Mar- she turned a corner she saw a group of peo- 7 ion had known all her life, and in an instant © it took her back to her home in the country. For just one brief minute the old farm rose up before her. Then came a vision of Silas Johnson turning the old people out and then she thought suddenly of Dollie and her own fitter helplessness. A wave of emotion swept through every | fibre of her body. She must give vent to mad with grief. Before she knew it her sorrow or go © her lips were opened — and she joined heart and soul in the singing. | CHAPTER XIII. MARION’S FIRST ENGAGEMENT AS A SINGER. At the very moment in which opened her lips to sing ( corner of the street, walking directly toward the preacher. GOmicbooks-com Marion — two men turned the