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

subdued roll Ras heard over the b lis,
but the sOnnd was merely the echoes OF
the blasting operations at the quarries,
or the rattling OF the trucks on the
neighboring tramway.
The air got more and more Sultry,
and even the insects seemed to sleep.
The trees whispered to each other, and
their topmo5t branches waved gentle
welcome to the scarcely felt. breeze that
stirred the leaves. The picnic party
broke into groups after dinner; the
groops into pairs, each cautioning the
others not to go too far, as there was a
storm brewing. Frank and Jessie did
not wander away. Escorted by Alger-
non and Maggie to rustic seat above
the stream, close TO tall and shelter
ing tree, they sat together while the
more venturesome of the party climb
ed the tall rocks or wandering up the
stream, Ieaping from stone to stone,
where assistanc and much holding of
hands was necessity.
'0h, ye Devon streams, for what are
We not responsible? How many happy
faces ye have mirrored in your spark
ling waters?
Frank and Jessie chatted for some
llluo uluCACnk az Aooh
she sighed deeply, and said abruptly:
'Oh, how very sorry l shall be to
leave here, l have been so happy
Then she added, Everyone has been
80 kind to me-
Il am dreadfully sorry you must CO.,
he said, with an answering sigh, and
as he spoke, he knew not hOw-how
does it ever happen? their hands touch
ed; his fingers clasped hers, and hers
were not withdrawn. The train was
fired.
Jessie, dearest Jessie, he whispered,
can you love me? Will you be my
wife?'
There was no reply, unless an almost
limperceptible pressure OF the taper
fingers could be so termed. Frank
took it for assent, and bending down
he kissed the lovely face once, twice,
thrice, till her cheeks were as brilliant
as the crimson rose she wore in her
dress,
My own, my darlingD was all he
said. A sharp peal Of thunder passed
away unheeded as he spoke. After a
pause he resumed:
so you do love me, Jessie! l never
thought you would care for me, dear
Indeed l do she whispered; why
should not? But I often wondered
that you selected me as your companion
all the weeks, for am so unfortunate
why, my darling, how are you 50
unfortnnate?' as he passed his arm
around her taper waist.
acknowledgements! cannot
bear to mention it; though do not
mind now; at least not SO much
but what is this terrible reason why
l should not love you Jessie? Tell me
dearest
oh, Frank! thst is like your kind
sympathy for me. OF course, you
guess. 1t is because l am blind
Frank recoiled as if he had been
stung; a choking gasp escaped him,
and he could not speak for moment.
'Blindp he repeated at length, as il
in dream; 'blIndI Oh, Jessie! SO am
| ~
| 1t was too true. Blind from his
birth, Frank Carson had never dream
ed that Jessie WAS afflicted like him.
self. Maggie had never told him this,
and the terrible fact was revealed to
the lovers for the first time. Franks
knowledge of the ground and neigh
borhood iu which he had lived for
years had enabled him to keep Jessie
in ignorance of his infirmity, which
she, of course, fancied he was aware of.
And had it come to this after ALL
Jessie seized his hand. On, do not
tell me that! Frank, dear Frank, say
you Can see me. Have you never seen
me, never at all?
She waited bresthless for an answer.
II foil q most lilo q hlnU
'Neverp
And this was the end of her dream
of love! She had been 50 happy to
think that one man at least had been
so KIND and sym pathetic; that one man
face, and had loved her for herself
alone; not for her beauty and her
wealth. But noW-the charm was
snapped-the golden bowl was broken.
She bent her head. A great warm
drop fell upon her hand, now claSped
in his once more. She started as she
felt it. He was suffering too. Sne
drew herself up, a beautiful smile upon
his forehead.
For better, for worse, till death do
us part, dear Frank am yours, if you
will take me SOP
Till death do us part he repeated,
solemnly, and he in turn was STOPPING
10 his love, When
A hot aud brilliant flash of light rent
the cloud overloaded, a rattling peal Of
thunder followed to the earth, and
Frank and Jessie lay extended be-
meath the riven trees, hand in hand, to
all appearances locked in sleep-the
sleep that knows no waking.
Till death did them part! Was this
to be their parting -Un tue threshnOld of
their lives?
Peal after peal of thunder ratified
overhead, the Lightning flushed around
them, the rain poured down in torrents,
and there they lay unconscious of the
elemental war-asleep.
Il
'Merciful heavens, have pity on
themr
1t wds the rector who spoke, as he
and some others Of The party came
suddenly upon the forms beneath the
trees.
Was the prayer heard? We dare not
speculate on sLcn subjects As this. Who
can tell?
The bodies were borne to cpltage
close by; the light clasp OF the fiLgeIs
Was unloosed al length. Jessie, the
bunch of roses contrasting SO with hei
pallid face, Was laid upon bed.
Frank Was in the next room, in5ens
BILE still.
A sItied sigh fist proclaimed to M 4g-
gle Denne that her heartfelt prayer hau
been an5w cred; and Jessie sat upright.
Turning to her kind attendant she said
family:
"Mnggie, dearest!"
Maggie, full of joy, fastened to the
bed. There Was Jessie Ham blyn, i'll
deed; but it Was the Jessie of old. Her
eyes were open wide and Iull # life.
''It is true, Magge, darling; II is true,
and Can see you once again-I Cali! l
Can! Look, here are my roses, there
NJ. IN, I,In.