Marion Marlowe's Peril, or, A Mystery Unveiled — page 19: what you’re looking at

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Miss Allyn who ates carried him off to a corner. “Do you know I am just crazy to go on the stage,” went on Miss Everett. “If it wasn’t _ for my brother I’d apply for a position to- ~ morrow. Oh, I do so want to be an actress! = Why, I have taken part over and over in pri- - vate theatricals, and every one says I have ability and talent.” 4 “We can't always believe what everybody _ says, Sis, ” said Mr. Everett, who had over- heard her. “Everybody is nobody’s friend, a nobody is everybody’s. You shall cer- tainly go on the stage some day, if that is _ your ambition, but you know you are young yet A girl of seventeen is not safe on the 7 _ stage, unless she is chaperoned or is very strong in her character.” 4 He glanced at Marion as he spoke, and his sister saw it and began pouting. “You mean if I was like Miss Marlowe, brother! Well, I’m not a paragon of all the _ virtues, and I don’t care to be, either.” , “Oh, I am sure he doesn’t mean that,” said _ Marion, quickly, “for no girl was ever any ~ ak green than Tam. Why, I have a per- _ fect horror of another pegheseiqnal engage- ment.” “And I would just lost it!” cried the girl _ enthusiastically “Bright lights! Music! owers! Applause and admiration! It is Piha women are made for—why should not 5 _ they have it?” _ “Dear me!” said Miss Allyn, with a curious - shrug of her shoulders. “What pictures you do paint of woman’s sphere, Miss Everett! | Why, I supposed that women were made to _ work, work, work! To darn stockings, cook, keep the house and tend the baby!” Miss Everett tossed her head in disdain as she replied: _ “Excuse me from any of that, if you please! _ I have never worked, and I never intend to! I consider it quite enough to be ornamental | in the world—let the scrawny old maids do i the useful act if they wish to!” “Oh, I am sure you must have some worthy _ Motive in life,” said Marion, sweetly. “We all have to do something, be it much or little. In this great human hive not one of us can be idle.” re 66 bp) Pe aaa : oy < | MY QUEEN. “Well, I can and will,” said ‘Miss Everett, 17 complacently. “J am not going to so much as soil the tips of my fingers in my life! There will always be some one who will oladly take care of me.” Howard Everett’s sigh went straight to Marion’s heart. For the first time that even- ing she felt that Miss Allyn was right. It did, indeed, look as if the case was hopeless. Without a moment’s hesitation she faced the flippant girl squarely and her musical voice, as she spoke, sounded strangely tense and solemn. “And I will not soil my soul with the stains of an unperformed duty while I live!’’ she said slowly. “I will not brand it with the stigma of uselessness or selfishness! So long as | am on earth there will be others to care for, and not for the world would I falter in my duty toward them! The man or woman who lives solely for self is lost. There is no happiness on earth like that of doing for others.” As the last syllable fell from her lips, Marion’s gaze was riveted upon Miss Ever- ett’s face. There was not a sound for a moment in the little parlor, but she was pleased to see that her guest was blushing furiously. CHAPTER VIII. AN EARLY MORNING CONFIDENCE. It was not necessary for Marion to report at the office of the Star the next morning; her work was laid out and she had only to finish it. As soon as Miss Allyn had started down- town she put on her hat and ran over to tell Dollie of her new vocation. Dollie was her twin sister, a beautiful girl, who, since her marriage only a few weeks before, had as- sumed a matronly air that was wonderfully charming. (If our readers have not read Nos. 1 to 5 of “My Queen,” they should do so at once, and learn of all the previous adventures of Marion, Dollie and their friends. ) Marion did not tell her what her assign- ment was, but left her to be surprised by it when she saw it in the paper. “I want to astonish you with my clever- * she said, as she kissed her blue-eyed ness, COmiclboo! Sn (CO)