Marion Marlowe's Disappearance, or, Almost a Crime — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

wel + MY QUEEN. pened. Now, as he faced the office door, he was almost overcome by his emotions, for, if this brave girl should die, it would surely drive him insane. | | The nurse’s words had brought him the first ray of comfort. If Marion was not badly injured, there was still something to live for. When Dr. Brookes came out of the pri- vate office he grasped Mr. Ray’s hand cor- dially. The fact that they were rivals for the love of this fair young girl had never yet detracted an atom from their regard for each other. - “Only a flesh wound, thank Heaven,” was ‘The bullet passed between her arm and side, but the under An either way and I would have had a deal of Will the doctor’s first words. arm alone is scratched a little. inch trouble, but she is comfortable now. you go in and see her?” Archie Ray was still holding the physi- cian’s hand. “You heard how it happened?” he asked, a little eagerly. “A big brute of a fellow made nasty re- marks about her and you hit him. I would have done it myself—only I’d have gone a bit further. I'd have licked him until he fired that shot, and then—I’d have killed him.” The young physician’s eyes were snapping dangerously. ‘There was.another hand-shake which was even more hearty and genuine. “Now I can go in, I guess,” said Mr. Ray, smiling, “but somehow, I have blamed myself so deeply for this accident to Marion that I was fast getting to that state where [ was ’ ashamed to meet her. “Nonsense, old boy! She’ll like you better than ever, now!” said the doctor, laughing, but the laugh was followed by a sigh that his companion did not notice, - ‘A woman is bound to admire her protec- tor,” he added; “and it was no fault of yours that you did not protect her. You were Shielding her good name, whith is every- thing to Marion, and of course you did not know that the fellow had a pistol.” “I wish I had” said Archie Ray, shutting his teeth, viciously; “but there was no time to do anything but get him arrested after the shot. I had to get Marion into the carriage and bring her to you—and will I ever forget that short ride to this office!” “You thought she was dead, no doubt, you poor fellow! Well, she was white enough to be dead, all right. J thought so myself when I first saw her in the carriage. So you see, old man, I know exactly what you suffered.” - The two noble young lovers stood look- ing at each other silently for a moment. It was an extraordinary situation, and both of © them realized it. Both loved Marion Mar- lowe, and each had asked her to marry him, and both, so far as they knew, had received. the same answer. Marion was only seven- : teen; she had not learned her heart, and, be- sides, she was ambitious for fame and for use- | fulness in the world. She could not seriously think as yet of marriage with either. | No two rivals for the hand of one fair girl — ever felt toward each other as did Mr. Ray — and Dr. Brookes. Both were men of honor, | of loyalty, and principle. They asked noth- ing in the war of love but “a fair field and no favor.”