Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-09-27
SISTER MARION.
Why She Wished That She Might
Be Beautiful

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1.-THE lover is always selfish, especial
" II 1t be q woman. She would kill
her lover with her own hand rather
than see him happy with another
woman"
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.
us it getting dark?" he asked, after =
few minutes.
For Lewis Darlington had been blind
for nearly six months. That was why
he had engaged Marion Norman as his
secretary.
"Yes. can scarcely see" answered
the girl, "Shall get the lamp"
mo, | 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 thereabouts, 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.
us that true, do you think?" asked
Darlington, lifting his head.
Clarion bushed little, and then
she remembered that the eyes which
met her own could see nothing.
rs what true2"
"That sentence about love AMI sell
fishness. Men know 80 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. think-no. Indeed, l
am sure Of it."
slow do you know" asked Caring
ton quickly. "Ahl forgive me. !
should not have asked that"
In their four months daily compan'
ionship, begun asa 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 50 between the close Of work
and her departure US the pleasantest
; time Of the day. The turned her eyes
i from Carringtons face to the fire
"Yes, | 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
I a Young doctor who was poor, few
flowers and n note. which Marion still
kept in her worlsbox, though she did
! not tell Darlington that. Some girls
!, would scarcely have noticed 1t at the
4 time, ana would have forgotten al
y about 1t in a fortnight But Marion
1 cherished It's memory, for it stood be
= tween her and the certainty that sh'
had never found favor in the eyes o
, men.
\ you know that lost more than IN,
sight when my eyes went" said Car
+ rington, after a pause. THAT is VIII.
am so anxious about the operation
next week"
"Yes You mean"
u was just engaged, and her peopl
! would not let her marry blind man
! They were quite right, weren't they?
! And she?'
"she cried and obeyed her people"
III had been she'--Marion begal
d quickly.
r. "Wellp"
= Nothing. Only never had an
e people"
q aYou were nurse once, Miss MOI
Il man, were you not?" said Carringto
NJ presently.
"Yes. 1t is still strange to hear my
Fl. salt called Miss Norman. was Siste
Marion until year ago. But m
y health broke down and l had to Civ
y, 1t up"
y Would you mind very much goin
back to 1t for time-a week or SOP"
-- "Ahl You would like me TOP"
II must have a nurse, and woul
rather have some one know"
His hand went out in the vague wa
peculiar to the blind. Marion met
and held it a moment in her own.
~ will come" she said, quietly.
Marion rose to 60.
"And when--when 1t is all over, yc
won't require me any more" she So
i with a laugh that only just escape
\ being sigh.
"Say, rather, when 1t is oil over
II shall be able to see you" said Carrin
a. ton. "You remember, though we ha'
=. grown to know one another so well,
d. have never seen you"
!. There was small pier glass over Il
mantelpiece, and Marion was face
face with her own reflection. She hi
known all her life that she was plai
N. But now, in the light Of new hol
w. that had dawned in the past mont
'Ss she appeared palmer and more col
ny M. monplace than ever.
sss III he never saw me, perhaps
en- The thought had forced itself mo
y. than once into her mind, but she hi
. beaten it back and prayed that Lew
Darlington might see again.
Marion went her way home oil