Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1865-10-28

which must carry her off IN the flower of
her days. Stephen told me that he had
consulted the most eminent doctors without
getting any hope; and the emotion, rare
enough in him, that he displayed, told me
that he loved Marion. l said no word to
him about it, knew better; But saw with
what dreadful doubts he was perplexed.-
Excitement might shorten Marion's life
such an excitement as a declaration of love
from him might he of material INJURY; and
even if it did not prove so how could he
condemn himself to the prolonged torture
of seeing the life of beloved wife ebb away
day by days Besides, he did not think
she cared for him. /, who had watched her
ceaselessly, knew that she loved him with
her whole heart. He struggled with himself
tiercely; but he won the fight. He left home
| for a few weeks, and returned looking Older
and paler but he had learned to mention
her name without his voice quivering, and
to .ouch her hand without holding his
breath hard. She was pining away under
the influence of his changed manner, and
dared not help my two darlngs to be happy.
An unexpected aid soon came. Mr.. Came
ron, who was in bad health when We first
saw him, died suddenly. Poor Marion's
grief was terrible to see. He father was
dead, Stephen, as she thought, estranged
cared whether she lived or died, except my
self | brought her home with me, and was
with her hourly until Mr.. Cameron's funeral.
How we got through that time l hardly
know. Then came the necessary inquiry
into his affairs. He had died, not altogether
poor, but in reduced circumstances, leaving
Marion an annuity that would scarcely give
her the luxuries her state of health required.
And where was she to live, and what to do
Stephen was the sole executor, the sole ad-
wiser to whom she could look. He had two
days and nights to consider, and then offer
ed her his hand and home. At first she could
not believe that his offer arose from any
thing 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,
n great light seemed to come into her eyes,
and q wonderful glow of love, such as had
never seen, over her face. | left them to
themselves that evening, till Stephen tap
ped at the door of my room and told me all
nothing, in fact, but what l knew long
before. In their case, there was little cause
for delay. Trousseaux were not the impor-
tant matters in my Gay that they arc in
my grand children's and Marion was married
to Stephen, in her black, within month
after her fathers funeral.
The next month was a happy time for all
of u.s. Marions health improved greatly.
The worried, frightened look she used to
wear left her face as she used to wear left
her face as she recovered from the depres-
sion caused by her constant anxiety about
her father, and the loss of rest she suffered
in attending upon him at night. 1t seemed
as if she was entirely recovering; and Ste
phen, if he did not lose his tears, at least
was not constantly occupied with them
How happily We used to look forward to
the future, for Stephen was beginning to
save money; and many were our day,
dreams about professional eminence for HIM,
and fashionable life in London, partly for
Marion, but mostly for me. l have tried
fashionable life in London since, but never
found it so happy as our days in that dear
old Surrey village.
Well our happy time did not last long.
Marion caught a cough and cold as the
Winter came on, and was soon so i'll as to
be taken to London for advice. Stephen
came back alone, with weary, deadly-look-
ing face. Marion had broken small blood
vessel ON the jourEey--not anything serious
IN Itself, but ominous enough. They were
to go at once 70 a warmer cimate-not a
day to be lost. Sorrowfully packed up all
the necessary things, and went with Stephen
to London the next day. to say goodbye to
Marion, who had been forbidden TO return
home. The same afternoon they were on
board trading vessel, bound for Leghorn.
Luckily, Marion was a good sailor and we'll
used to ships, for she had made more than
one voyage to Madeira with her father
Much as / wished to 60 with them, and
much as they wished it, too, it was out of
the question. Stephen had saved but little
. money, and could hardly sec how he and
Marion WIRE to live, unless he could make
practice somewhere among the English
abroad, and his taking me also was not to
be thought of. ! Was to live for the present
with my married sister. l was very sore to
part with Stephen, with whom / had lived
almost all my life, it was sorer still to part
with Marion, who had been more than q
sister to me ever since l saw her. Stephen
and were nearly overcome with emotion
but she was calm and silent, with an intent
witful look about her lovely face that has
haunted me all my life since. l can see il
now when shut my eyes, though it is fifty
years ago. Need say that never saw hei
again
went to my sisters house, and began tho
: fashionable life used to wish for. 1t wa:
I not all that IpIctured it, though it was plea
$ SAINT enough to occupy me in the daytime
;. but at night l longed sadly for my darling
8 Stephen wrote letters full of hope, ant
talked Of returning after spending two years
n in Italy. Marion, too, wrote favorably o.
; herself, and my anxiety p.gan to lessen
! There was another reason for this at tn,
same time-my late husband, the friend ard
= partner of my sisters husband, was at thai
$ time beginning to pay his addresses to me
and the tender troubles of my own case
;. made me careless of Others. Summer cam,
I around again; and one dayas was half wish
v ing for my country home again, a letter arriv
/ ed from Stephen. Marion's complaint was a
r. crisis, and great change would take place
J. one way or the other, in few days. wa
!, to go home, put the place in order, and b
!. ready to receive them. i did not know til
!. afterwards that Marion had begged to o.
I. allowed to die at home, if the change wer
n for the worse if it had been for the better
d there wSuld have been no reason for he
II staying abroad.