Marion Marlowe's Escape, or, A Dangerous Mistake on the Road — page 27: what you’re looking at

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

ee feelings. The play will go on with no fur- ther interruption, and I thank you betore- hand for your kind attention to it.” -— The speech was applauded, and then the curtain rose again with the actors and act- _resses as composed as statues. After that it did not matter how any one played. Every joke was applauded, and every bit of clever “business” cheered. ‘The audience was excited and had to work off its superfluous feelings. - “Gee whiz! This beats me!” said Bert, as he mopped his forehead in the scene-room after his fifth curtain-call with Miss Marlowe and the doctor. “I’ve heard of people hav- ing fame thrust upon them! We'll all have to go out and buy bigger hats to-morrow, and I'll have to wear barrel hoops to keep from bursting!” “Tell us all about it, Jackson,’ asked one of the stage hands; “I mean about the acci- dent.” The others grouped around as Bert an- -swered the question. a _ Marion and the doctor were doing a pretty love scene on the stage, and, as Bert was lis- tening for his cue, he talked as rapidly as pos- sible. “Why, it seems that Preston mistook her for Miss Lee. She had on Miss Lee’s cape, and it was almost dark on the platform. The moment she stepped out he grabbed her and threw her over the railing. Marion says there isn’t a ghost of a doubt that the fellow qs crazy.” _ There was a gasp of horror, and Miss Lee fainted. She had been standing behind a pile of scenery, where Bert could not see her. me ihunder! I ought not to have told _ that!” he said, as he helped the “supe” carry _ her to her dressing-room; “still, the fellow Was seen to do it; so she'll have to know _ some time. Imagine a sane man doing a thing like that, at that time in the evening, BD “He must be as crazy as a loon,” said Miss Fllis, as she arranged a sort of couch on some Tunks and boxes. “I knew he had a bad She told me that herself; but it was Opinion that he was in love with Miss 3? / ‘Miss Lee has suspected that Preston was uilty from the first; I am sure of it,” said iss Allyn. “She told Mr. Temple to have im locked up; and she wouldn’t have done lat if she hadn’t been suspicious.” “What is Preston to her?” asked Miss iis, suddenly, as she bathed Miss Lee’s face ith some toilet-water. Only his cast-off sweetheart,” said Bert, ity slowly. “He has a wife and four chil- ren, but he ran away with this girl. Since MY QUEEN. 25 he got his eye on Marion he has been trying to shake her.” “And to think that he chucked the girl he was in love with off the train,’ said the “supe,” wonderingly. Bert saw that Miss Lee was still uncon- scious before he answered. “He thought it was she, I tell you. She had Miss Lee’s cape on, and you remember how dark it was in the middle of that shower. Marion says he grabbed her in a grip of iron and kept his hand over her mouth to prevent her shrieking.” “He must have felt dreadfully when he dis- covered his mistake,’ remarked Miss Ellis; “and, ten to one, he don’t know yet but that he killed her.” “Serves him right! The suspense will do him good!” said Bert, angrily. “He’s a cold- blooded murderer, any way you look at him.” He darted away just then in answer to his cue, and, in a moment, every one but Miss Allyn was forced to follow him. Miss Lee’s eyes opened slowly, and then turned toward Miss Allyn. “They will not kill him, will they?” she whispered, brokenly. “They can’t,” said Miss Allyn, shortly. “She’s alive, and he’s crazy. But why do you care? Is it possible that you love him ?” Miss Lee’s face turned even whiter. “I did—I do, Miss Allyn,” she said, feebly ; “and, oh, I know I deserve it all! It was I who took him from his wife and children !” Miss Allyn shuddered, but she did not move. Her arm was under the poor girl’s shoulders. For ten minutes they sat in silence, and then Miss Allyn had to go. As she left the room she kissed the wicked girl softly. That kiss seemed to loosen the flood-gates of Miss Lee’s anguish. As Miss Allyn left the room she bounded to her feet and began feverishly searching a hand-bag that stood near her. “I will not live to see it. Oh, Frank! Frank!” she cried, wildly; “I know you hate me and that you intended killing me, Frank: but I can’t help it, dear. I love you! you!” She had found what she wanted—a thin. slender vial. As she raised it to her lips, Marion Marlowe dashed into the dressing- room. I love There was not a sound spoken as Marien wrenched the bottle from her grasp. The next moment Miss Lee was weeping piteous’y on the young girl’s shoulder. | EO) DOO AMG SS (CO)