The leader., 1905-04-08
NOT AN
ILLUSION
VKTHEN Maiorie Meryin first init
wv mated to her friends that she in

yKTHEN Ma1orie Meryin first init
wv mated to her friends that she in
tended to become a hospital nurse,
they one and all, with the exception of
one person who proved the rule, de-
clared to her that she was mad.
But Marjorie only smiled, and quiet
ly went on with her preparations, aid
ed and abetted therein by the excep-
ton, Frank Ashton, medical student
at st. Paul's, the hospital Marjorie pro-
posed entering. And not to living
soul did she explain. the true reason
for the step she was taking.
Time went on and Marjorie struggled
bravely against the inclination to go
home the end of the first week,
when footache and backache made life
scarcely worth living, and, finally, in
her fourth year, gained distinction in
the shape of a gold medal and the sis
tership of a ward.
Although Frank Ashton was long
since qualified he still remained at the
hospital, ostensibly to specialize, but in
reality to watch over sunny-haired,
brown-eyed Sister Marjorie, whom he
had loved for years. Marjorie frankly
told him that she liked him, but that
was all.
Marjorie was taking a well-earned
rest in her large sitting room one day
when a nurse tapped at the door.
Come in," said Marjorie sleepily.
The nurse entered-a pretty blue-eyed
girl in neat cap and apron.
There's a letter for you, sister, and
l don't like the look of 16; his temper
ature has risen two degrees since one
o'clock"
Marjorie looked at the patient, gave
the nurse some directions and returned
to rest and her letter. An invitation
for an At Home fell out With it was
hasty note:
Dearest Marjorie-Do make a spe-
Stal effort to come to this function.
Several nice people are coming among
them Paul Burton, the poet, who was
90 gone on you at Lympstone. He
asked after you the other day, and
would like to renew acquaintanceship.
Ever yours,
BEE PAGET."
For Minute her heart beat to suffo-
cation. Her memory carried her back
to the year before she entered the hos
pital and an episode that only Bee Pa
get knew of, ss3d even Bee did not
know how deeply it had affected her
and treated it merely as a joke.
How long ago it seemed, that sum-
mer which she had spent with Bee be-
fore her marriage. Mr.. Paget was stay
ing there, too, and his absorption in
Bee threw Marjorie into the society of
the only other guest. Paul Burton, the
rising poet. Marjorie was young, pref
ty and impressionable, and Paul Nor
ton did not neglect his opportunity of
instructing Marjorie in the lesson of
love, and he found her an apt pupil.
With the refinement of cruelty, Bur
ton made Marjorie understand he was
welded to his art, and to art alone,
and poor Marjorie's love was such that
she thought it noble thing, and loved
him all the better for it,
And for all these years she had re-
manned true to her ideal, though Paul
had passed out of her life completely.
And now there was an invitation from
Bee in viting her to meet him.
How Marjorie lived through the day
which intervened she never knew. Her
nurses found her trifle hard to work
for, and Frank Ashton was severely
snubbed more than once, which did
not, however, prevent him from knock
ing at Marjorie's door on the eventful
evening with huge bunch of parma
violets.