Marion Marlowe's Escape, or, A Dangerous Mistake on the Road — page 17: what you’re looking at

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

= _ to happen this trip, for I’m a mascot! land O. K. in Cohoes, and then—hurrah for _ victory! it,” said-the young girl, smiling. MY QUEEN. ly. “Do you believe in fortunes? Miss Lee has just told mine, and she says there 1S something awful going to happen. Some- body is in terrible danger! She does not think it is me—so perhaps it is you! Of course, I don’t believe a word of it, but it made me so uncomfortable I just had to tell it!” “Ask Miss Lee to please not let it happen | until we have finished supper,’ said Bert, a little rudely. “People who foretell awful events ought to be gagged or muzzled! As if poor Marion had not had enough awful experiences already!” “Oh, of course it is only a guess,” muttered Miss Ellis, a little humiliated. “I only did it for fun! I don’t believe a word of it!” Marion was looking out of the window with a thoughtful look upon her face. There was a storm coming up, and it was erowing dark, but she could see the shin- ing surface of the rivér distinctly. Winter had been slow in coming, and the mild weather of the last few days, which still continued, promised a heavy fall of rain when the storm reached them. “T’ve had a feeling ever since we started that something was going to happen,” Mar- ion said, slowly. “I don’t know what rt 18s, but I do hope it’s not an accident. I expect it is, because I heard something said about the freshets having weakened the bridges, but I don’t mind about myself. I am only think- ine.of little Ruby.” “See here, Marion! You are getting mor- bid!” said Bert, a little sharply. “You’ve had such a lot of dreadful experiences since you left the farm to seek your fortune that it isn't much wonder, but there’s nothing going We'll Why, my head is expanding al- ready with the applause that is coming!” “You'll be a great success, no doubt about rwtall,, I can’t quite rid myself of my premonitions, Bert. I’ve had so many of them in my life, ¥ % and they have all been so truthful!” “Oh, you’ve got the premonition habit,” - - laughed Bert. “I hope it isn’t catching, for | Vd awfully hate to have it. When you be- 15 gin ‘feeling things in your bones,’ Marion, you may know it is fatal!” His companion laughed heartily. There was a good deal of truth in Bert's words, and it was not long before her gloomy spirits vanished. “Hear this, Jackson! There’s trouble ahead”? called out Dr. Brookes, after a min- ute. “I got an Albany evening paper at the last station. They say it is a fact that the other company is at the Oneida!” “T sent a couple telegrams from the sta- tion,” said Mr. Temple, who came in just in time to hear the words. “I'll know at Hud- son if there’s any truth in the statement.” “In case it is true, what will we do?” asked Marion, quickly. Mr. Temple shook his head. “There’s nothing else but a hall,” he said, with 2a scowl, “and I’ll never consent to play second fiddle to Lemadrid!” Marion thought a moment and then set her lips firmly. . “T’ll plan a way to prevent that, Mr. Tem- ple. This company shall not be disgraced, so long as I belong to it! If we can’t get the Oneida, we will not go to Cohoes! A one- night stand does not matter, especially un- der these circumstances. We'd lose more by playing in a hall than by not giving the per- formance.” “A great deal“more! Why, the injury to our reputation could not be counted!” was the answer. Marion’s face grew thoughtful, and then she smiled brightly. She had thought of a way to outwit Miss Lemadrid; but first, she must wait for the news at Hudson. Perhaps if the company had been composed of the regular members of the profession she would have hesitated before dreaming of Such a serious experiment, but it was com- posed principally of the friends whom she loved dearest on earth, and she was deter- mined that this tour should be as successful as it was possible to make it. She had been through far too much to be afraid of danger now, and her eyes shone as she thought of the business end of her project. It would be the greatest “ad.” that the com- COM CLOOO KS a GO)