The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1894-10-31
SISTER MARION.

@The lover is always selfish, especially
if it be 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
dictated these words slowly and care
fully; the girl at the table wrote them
down. Then there was a silence and
the girl looked across at the man ex-
pectantly.
as it getting darkP" he asked after
few minutes.
For Lewis Darlington had been blind
for nearly six months. This was why
he had engaged Marion Norman as his
secretary.
Eyes. 1 can scarcely see," answered
the girl: shall I light the lampP"
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 mantelpiece
and watching her companion.
She was no older than Darlington, 35
or thereabouts, but she looked older
than he did. A woman who has lived
her life out of the sunshine-which is
love-fades early. For the sunshine is
good, even thou gh it scorch at times.
ais 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 and selfish
ness. Men know so little of women"
Marion Norman sat down in a chair
by the fire and leaned her chin upon
her hands as she watched Carrin gton:
81 hardly know" she replied slowly.
81 hope not I think-no. Indeed I
am sure of it."
"How do you know?" asked Caring
ton, quickly. "Ah! forgive me. l
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. She turned her eyes from
Carrin gton's face to the fire.
Eyes, l have had my romance" she
replied, and then she told him her story.
1t was poor, feeble little romance,
| dead almost before it was born ter
years ago, when Marion was nurse al
the London hospital. Merely young
doctor who was poor, few flowers, and
note, which Marion still kept in hel
workbox, though she did not tell Car.
rington that. Some girls would scarce.
ly have noticed it at the time, and
would have forgotten all about it in &
fortnight. But Marion cherished it:
memory, for it stood between her anG
the certainty that she had never founC
favor in the eyes of men.
"You know l lost more than my sigh
when my eyes went" said Darlington
after pause. That is why l am ST
anxious about the operation next week.
"Yes? You mean"
"I was just engaged. And her peo
pie would not let her marry blinC
man. They were quite right, weren'
they?"
"And she?"
"She cried and obeyed her people,"
"If I had been She" Marion begal
quickly.
"WellP"
Nothing. Only I never had an:
people"
"You were a nurse once, Miss MOI
man, were you notP" said Carringto
presently.
"Yes, It is still strange to hear my
self called Miss Norman. / was Siste
Marion until year ago. But m
health broke down and I had to give
up.
"Would you mind very much goin
back TO it for time-a week or SOP"
"Ah! You would like me to-"
81 must have a nurse, and l woul
rather have someone I know"
His hand went out in the vague wa
peculiar to the blind. Marion met
and held it a moment in her own.
Il will come," she said quietly.
Marion rose to 60.
"And when-when it is all over, 70
won't require me any more" she sal
with laugh that only just escaped b'
ing a sigh.
Say, rather, when it is all over
shall be able to see you," said Caring
ton. "You remember, though "
have grown to know one another s
well, have never seen you."
"If he never saw me, perhaps" TT
thought had forced itself more tha
once into her mind, but she had beate
it back and prayed that Lewis Carrin!
ton might see again.
Marion went her way home an
climbed up three flights of stairs to he
room. 1t looked dark and cold-almo
as cold as the streets outside, where tt
sleet was falling. She lit the gas stoy
and made herself a cup of tea. The
she looked out at the nurses clotht
which she used to wear. The apron
wanted a stitch here and there. Gh
occupied her for some time. By