Under Lock and Key; or, Marion Marlowe's Last Role — page 12: what you’re looking at

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faces of the group as Miss Thompson spoke, but the attendant herself was very grave as she waited for Marion’s answer, The young girl’s fair face had flushed a little, and she had locked her fingers to- gether. As she looked into Miss T hompson’s eyes, her own grew bright with hopefulness. “T have been ill at my hotel for several days, and my nurse prevailed upon me to take a drive this afternoon,” she began, eagerly. “T did not dream of driving so far; but the air was lovely, and, when we reached this place she persuaded me to come in, as she said it was imperative that I should rest be- fore returning. What they did to me in that parlor I do not know. All I remember is that Dr. Lee treated me kindly, and made me wel- come. The next | knew I awoke in a pe- culiar place. My nurse was gone, and I was surrounded by strange faces. Then they brought me down here, and said I was insane. No; I have neither seen nor heard anything of any papers.” . Her story was told simply and with eager truth, yet Miss Thompson alone remained seriously troubled. “Of course there were papers! She would not be here if there weren’t!” spoke up the night-watch, who had entered. “And, what’s more, she’s likely to develop before morn- ing! Any one would think, Miss Thompson, si that you were a greeny at this business. The, ___ idea of taking a lunatic’s word when she says she isn’t crazy.” 3 The words were said so hatefully that Mar- ion turned like a flash. For an instant she was strongly tempted to fly at the woman. “Hush! Don’t say a word,” warned Miss Thompson, quickly, as she put her hand on the young girl’s arm. “It will only make matters worse if you show any resentment. I wouldn’t blame you myself, if you murdered her this minute; but, of course, if you did, _ they would swear you were crazy# Take my -advice and keep cool, if you can.” : » Marion turned to the speaker with her’ heart almost bursting with gratitude. The next moment her courage gave way, and she was sobbing upon the kind attendant’s _ shoulder, : “Oh, to think that only yesterday I was so MY QUEEN. 8 happy!” she cried. “I am engaged to the noblest man in the world, and now—oh, what have I done to deserve such a fate? I am buried alive in a lunatic asylum!’ “Have courage,” whispered Miss Thomp- son, putting her arm around her. “T will help you if I can, but it will be awful hard work, There must be papers or you would not be here; but I promise that I’ll do my best to find out to-morrow.” The other attendants fell back, and, a mo- ment later, they left the ward. They were all laughing over what they called Miss Thompson’s attempt to “coddle”’ the patient, but it was a relief to know that she was not violent, and that their services were not needed. “She'll probably break loose before morn- ing,” said the night-watch, grimly ; “and then, you bet I’ll call Thompson to quiet her. She’s begun by petting her; she may end by other measures !” | The attendants laughed, but it was a laugh of indifference. There was not one of them but would have been genuinely shocked if they had really believed the new patient was not crazy. “Must I stay in this awful place all night?” whispered Marion to Miss Thompson, as she stood arrayed in her strange costume; “and, oh, must I sleep in that awful room? Why, it looks like a prison cell, it 1s so dark and cheerless !”’ “Tt’s the best the institution affords,” an- swered Miss Taylor, dryly. “The Home Rest isn’t noted for the cheerfulness of its apart- ments.” “It is horribly damp,” said Marion, shud- dering. “I have been ill fora week. I would not dare to stay there. Oh, let me out! Pray, let me out! I will pay you well if you will give me my liberty!” “There! Now, are you satisfied that she is loony?’ whispered Miss Taylor. “‘She’s off on a tangent already, talking about money. As like as not, her story is all false from the very beginning.” : “Iam afraid you will have to sleep in there to-night,’’ said Miss Thompson, more firmly. “Tt is the only place we have, and we can’t let you-out. We should lose our positions if we did, and, really, I would not dare to. How ECORNICLOOO© HCO)