Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-08-28
MARION'S LOVERS.

IL is one OF the loveliest June days
the earth ever saw. Each separate
blade of grass seems to rejoice in the
glorious sunlight, and my whole heart
is in tune with the day as | saunter
slowly along the village road, with one
hand in my pocket holding tight the
dear letter that has made me so hap
Ply since the morning post came in; for
John is coming home at last and we
are to he married and live happy ever
after as my old fairy stories used to
end. with the bridal of Prince Charm
ing and his princess. a poor little
princess this time, | think, rather rue
ful!y-more like the king who wed "a
beggar maid, our story is; for dear
daddy was only farmer on very
small scale, though every inch gen.
tleman, and, when he died, three years
ago, mother and | had hard struggle
for a little while. OF course we took
summer boarders as every one adj
vised, and OF course we lost more than
We made; only | shall never regret
that hard summer since it gave me
John, and, although our courtship was
sealed by the final question being
asked when | was picking peas in the
vegetable garden, it was none the less
sweet and romantic for that.
My John is DR.. John Westerly, and
he was staying in Sunnyrock. making
some Investigations about the air OF
the district, for pamphlet he was
writing. He boarded with us; and
brilliant, successful. rich as he was,
he loved poor little me, plain Marion
March, as | am sure no one was ever
loved before.
When think Of the lovely accom-
plished women he must have known
and look at myself critically | cannot
make it true; but ii is it is. and he is
coming home from Berlin. where he
has been studying in the hospitals for
II years. even now on his way
When the happiness of it comes over
me. | can sc2rcely keep from singing
along the streets. as | return from my
walk. How lovely the world isl How
good people are, | think, rs old Mrs.
Mallocks beams and mods 10 me from
her window!
As | draw near our gate, | see dis
tastefully that mother has shut all the
nsun out with closed blinds; well, very
soon, | will let flood of light in, and
glorify the rooms.
Mother call out gaily, running
Up the steps of the porch its too
early for flies. What MAKES you shut
the house up SOP" | rush ioto the sit
ting-room and open the blinds. Then.
turning round, see mother, white and
tear-stained and looking half dazed
with a newspaper in her hand.
Mrs. Dawson, from the village says
in loud whisper do tell her. for
gracious sake and have it over and
then, selling me in her strong arms,
seats me gently on the old sofa.
Mother bursts out crying. and puts
her arms about me and sobs Prepare
yourself for the worst, May. Oh.
Mrs. Dawson, do tell her. can't
am awe-struck and bewildered, but
my one thought is that the bank which
holds our few hundred pounds has
broken. for we have no near relatives,
and have just heard from John. "Do
tell me what it Is" | say, impatiently;
and Mrs. Dawson, looking at me pity
inglv says:
''Well. if you must hear it, YOU
must, takes the paper from mothers
nerveless hand, and reads: Terrible
Disaster. The Pennsylvania. from
Hamburg, burnt at sea. Hundreds OF
lives lost" humble. humble. then.
Conspicuous among those who helped
the women and children into the life
boats was DR.. John Westerly. we'll
known young physician, from Berlin.
who was coming home this way. When
last seen he was distributing life-pre-
servers to the women who had not
been able to get into the life boat;
before another could be manned. the
Pennsylvania sank, with all on board.
except those who had been fortunate
enough TO crowd into the two boats.
The young physician will doubtless be
deeply moTned by the medical fra
ternity for" | think the woman
would have read the whole account
through but CHANGING at me, she
rushed frantically for the camphor and
held il 10 my face.
IL was pot nece sary. ! had not
tainted. / heard her say distinctly
.For heavens sake. Mrs March, say
somethin' TO her, for / believe she's
a-dyin'." Then | felt az If | were
someone eslc. and ] mentally looked
at myself, leaden and death-likc all
the life crushed out OF me. lying
straight and still in an incongruous
blue muslin. with Mrs Dawson's
shawl thrown over me- and thought.
Poor girl. how sorry ] am What
ff It were ]. and it was my John who
was deadg' At this period, Mrs.
Dawson shook her head ominously. !
think she spoke TO me several times.
and | did not answer. Why should i?
And she said 10 poor mother who
was aimlessly walking back and forth,
- Mrs March, / think I'd call Dr..
Kinney, if | was yom Its unnatural