Under Lock and Key; or, Marion Marlowe's Last Role — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

She’ crept weakly across the hall to the outer door, which, now that the hospital ward had been deserted, was standing wide o another door—there were sounds of muffled - yoices coming through the thick wood, so she - groped her way in an-ther direction. Lis- - tening carefully, and using her key with the most extreme caution, she finally reached the yard, and, at the first breath of pure air, all her courage came back to her. There was a small door in the high board fence which led to another yard, then another door, probably, and then the lawn—and free- dom. ee. and, as she Staggered on, her lips moved _ softly. “Oh, Reginald, Reginald! If you only knew!” she murmured, pitiably, “but I am coming, darling! No one shall stop me!” She crept closer to the fence and kept well in the shadow, glancing up at the dark build- ing with its small, dull windows, as though she feared it was a sentinel with grim eyes watching her every movement. The sky was dark, but the stars were shin- ing brightly, and, as she felt the rough boards carefully in her search for the gate, the very loneliness of the yard chilled her soul with horror. , ~ Suddenly a woman’s voice rang out shrilly _ from one of the grated windows. It was one ~ 4 stars, but for a second the young girl’s heart beat fiercely for fear_that she had been de- ae «tected. ‘a “IT must escape! I must!” she whispered, _ between her white lips. “Oh, my poor, dear sister, how you must be worrying about me! _ Who could have done me this-awful wrong? Who, but some one who wished to take me nt from my lover; but they shall not succeed! Mi Iam free! And Iam going to him!” She touched the lock of the rude gate as ____ she breathed the last word. Her heart was beating wildly, and her white teeth were set with determination. | Suddenly, the strength deserted her arm, and it fell helpless at her side. _ Some one had inserted a key upon the other side, and was turning it in the lock with a vigorous movement. ‘She had only time to shrink back into the - shadow of the high fence, when the gate swung open, and a-woman stood before her. Marion clenched her hands, and almost gasped for breath. Was she to be imprisoned again, after all her effort? - _ ~ The maniac behind the grated window 4 4 MY QUEEN. Another turn to the right brought her to A sigh of thankfulness escaped her lips, . of the demented inmates calling wildly to the. 15 seemed to answer her question, for at that moment she put her face close to the bars and gave vent to a peal of mocking laughter. CHAPTER VIII. A FRIEND, “Miss Thompson !”’ Marion whispered the name in an accent of horror, as the woman stepped deliberately toward her and scrutinized her in the star- light. “So here you are! Thank Heaven, I have found you!” exclaimed the attendant, calmly. “T was absolutely sure that you were not hurt, but I can’t imagine where you went so quick, Miss Gordon.” Marion caught her breath with a little gasp. She was sorely disappointed and could hardly keep from crying. ~ “T ran into the clothing-room, and I found some keys,” she said, simply. “Will you please let me go home to my friends, Miss Thompson ?” “And lose my position!” said the attendant, quickly. Marion took a step nearer, and laid her hand upon her arm. “IT swegr that [ am rich, Miss Thompson,” she said, softly, “and I will give you a fair salary, or more, if you will let me escape! You need not aid me—only let me go, Miss Thompson. It cannot possibly harm you, for no one will know it. They will blame the fire—perhaps they will think I am dead, even !” Miss Thompson leaned against the fence, in the shadow of the little door, and Marion moved nearer as she waited for her answer. “Tell me more about yourself,” said the at- tendant, calmly.” “Don’t prevaricate, Miss Gordon, but tell me everything you can that will convince me you have been wronged and that I ought to help you!” She took the young girl’s arm as she spoke, and led her to a rude bench which was ex- actly underneath the jibbering maniac’s win- dow. Marion shuddered as the shrill laugh rang again upon the air, but she hastened to com- ply with her companion’s orders. “Tam Marion Marlowe, and I was born in Hickorytown, Connecticut,” she began, quickly, “and for some time I have been on the road with the Temple Theatrical Company. I’ left when the company disbanded a few weeks ago, and I have in the bank a hundred thousand dollars, which has recently been given to me. |] am engaged to marry Dr. Reginald Brookes, but I was taken ill at my hotel, and there was no one to stay with me, CORnniclboooks (CO)