River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1894-09-06

have some one to support. somebody to
feed or fondle or convert IL may be
a husband. il may be curate or a cat
or a cannibaL Now, Marion Norman
was one of those women who long
vaguely for some one for whose sake
they shall have a right to sacrifice
themselves
A fortnight had passed. and the OPP
Grafton was over. For some days Lewis
Darlington had lain upon his sofa in a
darkened room with baDdage across
his eyes and q terrible dread at his
heart Tie was waiting for the remoy-
al of the bandagc TO know whether he
was To see o. be bl nd for the rest of
his life. Marion had been with him
ali tine time, waiting upon him and
reading II MIN. She had not been so
happy for years. for Lewis Darlington
depended entirely upon her. Every
day she lad been downstairs TO answer
the inquiries Of a fair-haired girl. II
was the girl whore photograph stood
upon the naLtelp piece. Every day she
had been able 70 tell her that Lewis
was going on well, and that there was
every hope that he would see as soon
as his eyes we're strong enough to bear
the light.
The evening before the day on which
the question was to be decided, Car
rington was restless and nervous. Ma
rion read aloud TO him 20 keep his
thoughts from the morrow. But she
saw his fingers twitch upon the arm OF
his chair and knew of what he was
thinking. At 10 o'clock she insisted
on his going 70 bed. But for more
than an hour Marion, who was listen
ing by his half-open door, heard him
tossing from side to side. She had de-
cided TO give him a soothing draught
when his breathing became more regu-
lar, and at last settled down into the
rhythmic respiration of the sleeper.
So Marion lay down on the sofa in the
sitting room.
She had been asleep. as IL seemed.
but a little while when something
awoke her, and from where she lay
she saw Darlington standing i'm the
doorway between the sitting room and
his bed room.
Mr.. Carringtonl What is the mat
ter? Can get anything for your she
said, starting up in alarm.
He did not reply. but walked slowly.
without turning his mead, straight
across the room TO the window, over
which heavy pair OK curtains hung.
.'Mr. Darlington" she said again.
But he did not answer. And then
she understood that he was asleep.
For the moment. in her half-awak-
ened state, she could not think of the
right thing to do. She watched him
pull one of the curtains aside. The
light from a gas lamp in the street be-
low fell full upon his face. And by
the light she saw that his hands were
pulling and Juggling at something up
on the back of his head. He was try
ing to take off the bandage from his
eyes In another moment il he sue
ceeded, the glare of the gas lamp
would meet them and extinguish for
ever the feeble glimmer of sight. Her
senses. half dazed with fatigue and
sleep. Marion. in that instant of
startled comprehension, saw but one
thing. that Lewis Darlington would be
blind, and being blind
Her heart gave great leap of exul-
tation. MotiOnless she sat, watching
him as he still fumbled with the band
age.
The lover is always selfish, espe-
cially if it be woman"
The words broke in a fash across
her mind-the last sentence she had
taken down from Carrington's lips.
In an instant she was by his side,
wide awake, every nerve tingling with
shame.
"Come-come with me-" she whis-
pered in his ear. laying her hand upon
his arm and gently drawing him away
from the window.
With a sigh he turned. and suffered
himself To be led back 20 his room.
For a minute or two Marion watched
him as he settled again into a peaceful
sleep. Then she bent down and hast
lily touched his forehead with her lips.
and returned to her sofa But not to
sleep. She was crying, first because
she was wicked enough to be tempted.
and then because she was not wicked
enough to yield to temptation.
The next morning Lewis Darlington,
knowing nothing of his narrow escape
during the night. was waiting for his
ewes to be uncovered. The doctor had
just arrived when the servant opened
the door and whispered something to
Marion. Without saying anything
Marion left the room and ran down
stairs. Nora Thurston was there.
Come up" said Marion. You are
just in time. think he can see you. :"
They went up the stairs together.
Go in there. dear-quietly. One
moment" Marion took the girls face
between her hands and kissed her.
''Oh. is my hat on straight? Do look
all right? | want to look nice if he
does see me-"
Marion stood by the door listening.
There was silence for some moments.
Then she heard the doctors voice.
"Nora-ah. il is good to see youv'
A few minutes afterward the doctor
came into the sitting-roOm.
What, nurse! Broken down, eh?''
For Marion was lying upon the sofa,
her face hidden in the cushions.
''Oh, | am glad! | am glad!' she
sobbed. "Oh. God, make rue gladl'-
Clarence Rock. IN y. Y. Advertiser.