Arizona republican., 1894-11-07
SISTER MARION.
Why She Wished That She Might
 Be Beautiful.

The man in the corner by the fire die tated these words slowly and careful ly, and the girl at the table wrote them down. Then there was silence and the girl looked across at the man expectantly.
 "Is it getting dark?" he asked, after a few minutes.
 For Lewls Darlington had been blind for nearly six months. That was why he had engaged Marion Norman as his secretary.
 "Yes. I can scarcely see," answered the girl. Shall I get the lamp?"
 'No, am 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 she stood, leaning against the mantel- piece and watching her companion.
 She was no older than Darlington, thirty-fve or whereabouts, 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.
 'Is that true, do you think?" asked Darlington, lifting his head.
 Marion blushed a little, and then she remembered that the eyes which met her own could see nothing.
 ''Is what true?"
 +That sentence about love an1 sell 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.
 II hardly know" she replied slowly. Il hope not. I think-no. Indeed, am sure of it."
 How do you know?" asked Caring ton quickly. "Ah! forgive me. I should not have asked that"
 In their four months daily compan- ionship, 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 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.
 "Yes, have had my romance" she replied. and then she told him her story. It was poor, feeble little TO- nance, dead almost before it was born, ten years ago, when Marion was a nurse at the London hospital. Merely young doctor who was poor, a 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 it's 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 pauce. That is why am so anxious about the operation next week"
 "Yes. You mean-"
 Il 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 I had been she"-Marion began quickly.
 "Well?"
 Nothing. Only I never had any people,"
 You were nurse once, Miss Nor man, were you not?" said Darlington presently.
 "Yes. It is still strange to hear my self called Miss Norman. I was Sister Marion until year ago. But my health broke down and I had to give it up"
 Would you mind very much going back to it for time-a week or sop
 ''Ahl You would like me to-?"
 'I must have a nurse, and I would rather have some one l know"
 His hand went out in the vague way peculiar to the blind. Marion met it and held it moment in her own.
 "I will come," she said, quietly.
 Mar1on rose to go.
 And when-when it is all over, you won't require me any more," she said with laugh that only just escaped being sigh.
 Say, rather, when it is all over ] shall be able to see you," said Caring. ton. "You remember, though we have grown to know one another so well, have never seen you."
 There was small pier glass over the mantelpiece, and Marion was face tc face with her own reflection. She hac 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 plainer and more com monplace than ever.