Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-03-21
SISTER MARION.

SIS Tx MAflON.
'3The lover is always selfish, espe-
cially if it be a N She would kill
her lover with her own hand rather
than see him happy with another
woni6n."
The man in the corner by the fire
dictated these words slowly and care
fully, and the girl at the table wrote
them down. Then there was a silence
and the girl looked across at the man
expectantly.
as it getting dark" he asked, after
a few minutes.
For Lewis Darlington had been blind
for nearly six months. This was why
he had engaged Marion Norman as
his secretary.
eyes, I can scarcely see," answered
the girl. "ShalI I light 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 10 the fire, by which
she stood, leaning against the rcantel-
piece and watching her companion.
She was no older than Darlington.
thirty-fye or Whereabouts, but she
looked older than he did. A woman
who has lived her life out in sunshine
which is love-fades early.
as that true, do you think?' asked
Darlington, lifting his head.
Marion bluShed a little. and then
she remembered hat the eyes which
met her own could see nothing.
as what true?"
''That sentences about love and sell
fshness. Men know so little of
women"
"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
utcs or so between tie close Of work
and her departure as the p!easanto#t
time of the day. She turned her eyes
from Carrington's face to the fire.
eyes, I have had my romance" she
replied, then she told him her story.
Tt was a poor. feeble little romance.
dead almost before ii was born ten
years ago. when Marion was a nurse
at the London hospital. Merely a
young doctor who was poor, a few
flowers and a note. which Marion still
kept in her workboX. though she did
not tell Darlington that. Some gir's
would scarcely have noticed it at Il.
time, and would have forgotten all
about it in a 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 I lost more than my
sight when my eyes went" said Car
rington after a pause. THAT is why
I am so anxious about the operation
next week.
az was just engaged, and her people
would not let her marry a blind man.
They we're quite right. weren't they?'
"And she?"
"She cried and obeyed her people
eff | had been she'-Marion began
quickly.
"Well?"
Nothing. Only I never had any
people"
''You were a nurse once, Miss Nor,
man, were you not?" said Darlington
presently.
eyes. 1t is still strange to hear my
self called Miss Norman. I was Sis
ter Marion until a year ago. But my
health broke down and I had to give
it up"
"Would you mind very much COINS
back to it for 4 time-a week or So
"Ah! You would like me to-
81 must have a nurse and I would
rather have some n | know"
His hand went out in the vague wa!
peculiar to the blind. Marion met i
and held it a moment in her own.
81 will come" she said, quietly.
Marion rose to go.
"And when-when it is all over, VOL
won't require me any more" she said
with a laugh that only just escapet
being a sigh.
"Say. rather. when it is all over
shall be able to see you" said Caring
ton. You remember. though we hav
crown to know one another so we'll,
have never seen you"
Marion went her way home an,
climbed up three flights of stairs t
her room. 1t looked dark and cold
almost as cold as the streets outside
where the sleet was falling. She Ii
the gas stove and made herself a Gu
of tea. Then she looked out at tn
nurses clothes which she used t
wear. The aprons wanted n site
here and there. This occupied for 70
some time. By eight o'clock all wa
finished. The sleet was still beatin
against the window. Even if she Ia
anywhere to go she could not hav
gone. But it is having nowhere t