The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-12-03
TWO LIVES IN ONE.
a sIsTERs's STORY OF A BROTHER.


lations but sister, FIVE or six years older
than myself. and well married IN London.
Stephen was solitary aud studious man,
living somewhat apart from his neighbors,
and standing almost in . fatherly position
towards me. Through the years we had
marrying. Thus it was when the events /
have to tell began. The house next to
ours was taken by Mr.. Cameron feeble
looking man, rather past middle age,
with one daughter, Marion by name
How shall describe her, the most beauti-
full creature ever saw? She was per-
haps twenty years old; never knew
precisely. A tall, slight form, fair COM
plextion, dark chestnut eyes and hair
and an expression more like that IF
An angel than human being. Though
was much struck with her appearance.
stephen did not seem to notice It; and we
might have remained unacquainted with
them forever. but that he was required to
help Mr.. Cameron over an awkward stile
opposite our house. Acquaintance once
made, they soon grew familiar; for they
had two feelings in common, = love Of to-
bacco and Swedenborgianism. Many a
summer evening did they pass; smoking
the one and talking the other, Marion
sometimes joining in, for she generally
walked with them, while my chest, which
was SO weak ut that time kept me at home.
and as he entered the door said to him,
"How lovely Marion is (! am never
tired Of looking At her."
Look at her while you may" said he
''she has not three years to live
It was onittrue. She had some dread.
full omplaint-aneurism, think it was
which must carry her off in the flower OF
her days; Stephen told me that he had
consulted the most eminent doctors with
ont getting any hope; and the emotion,
rare enough in. him, that he displayed.
told me he loved Marion. I said no word
TO him about 1t. knew better but saw
Wi. b what dreadful doubts he was perplex-
ed. Excitement might shorten Marion
ife-such m excitement as . declaration
Of love from him might be material injury;
and even ii it did not prove SO, how could
he condemn himself to the prolonged tor
ture Of seeing the life Of beloved wife ebb
away day by day? Besides, he did not
think she cared for him. /, who had
watched her ceasingly, knew that she
loved him with her wholeheart. He strug-
gled with himself fieYcely; but he won
the fight. He left home tor some weeks
and returned, looking Older and paler; but
he had learned to mention her name with
out his voice quivering, and to touch her
hand without holding his breath hard
She was pining away under the influence
OF his changed manner, and dared not
help my two darlings TO be happy. An
UNEXPECTED aid soon came. Mr.. Cameron.
who was in bad health when we first saw
him, died suddenly. Poor MArion's grief
was terrible to see. Her father was dead,
Stephen, NJ she thought. estranged and
there was NO one else in the world who
cared whether she lived or died, except
myself brought her homo with me,
and was with her hourly till Mr.. Gamer
0n's funeral. How We got through that
time hardly know. Then came the NEG
essary inquiry into his affairs. He had
died, not altogether poor, but in reduced
circumstances, leaving Marion an annui-
~ that would scarcely give her the luxu-
ries her state of health required. And
where she was TO live and what to do
Stephen was the sole executor, the one
adviser to whom she could look. he took
two days and nights to consider, and then
offered her his hand and home. At first
she could not believe his offer arose from
anything but pity and compassion; but
when he had told her the story of the last
few months, and called me to bear witness
to it, . great light seemed to come into her
eyes, and . wonderful glow of love, such
as had never seen, over her face. left
lhem to themselves that evening, till Ste
phen tapped atthe door Of my room and told
me all-nothing, in fact but what knew
long before. In their case there was little
cause for delay. Trousseaux were not the
important matters in my day that they
are in my grandchildren's and Marion was
married to Stephen in her black gown,
within . month OF her fathers funeral.
Z The next few months were happy time
for all of rs. Marion's health improved
greatly. The worried, frightened look she
used to wear left her face as she recovered
from the depression caused by her constant
anxiety about her father, aud the loss Of
rest she suffered Ia attending upon him at
night. Il seemed as II she was entirely re-
covering: and Stephen, II he did NOT lose
his fears, at least was not constantly occu-
pied with them. How happily we used to
look forward to the future, for stephen was
beginning to save money; and how many
were our day dreams about professional
eminence tor him, and fashionable life in
London, partly for Marion, but mostly for
me. ! have tried Iasnlonaole NE ~ Lon
don since. but never found 1t % happy as
our days ia that dear old Surrey village.
Well, our happy time did not last long.
Marion caught cough and cold as the
winter came on, and was soon so Ill as to be
taken to London for advice. Stephen came
back alone, with weary, deathly looking
face. Marion had broken . small blood
Gus in itself, but ominous enough. They
were to 80 at once to a warmer climate
not I day to be lost. Sorrowfully packed
MP the necessary things, and went with
Stephen to London the next day to say
goodbye to Marion, who had been forbid
den to 90 home. The same afternoon they
were On board . trading vessel bound TO
Legho.n.. Luckily. Marion was . good
sailor and we'll used to ships, for she had
made more than one voyage to Madeira
With her father. Much ss | wished to go
With them, and much AZ they wished it
too. Il was out ofthe question. Stephen had
saved but little money, and could hardly
80 how ne and Marion were to live. unless
- could make himself practice some
where among the English abroad, and his
taking me also was not to be thought Of. I
was 70 live for the present with nay mar
RED sister. It was very sore to part with
Stephen. With whom had lived all my
life: It was almost sorer still to part with
Marion, who had been more than q sister
TO me ever since saw her. Stephen and /
were nearly overcome with emotion, but
she was calm and silent, with an intent,
wistful l,ok about her lovely face that has
haunted ne all my life since. can zee it
now when shut my eyes, though 1t Is fifty
years ago. Need 1 say that never saw
her again?