Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1878-08-29

gie's quick glance at once described her
friend.
There she is Algy, and Barton is
with her as usual. What kind crea-
ture she ISL
Barton recognized the party at the
same moment, and told her young
mistress, who turned round and waved
her hand.
Jessie Hamblyn must have possessed
no ordinary share of beauty before the
fell ravages OF smallpox had deprived
her OF sight. Even now her almost
classic features were very striking, and
her open lids at q distance did not be-
tray the terrible trial to which she had
been subjected. Fortunately the disease
had not marked her to any perceptible
extent, and had her eyes been spared,
her beauty would have remained al
most unimpaired. Her tall, well-fOrm-
ed figure was drawn up as fin defiance
Of the pity she knew was left to her,
and Of many kind expression which
her quick sense of hearing caught and
resented. At first she had rebelled
terribly against the Will that had
mercifully chastised her, but lately she
had bowed her head to the DEGREES of
Providence and almost without muir
mer.
How glad 1 am to see you?' she ex-
claimed-1 mean to know l am with
you once again, dear Maggie! How
kind you are!'
Dearest Jessie, whispered her friend,
we are all delighted you have come,
and looking so well, too. Here are
two young gentlemen waiting to be in
troduced; though l think you have
met Algy Vernon before
'Oh, yes! recolIect Mr.. Vernon quite
we'll. We had famous picnic to the
Glen, think 1t wss.'
Quite right, Miss Hamblyn. What
memory you havep replied Vernon,
as he shcok hands with her.
This is my cousin, Frank Carson, of
whom you have heard continued
Maggie. He has brought you bou-
quet.'
Maggie took them from her cousin
and placed them in the blind girls
grasp. Jessie inhaled the perfume for
a few moments, and then placed them
in the bosom OF her dress.
oh, what lovely rOsesn she cried.
Thank you so mnch, Mr.. CarsOnn
Now, dear, let me escort yOu,' said
Maggie. see your Invaluable Barton
has already got your luggage ashore.
This way, DEAR
'Algy, you and must follow, as we
cannot lead,' said Frank, as he took
his friends arm. Il say he whisper
ed, what beautiful voice she has got,
hasn't she? You'll be falling in love,
old fellow, eh?'
| I sa1 = e f-;a Il.
equal to a goddess like Miss Hamblyn.
Besides you know He stopped
suddenly, remembering Maggie's eau
tion.
well, besides what? Don't mind
me- said Frank.
oh, dear, no; the fact Is, Pm rather
sweet on some one else, you see. She
was delighted with those roses, can
tell you. What a thoughtful fellow
you are! never can do those things.
Then, friendly Algy, take lesson
now and a rose next time
They ali drove rapidly back to the
reCtury. Mr.. Denne met them ON the
steps.
welcome to Whittlesleigh,' he ex-
claimed in his CHEEKY voice. Jessie,
my dear, am delighted to see you.
Come in.' and pressing fatherly kiss
upon the wide forehead, he led his
beautiful visitor into drawing room.
Luncheon is ready he said,' so
when you young ladies have ex-
changed condolences we will sit down.
Do not be too long, DEAR he added to
his daughter.
I'VE shall be ready In a minute,
mana. returned Maggie,
Scarcely, l Think said the rector,
laughing. But do not forget break
tasted at this morning.
what nice fellow your cousin must
be, Maggie! Fancy his taking the
trouble 10 gather these lovely roses! l
wish l could see them, she added with
sigh. But Maggie dear, what do
you think? One doctor in London
told papa that perhaps 1 might some
day recover my sight, do so hope he
is right. He wanted to galvanize me,
or something
'Of course he is right, dear; he never
would have been so cruel. He could
not have held out hopes it he were not
quite sure.'
oh, Maggie, fancyo Just fancy be-
| ing able to see the sea, the sky, the
flowers. and you, darling, once again.
But it is too good to be true. 1t is quite
impossibler A weary sigh closed the
sentence.
Not impossible, dear. So let us hope
for the best. Hope and pray, and trust
10 Gods mercy
J, ssie bent down and kissed her kind
friend and then The two girls had b
good cry' together.
Nearly two months passed away and
still the party at WhittIesleigh Rectory
remained the same. To those of my
readers who have stayed in sweet
south Devon, l need not explain thu
pleasant life which young people can,
and [ believe do, lead in that land o.
picnic5. Love in these latitude5 ripen>
with the strawberries and comes as
natural as cream; so the young couples
at the Rectory paired off almost un-
consciously. Such an arrangement ill.,
the case of Algy Vernon and Maggi
D'nne Was not surprising, for they mad
been acquainted since childhood. Mrs.
Vernon and the late Mrs. Denne had
oeen schoolfellOws. They had never
severed the friendship thus initint-
ed, and what Wss more natural than
that the affection entertained by tht
parents should descend TO the children?
At any rate. Algy was deeply in love
with the pretty Maggie; and she,
though not preoccupied respecting him,
thought her old friend very nice in
deed, and il the truth must be told,
preferred him to all her numerous ad :
mirers
But Frank Carson and Jesse Hamblyn
had no excuse. Yet the Influence OF
the DevOnshire air was such a5 to kin
die spark which showed symptom,
of bursting out into a very decided
flame indeed. The train of sympathy
was laid; it required but the spark to
be applied to it, and then the barriers
of prudence would give way before the
explosion. If AIgernon and Maggie