Griggs courier., 1894-09-07
SISTER MARION.
Why She Wished That She NIGHT
Be Beautiful.

Ihe lover is always selfish, especial
ly it 1t be . woman. 9b.s would kill
her lover with her own hand rathe,
than see him happy with anothe,
woman"
The man In the corner by the FIRE die
tated these words slowly and careful.
ay. and the girl at the table wrote
chem down. Then there was silence
and the girl looked across at the man
expectantly.
''Is itgetting dark?" he asked, after a
few minutes.
For Lewis Darlington had been blind
for nearly six months. That was why
ne had engaged Marion Norman as his
secretary.
"Ycs. can scarcely sce." answered
the girl. "Shall get the lamp"
mo, lam tired" answered CARING
ton. "Let us stop and talk"
Marion put together the sheets in
their proper order, tidied up the table
and came over to the fire, by which
abe stood, leaning against the mantel-
piece and watching her companion.
She was no older than Darlington,
thirty-tive or thercabouts, but she
looked older than he did. A woman
who has lived her life out of the sun
shine-which is love-fades early. For
the sunshine is good, even though it
scorch at times.
rs 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.
''Is what true?"
THAT sentence about love an sell
dshness. 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.
II hardly know;" she replied slowly.
II hope not. I thinlk-no. Indeed,
am sure of it"
"How do you know" asked CARING
ton quickly. "Ah! forgive me. 1
should not have asked that"
In their four months daily compan-
lonship, begun as matter of business,
they had grown into the habit of talk.
ing over many things together, and
Marion looked forward to the ten rain-
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.
"Yes, have had my romance" she
replied. and then she told him her
story. 1t was poor, feeble little ro-
mance, dead almost before it was born,
ten years ago, when Marion was a
nurse at the London hospital. Merely
a 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 q 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 they?"
And she?"
''She cried and obeyed her people,"
IF had been she'-Marion began
quickly.
"Well9"
Nothing. Only never had any
people,"
"You were nurse once, Miss Nor
man. were you not?" said Darlington
presently.
Eyes. It is still strange to hear nv
self called Miss Norman. was Sister
Marion until year ago. But my
hcalth broke down and I had to give
1t up"
"Would you mind very much going
back to it for time-a week or so?''
'Ahl You would like me to-?"
II 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 it
and held it q moment in her own.
II will come," she said, quietly.
Marion rose to go.
fohu Wucu-Wueu IL Is ali over, YOU
won't require me any more." she said
with a laugh that only just escaped
being a sigh.
Say, rather, when it is all over I
shall be able to see you," said CARING
ton. "You remember, though we have
grown to know one another SO we'll,
have never seen YOU"
There was small pier glass over the
mantelpiece, and Marion was face to
face with her own reflection. She had
known all her life that she was plain.
But now, in the light of new hope
that had dawned in the past month,
she appeared palmer and more com.
monplace than ever.
''If he never saw me, perhaps"
The thought had forced itself more
than once into her mind. but she had
beaten it back and prayed that Lewis
harrington might see again.
Marion went her way homo and
climbed up three flights of stairs to
lher room. 1t looked dark and cold
anlmost as cold as the streets outside,
where the sleet was falling She lit
the gas stove and made herself n cnn