A Wonderful Secret, or Marion Marlowe's Discovery — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

“Fr MY QUEEN. 9 bustled about trying to make them both vengeance on the one he hated he took it comfortable. | | out on the other, who happened to be Mar- ~ Marion ran back to the railroad station as ion; but, of course, our plays don’t interest soon as she could, and in less than an hour you much. Now, I haven’t a doubt that you she received an answer to her message to good people actually consider them wicked!” Bert’s fSster father. She turned from one to the other with He would come as soon as he could, but such honest eyes that, to save herself, Marion the day was indefinite; meanwhile she was to could not help laughing. hire the best lawyer to be had for money, “T’ll ‘low I did think they wuz wicked and, above all things, get Bert out as quickly oncet,” said Mrs. Marlowe, mildly, “but, ef as possible. our Marion is a play actor, why, that makes “Which he did not need to tell me,” she it diff’rent. Marion wouldn’t do nothin’ thet said, as soon as she read it. “Why, I should wuzn’t respectable.” be tempted to burn down the poor farm if ‘Indeed she wouldn’t, mother,” said Mar- I could not get him out any other way, but I ion, going over and kissing her. “Your depend upon that gentleman to make it daughter was altogether too well brought up easier.” ; for that. She is as respectable to-day as she “Who is he, anyway, Marion?” asked Miss ever was in her life, and, my dear, dear Allyn, who was making herself at home. mother, she is ever so much wiser.” “In the excitement it did not occur to me “Yes, and richer,” broke in Miss Allyn, © _ to ask his name, and I’m sure you did not with a mischievous smile. “You must just think of it, either.” wait and see what is going to happen, Mrs. : “He gave me his card,” said Deacon Mar- Marlowe. Why, I’ll wager that, in less than lowe, as he began rummaging through his a week, Marion will own this whole place, pockets, “an’ I'll be doggoned ef I hain’t every corneob and mud puddle, to say noth- lost it. Waal now, thet is jest like yewr old — ing of the people!” ’ daddy, Marion, but it don’t make no differ- “T’ll buy the poor farm first,” said Marion, ence; when he comes we can ask him.” _ “that is if there’s such a thing as bribing the “Oh, Marion! Just look at that lithograph county to sell it!” | of you up over the mantel!” called Alma, at “Oh, Marion! What a capital scheme! - that minute. And, -between you and me, I am sure they “Doesn't it carry you back to that night will sell it; that is, if the biggest man in in Cohoes! Why, it is the very dress you Hickorytown has anything to say about it. had on when Percy Preston threw you off Why, did you see the look in his eve when of that train. Really, the minute I looked ‘he saw Bert’s money? Well, I did, and I tell at it it gave me the shivers!” you he’d sell his soul for a hundred dollars.” “Oh, Alma, don’t!” cried Marion, sharply, “I reck’n now yew’r right,” said Deacon as she gave a quick glance at the wondering Marlowe, grinning. “An’ I’m_ thinkin’ as faces of her parents. how it wouldn’t be the first time neither !” ‘ Miss Allyn’s eyes flew open, but she took “Good gracious! Do you mean that ae in the situation at a glance. The old farmer- townspeople are blessed with more than one and his wife had never heard of that episode sou] apiece?” asked Miss Allyn. quick] “Tf in their daughter’s career, for all the news- ae y papers they ever saw were the ones Marion Bree them. uncanny !” It Was a scene in a tragedy,” she ex- Deacon Marlowe stared at her, but he un- plained, glibly. “You see, the ‘villain,’-as derstood her perfectly. In his old age | we call the bad man of the company, was was developing quite a sense of per + aS desperately in love with the heroine of the “T reck’n it is onnatural, an’ vet it oe play, and he hated the soubrette with a bitter truth.” he said honestly Wh re i . Le ee hatred. | Well, in his horrible fury he got [’ve seen con bare es , ae we ther mixed up and, instead of wreaking his things in my day thet, ef I wuz ter hev = i: GOMIGIOOKSACoOnm they are, I don’t wonder Marion wouldn't stay here! The very idea of the thing is -