Marion Marlowe's Disappearance, or, Almost a Crime — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

an - s. ts ~ - soon be verified,” said Miss Ellis, laughing. “Tf they keep on coming in you'll soon have a thousand, Miss Marlowe.” ‘ CHAPTER V. MARION’S LOYALTY. For the first time in her life Marion began to think seriously over this old affection of Bert’s, and to wonder if the boy was really earnest in the matter. He was only a year older than she was, but he was a large, man- ly-looking fellow, and, no doubt, these few months of travel had improved him wonder- fully. Mr. Canfield, his foster father, was a very wealthy man; moreover, he was without a child in the world, and there was no doubt that he would leave Bert a magnificent for- tune. ‘This fact in itself did not interest Marion in the least, although she was elad for Bert’s sake that his days of poverty were over. She kept thinking about him all the rest of the evening, and every time any one ap- plauded with unusual vehemence she turned her eyes over the footlights in that particular direction. . But if Bert were in the theatre he did not ‘make his presence known, and Marion grew more and more eager to see him as the play progressed. In the few minutes before the last act be- gan Ed. Gordon came to her. She was standing in the doorway of her dressing- room, taking a last look at her roses. “Will you allow me to add this to your laurels, Miss Marlowe?” he asked; softly, at the same time holding out to her an ex- quisite bunch of orchids. Marion took them MY QUEEN. 9 with a smile that was as sad as it was tender. She had learned to pity Mr. Gordon, for she knew that he was hopelessly in love with her. | Before she had ever acted with him he had shown a marked fondness for her, but every matinée and night that they acted that last scene together she felt instinctively that he meant every word of his impassioned declar- ation, and that he would almost have given his life to have reecived one word of encour- agement from her. But Marion had her reasons for disliking Mr. Gordon. He had been distrustful of her once, even to the point of questioning her honor, and, to a girl like Marion, this offence was fatal. She might forgive, but she could never for- get or overlook such a transgression. “You are very kind, and I thank you so much,” she said, sweetly, as she took his or- chids; “but do look at my conservatory, Mr. Gordon. ing in its beauty almost to the extent of for- Miss Ellis and I have been revel- getting our cues all the evening.” Ed. Gordon bit his lips as he glanced in at the door. Then the jealousy in his nature leaped to the surface. “Your admirers are legion, I should say, Miss Marlowe,” he said, shortly. “I wonder you are not above treating your fellow mor- tals civilly.” “How absurd,” said Marion, with a merry laugh. “As if admiration and love could Why, Mr. Gordon,” she went on, her beautiful eyes fill- make me other than humble. ing with tears, “do you know what I have been thinking of ever since my flowers be- EGOMiGooo SACO