Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1873-05-15
TWO LIVES IN ONE.

HeopuoN 1uu AVeU tOSStu0r IN u V11l8R0
about ten miles south Of London, where lie
was in practice IA . surgeon. Stephen
was thirty.two,I eighteen. We had No
relatives but a sister, five OF six years
older than myself, and we'll married in
London. Stephen was . solitary and
studious man, living somewhat apart
from his neighbors, aud standing almost
in q fatherly position toward me. Through
the years We had lived together no one
had thought Of bis marrying. Thus it was
when tho eveut have to tell began. The
house peyt door to ou.s was taken by
Mr.. Cameron, a feeble-looking man, rath-
past middle age, with one daughter,
Marion by name. How shall describe
her, the most beautiful creature ever
saw ? She was, perhaps, twenty years
old; l never knew, precisely. A tall,
slight form, fair compile exion, dark chest
nut eyes and hair, and an expression
moro like that Of IN 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-a love of tobacco and Swed
enborg,anism. Many summer evening
did they pass smoking The one talking ard
the other, Marion. sometimes joining in,
for she generally walked with them,
while my chest, which was weak at the
time, kept me at homo. Ono day they
Quilted Stephen at the gate, and as he
entered the door l said to him:
"How l"vely Marion is! am never
tired Of looking at herr
"Lcok ut her whilo you may" said he
sue has not three years tn live"
1t was only TO true. She had some
dreadful complalnt-aneurism, think i,
was-which must carry her off in the
flower Of her days. Stephen told me that
he bad consulted the most eminent doctors
without getting any hope and the emo
tion, rare enough in him, that he display.
ed, told me that he loved Marion.
l said no word to him about it; knew
hetter, but saw with what dreadful
doubts he was perplexed. E1citemen,
might shorten Marion's life-suoh m
excitement as declaration Of love from
him might be Of material injury; and
even il it did not prove 50, how could be
condemn himself to tho prolonged torture
OF seeing the life Of beloved wife ebt
away day by day. Besides she did no,
think he cared for him. I, who bad
watched her ceasolessly, knew that she
loved him with her whole heart He
struggled with himself 6ercely, but be xor
the fight. He lett home for some week.
and returned looking older and paler; bu
he had learned to mention her name with
out his voice quivering, and 10 touch he,
hand without holding lis breath hard
She was pining away under the influence
Of his changed manner, and l dared no
help my two darlings to be happy. Al
unexpected aid soon came. Mr.. Cameron
who was in poor health when we frs
saw him. died suddenly. Poor Marion'
grief was terrible to see. Her father wa
dead. stephen, asehe thought, estranged
and there was no one lels, in the worlt
who cared whether she lived or died
except myself. l brought her home will
me, and was with her hourly till MIR. Cam
erol's funeral How we got through
that 'ims l hardly know. Then came tn
necessary inquiry into his affairs. III
had died, not altogether poor, but il
reduced circumstances, leaving Marion o.
annuity that would scarcely give her til
Iuxuries her stale of health required
And where was she to live and what t
do1 stephen was the sole executor, tb
ono adviser to wtom she could look. IL
took two nights and days TO consider, al
then offered her his hand and home. A
first she could not believe that his offe
arose from anything but pity and corr
passion; but when he had told her tn
story Of the last three months, and calle
me to bear witness to it, great list
seemed to come into her eyes, and !. wo,
derful glow Of love, such Us had ncye
seen, over her face. left them to them
selves that evening, till Stephen tapped
tho door of my room and told me all
nothing in fact, but what knew Ion
before. In THAR case their was littI
cause for delay. Trousseanx were n,
tho important matters in my day tn.
they are in my grandchildren's; an
Marion was married to Stephen, in HI
black gown, within month Of her father
funeral.
. The next few months was happy tin
Tor ull Of us. Marions health improve
greatly. The worried frightened lot
she used to wear left her face as she +
, covered from the depression caused
her constant anxiety about her father, ,au
: tho loss Of rest sho suffered in attondir
> upon him ut nj ght. 1t seemed IN il 81
} were entirely recovering, and Stephen,
he did not lose his fears at least was n