South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1878-07-19
A Bunch of Roses.


tlcsleigh. gazing over the lovely bay.
when young man came close and
gently placed his hands over her blue
eyes.
Frank, how dare you? she exclaim-
! ed let me 90 this instantS'
The hands were Immediately with
drawn, and the fair girl turned round.
half, angrily. to encounter the rude dis
turber of her reverie.
Why Algy. is it you? How did you
get here9 1 thought you were at Mot
combc. This is surprise she added
papa will be so glad, and Frank, too
And you. Maggie9 said Algy. as he
! shook hands with her warmly, ventur-
Ing upon gentle pressure OF her taper
fingers.
OF course am delighted, particular
~ as Jessie lIamblyn is coming to-day.
You recollect herr
oh perfectly; she used to be my ideal
of beauty until He stopped.
Until that terrible attack cost her
her eyesight. you mean. Yes, indeed.
she was lovely girl, admire your
taste, Algy.'
Il did not exactly mean that he re-
piled Il meant
Never mind just now, but tell me,
like good fellow. is that the smoke of
the steamer over there9 If so. must
go and tell Robert TO get the pony
chaise ready
Algy shaded his eyes from tile glare.
and bent all his powers Of vision upon
the tiny cloud OH the horizon.
1t was indeed q fair scene upon which
his eyes rested. The blue waters of :hc
bay were flcckcd with foam, as the brisk
breeze met the restless sea on the flood
tide. Till now Maggie had in vain
sought for token OF the vessel, and
with shaded eyes had watcliod the wide
cxpansc. ut times almost dcspairing.
But now all doubt was removed. Tho
black streak grew moro and more defin.
cd long trail of smoke extended far
across the blue distance.
| Conc along said Maggie we must
tell papa and Frank. They will he as
toLishcd TO see you. BY the way do
you generally greet your lady friends
ut Motcombc rs you did me just uow?'
Algy blushed as he replied 'OC course
not besides, have noparticular friends
there.
Oh! not Miss Luttrel? and Miss
Affects it Alice-Carrington? Fic,
AlSy. tic what would they say TO hear
you disown them thus? But here is
Frank
AS sue spoke her cousin, Frank Car
son. appeared. lie walked slowly and
with peculiar watchful gait, but he
turned his head neither TO the right no:
left. as he approached the merry pair.
We'll. Frank, old fellow, how are you?
exclaimed Algy. heartily, as he extern
dcl his hand
why, Algy Vernon, back already
We thought you were studying medi-
cine, or cutting people legs Off to keep
your hand in for surgery. Oh, you
truant'
The young men shook hands warmly.
Have you been here long this time?
asked Algcrnon.
About n fortnight was the reply ,
'Maggie's school -chum is coming-l
am very anxious to make her acquaint-
ance. understand she's lovely-not
that her good looks matter to nc
Algy was about to make q reply when
Maggie made him sign not TO speak.
will you conc ami meet her, Frank?
We arc going
or course; l shall be delighted to
welcome her. Ill 90 and get some
flowers for hcr--.a bunch OF roses will
do AS lie spoke he walked quietly
away.
What did you mean by tclcgraphing
TO me in that mysterious manncr?' rs k
ell Vernon.
Frank doesn't know that Jessie is
blind now so don't tell him. She may
recover her eyesight, the doctors say.
Perhaps your skill may prove of use
Not much | am afraid said Alger-
non. But I've made the eyes my study
too. Now your eyes
But whatever compliment he intended
TO convey was cut short 10y Maggie's
sudden departure.
In half an hour the party were all
ready TO proceed TO the wharf. The
pony. chalse led the way at brisk pace
while cart for the visitors luggage
followed more sobcily.
The steamer soon camo alongside.
and Maggie's quick glance ut once dcs-
cried her friend.
There sho is. Algy, anil Barton is
with her, as usual What kind creature
she is y
Barton recognized the party ut the
same moment and told her young mis-
trcss. who turned round and waved her
hand.
Jessie IIamblyn must have possessed
no ordinary share Of beauty before the
fell ravages Of smallpox had deprived
her Of sight. Even now her almost
classical features were very striking.
and her open lids at n distance did no.
bctray the terrible trial TO which she
had been subjected, Fortunately, the
disease had not marked her 20 any per-
ceptiblo extent, and had her eyes been
spared her beauty would have remained
almost unimpairod. Her tall, well
formed figure was drawn up as if in
/ LnEnnnn a L. -. nLo L-.n-.u 49, LII