Marion Marlowe's Noble Work, or, The Tragedy at the Hospital — page 28: what you’re looking at

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

26 “Ray treated her all right for all I can learn,” said the reporter. “She was a ‘tough proposition,’ if you know what that means, but if the father is bad what can you expect from the children ?” As they were walking back to the Peniten- tiary, Marion remembered the errand that she had been sent on, but she felt sure that the superintendent would excuse her when she heard her story. At the door of the warden’s office even the reporter halted. The scene in the office was almost appalling. | Archie Ray and his father-in-law stood face to face, both pale as death and both glar- ing at each other. In an instant Marion knew that there had been hot words between them, and that they were each blaming the other for the day’s ex- perience. “Come, Mr. Ray,” she said quickly, darting into the room. “Core away before you break down altogether! That man’s words should not annoy you—he is beneath your notice!” The lawyer glared at her, but did not rec- ognize her for a moment, while Dr. Brookes and the warden looked on in intense amaze- ment. “How dare you speak like that, miss?” said Augustus Atherton, hotly. Marion turned and faced him with a look of indignation. “T dare, because I know I am right,” she said, distinctly. “With your own daughter an outcast, a disgrace to her mother and to her husband, you do not hesitate to flatter and mislead young girls, or to compromise and wrong them if occasion offers!” The lawyer’s pale face flushed with shame at her words, and just then Dr, Brookes stepped forward and led her from the office. “Well said, beautiful Marion!” he whis- pered, softly. “And said at a time that he will not forget in a hurry! I fancy he will hesitate before he smiles at another young in- nocent !” “You must cheer poor Mr. Ray,” was the fair girl’s only answer, “for while, of course, it is impossible that he should still love his wife, vet there must be memories that make this scene most bitter!” “T will do my best,” said Reginald Brookes, AN MY QUEEN. aie nobly. He had forgotten for the time tha this man was his rival. _ ' Marion hurried back to the hospital. Sh had done her duty.. She went at once to th Superintendent of Nurses and told her whole story. : | “What a horrible thing!” was that lady’ answer. “Well, my errand will keep, and can go myself to-morrow.” The next day both Marion and Dr. Brooke got a twenty-four hours’ leave of absen They took the “doctor’s boat” together an went over to the city. “There has been one more tragedy in ¢c nection with that poor woman’s death,” said, sadly, as he handed Marion an open le Eel. | ; “My friend, Dr. Greenaway, has kille himself. It seems he knew Mrs. Ray as ‘Ma Osgood,’ and was desperately in love with her.” Marion sighed as she handed him back th letter, which was only a brief account Greenaway’s death, written by his friend, D Fielding. \ “How did he hear of it?” she asked, with little shudder. | Dr. Brookes looked more sorrowful and face trembled as he answered: “Why, I learned that she was ‘May O good before I knew she was Mrs. Ray, and, course, I wired to Greenaway to come up and identify her. The fellow was already in frightful state! Idon’t blame him—it mu be awful to love a wicked woman!” He was looking at Marion so meaningl that her eyes fell before his glance. “Or a wicked man,” she said, softly. O how I pity my dear friend, Miss Allyn!” “Tt has beert a strange ‘mix up,’” said Brookes, thoughtfully, “a tragedy, you mi say, of New York and Blackwell's Island.” “There are many such, I fancy,” was t fair girl’s reply. “More than any one dreams of,” answe . the doctor, sadly. When they reached the city they went rectly to the flat, and as Dollie met them | the door Marion uttered an exclamation. Her golden-haired sister was looking antly happy, and even young Brookes co almost guess the secret, aa Comicbooks. cc