Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1894-09-20
SISTER MARION.
why She Wished That She MIGHT
Be Beautiful,

tbo, WIN her own hand rather
, v"n see him happy with another
me man in the corner NV tho e.o ,,a
tated these words s,owl,, o wy nre , ulc-
~ ana the girl at the table wrote
Sne'n GOWN. Then there was n silence
anu inc girl looked across at the man
expectantly. u 'io man
Us 1t getting darls?" he os,,od ,t.o.
few minutes. "i'oi
for Lewis Darlington had been blind
tor nearly SIX months. That wns wbv
nc had engaged Marion Norman no h;s
secretary. -An 40 II 10
Yes. ] can scarcely see - onsvo,od
'h ,, giri, Shall l get the lamp"
mo, | am tired" answered CARING.
ton. Let us stop and talk"
Marion put together the sheets in
'heir proper order, tidied up the table
and came over to the fire INV Will
she stood, leaning against the mantel.
piece and watching her companion.
one was no older than Darlington.
thirty-hve or thereabouts, but She
looked older than he did. woman
who has lived her life out Of the Gun
shine-which is love-fades early. For
the sunshine is good, even though it
scorch at times.
is that true, do you think?" asked
Darlington, lifting his head.
Marion blushed little, and then
She remembered that the eyes which
met her own could see nothing.
us what true?"
THAT sentence about love nm sel-
fshness. Men know so little of
women"
Marian Norman sat down in chair
by the fire and leaned her chin upon
her hand as she watched Darlington.
Il hardly know" she replied slowly.
II hope not. think-no. Indeed, I
am sure of it."
How do you know" asked Caring
ton quickly. "Ahl forgive me. 1
should not have asked that"
In their four months daily compan-
ionship, begun as a matter of business,
they had grown into the habit of talk
ing over many things together, and
Marion looked forward to the ten min
utes or SO between the close of work
and her departure as the pleasantest
time of the day. The turned her eyes
from Carrington's face to the fire.
Eyes, have had my romance" she
replied, and then she told him her
story. 1t was poor, feeble little ro-
nance, dead almost before it was born,
ten years ago, when Marion was a
nurse at the London hospital. Merely
q young doctor who was poor, few
flowers and note, which Marion still
kept in her workbox though she did
not tell Darlington that. Some girls
would scarcely have noticed it at the
time, and would have forgotten all
about it in fortnight. But Marion
cherished its memory, for it stood be-
tween her and the certainty that she
had never found favor in the eyes of
men.
You know that lost more than my
sight when my eyes went" said Car
rington, after pause. THAT is why
am so anxious about the operation
next week"
"Yes. You mean"
II was Just engaged, and her people
would not let her marry blind man.
They were quite right, weren't theyP"
"And she?"
"She cried and obeyed her people"
IF l had been she"-Marion began
quickly.
"Well2"
Nothing. Only I never had any
people"
you were nurse once, Miss Nor
man, were you not?" said Darlington
presently.
eyes. 1t is still strange to hear my
self called Miss Norman. l was Sister
Marion until year ago. But my
health broke down and had to give
it up
would you mind very much going
hack to 1t for time-a week or sop
"Ahl You would like me to"
81 must have a nurse, and would
rather have some one know"
His hand went out in the vague way
peculiar to the blind. Marion met II
and held it moment In her own.
~ will come" she said, quietly.
Marion rose to go.
"And when-when it is all over you
won't REQUIRE me any more she sac
with laugh that only just escaped
being sigh. :, ~
"Sav rather, when it is all over
shall be able to see you," said Caring
Ton "You remember, though we have
crown To know one another so well,
have never seen you"
There was small pier glass over th'
mantelpiece, and Marion was lace t'
toce with her own reflection. She nae
Lnown all her life that she was plain
But now, in the light OF a new hope
that had dawned in. the past month
she appeared palmer ana more COM
monplace than ever
III he never saw me, perhaps
The thought had forced itself mor'
than once into her mind but she mac
beaten It back and prayed that Levin
Darlington might see again
Marion went her way home an'
climbed up three flights of stairs hrs, t.
her room. 1t looked dark and cold
almost as cold as the streets ou.siu =.
where the sleet was falling. She IL
the eas stove and made herself a GU
of tea. Then she looked out at TN
o. clothes which she used to wear
. imv This occupied her for som s
time. By eight o'clock all III, was .i nm
;sbod The sleet was stili o s u
n ,snv the window. Even If she ha'
Ind anywhere to go, she could no
n nor o." cone. But 1t was having no
m mbsre to 90 that made her feel $
,onelv There was nothing to DO oa
eli still and think. Marion was gen
s s too busy for this but to-p ,i!.,
she could not help thinking h,tl
sav Of the loveless life she leo