Marion Marlowe's Triumph, or, In Spite of Her Enemies — page 23: what you’re looking at

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eracit, by way of explanation ; ' ‘for no one on id be sweeter to me than Miss Lemadrid s the other night—unless it is Miss Vil- ette and Miss Nelson.” \; Wh e she got back to the boarding house she pee? on Miss Villette’s door, but her was so ‘gentle that the actress did not “he Th. Bei fore she could tap again she heard the actress speak, but her voice was so shrill and strain ned that she hardly recognized it. | me ‘Oh, Ed, Ed!” she cried, bitterly; “have. : uw forgotten everything? Don’t you re- yer the times that you have sworn that . 1 oved pre “4 es, I remember them all distinctly,” ame he answer in Ed Gordon’s voice. eS y shame) ‘be it said, I have lied to a woman.’ ied !” P ‘ he Spanish girl's voice fairly hissed the ig 4 Renewed oe me, Ed? You traitor EB _ Marion fled upstairs, shied heart beating fu- jouslv. Not for the world would she have Ove verheard such a conversation willingly. But there was no time to think over other Pe ple s affairs now. Shé must learn the rest her part before she went to rehearsal. When she finally saw Vera it was at the 1 cheon table. pale, but as smiling and pleasant as ever. _ Ed Gordon did not come in, and Marion was truly thankful. She was beginning to ; de: spise the handsome voung actor. at: _ There were a dozen members of the com- ) any sitting at the table. and just at the nght noment } Marion imparted her information. “Oh, Miss Villette, I have a secret for you!” she said. in her merry voice, speaking actoss the table. “Of course your friends ere all welcome to hear it, but as you are | responsible for what ‘! have been and gone ar id done,’ I am going to make you a special if. confidante i in the matter!” Then beware! Zvery eye was turned upon her, and Miss Villette looked genuinely puzzled. Her face turned a shade paler, but she stared calmly at Marion. ; I shall be delighted to hear what you have beer | and gone and done,’ ” she said, smiling ; The Spanish girl was a trifle’ o> MY QUEEN. 21 “particularly if I am to blame, so do hurry and tell me.” “Well, you see,” said Marion, soberly, “you took me behind the scenes with you the other evening, and [ must have gotten stage struck, or something of that sort, for to-day I signed a couiract and am a member of your com- pany.” There was a breathless silence after this announcement, and Vera Villette seemed to grow paler and paler. She was a splendid | actress in some particular lines, but this scene of Marion’s had staggered her completely. “What! No congratulations?” said Ma- rion, looking wonderingly around ; “and I did so hope that you would all give me at least a greeting.” There was a hasty glance exchanged be- tween Vera and Nona, and at that moment Hugh Dean, the comedian, pushed his chair back from the table. “That is the worst night’s work that Miss Villette ever did, Miss Marlowe,” he said, looking straight at the™young girl. “You might better have joined a circus and ridden 7 in the cage with the lion than to have signed with the Bergen Square Theatrical Company, with its lot of jealous women !” “On the contrary,” cried Nona Nelson, sar- castically, “Miss Marlowe _will be perfectly safe. Why, hasn’t she two protectors al- ready—Hugh Dean and Ed Gordon?” ~Marion Marlowe stared from one to the other. This manner of taking her news was, to say the least, extraordinary. “T congratulate you, Miss Marlowe, with all my heart,’ said a soft voice, sweetly. Vera Villette had recovered her composure and was leaning across the table, holding out her hand to Marion. CHAPTER XII. THE REHEARSAL. Claire Lemadrid was not at the rehearsal which had been called principally on account of her new understudy. She had a very bad cold and was saving her voice for the even- ing, but it was rumored that she was furious with rage over Manager Temple’s action in engaging Marion. “At last Lemadrid has to admit that her COMMICOOoksS. CO