The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1878-07-27


wife?'
There was no reply, unless an almos
lmpercepLlbie pressure of the taper fin
gers could be so termed. Frank took i
tor assent, and bending down he kisset
the lovely face once, twice, thrice, til
the cheeks were as brilliant as the Grim
son rose she wore in her dress.
My own, my darlingln was all b,
said. A sharp peal of thunder passed
away UNDECIDED as he spoke. After .
pause he resumed:
So you do love me, Jessiel I neye
thought you would care for me. dear
Indeed [ do" she whispered: sswb,
should / not? But | often wondered
that you selected me as your companion
all these weeks, for | am so unfortu
nate"
Why, my darling, how are you I'm
fortunaten as he passed his arm aroune
her taper waist.
Because-because--oh. | cannot
bear to mention it; though | do moi
mind now; at least not so much"
But what is this terrible reason why
| should not love you, Jessie? Tell me
dearest"
ooh, Frank! that is like your kind
sympathy for me. OF course, YOU guess
1t is because am blind"
Frank recoiled as if he had been
stung, a choking gasp escaped him, and
he could not speak for a moment.
Blind!" he repeated at length, as il
in dream; =" blind! Oh, Jessie! Sc
am Ip
1t was too true. Blind from his birth
Frank Carson had never dreamed that
Jessie was afflicted like himself. Maggie
had never told him this, and the terri
BILE fact was now revealed to the lovers
for the first time. Franks knowledge OF
the ground and neighborhoed in which
he had lived for years had enabled him
to keep Jessie in ignorance of his infrm-
lty, which she, of course, fancied she was
aware of.
And had it come to this after all!
Jessie seized his hand. cob! do not
tell me that! Frank, dear Frank. saw
you can see me. Have you never seen
me, never at all?"
She waited breathless for his answer
1t fell almost like blow.
"NeverW
And this was the end of her dream OF
love! She had been SO very happy to
think that one man at least had been SC
kind and sympathetic; that one man
had seen her vacant eyes and SCARED
face, and had loved her for herself alone
not for her beauty and her wealth. But
noW-the charm was snapped-the gold.
en- bowl was broken. She bent her head
A great warm drop fell upon her hand
now clasped in his once more. She start.
ed as she felt it. He was suffering too
She drew herself up, a beautiful smile
upon her face, then bending toward him
she pressed kiss, the first kiss of hel
pure lips, upon his forehead.
"' For better, for worse, till death dc
us part dear Frank, am yours, if you
will take me SOP
It'll death do us part" he repeated
solemnly, and he in turn was stopping t.
his love, when
A hot and brilliant flash of light REM
the cloud overhead, rafting peal O
thunder followed it to earth, and Franz
and Jessie lay extended beneath tn,
riven tree, hand in hand, to all appear
ance locked in sleep-the sleep tina
knows no waking.
| Till death did them part! Was this t.
be their parting, on the threshold o
| their lives?
| Peal after peal of thunder ratified over
head, the lightning flashed around them
the rain poured down in torrents, anC
there they lay unconscious of tn,
elemental war-asleepl
Merciful heavens, have pity OF
themI'
1t was the rector who spoke, as he ant
some others OF the party came suddenl,
upon the senseless forms beneath tn,
tree.
Was the prayer heard? We dare no
speculate on subjects such as this. Wh'
can tell?
The bodies were borne to a cottag
close by; the light clasp of the finger
was Embossed at length. Jessie, tn
bunch Of roses contrasting so with he
pallid face, was laid upon a bed, Franl
was in the next room, insensible still.
A stifed sigh first proclaimed to Maggie
Denne that her heartfelt prayer hat
been answered; and Jessie sat upright
Turning to her kind attendant, she saiC
family:
Maggie, dearestw
Maggie, full of Joy, FASTENED to TIL
bed There was Jessie Hamblyn, in
deed; but it was the Jessie of old. He
eyes were open wide and full of life.
cit is true, Maggie, darling; it i
true, and | can see you once again
can, | can! Look, here are my roses
there you stand. Oh, thank heaven,
can see the sky once morer'
She fell back exhausted, then, risin!
again, cried:
Is it true about Frank? | love him
he loves me; the lightning struck us
yes, but gave me sight for him. THANH
| God! Where is FrankT' she inquired
after pause.
ain the next room" said Maggie, a
she wiped away her happy tears. ooh
Jessie! how thankful we all are. w
| feared the worst for hoth!'
! At this moment the rector entered
softly. ...
ooh, come in, papa, come in; darlin!
Jessie can see us all again. Is it no
wonderful? | am so thankful"
alt is indeed wonderful" replied Nh
Denne. "And now," he said, after b
had afectionately congratulated Jessie
:" have more good news; Frank has re
covered, and has asked for Jessie. Ma
he come in?"
az will 90 to him. she said, risin
from the bed. And before they coul
stop her she had hurried away to tn
next room where, lying upon sofa wa
poor Frank Carson. She fastened to
ward him. ooh Frank" she cried
odearest Frank, | am so glad" The
blushing rosy red, she whispered, "Til
| death do lis mart God has given me m