South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1878-07-19
Romney, Hampshire County, West Va. July 49, 1878

arch OF which ancient structure the
moor Is seen extending its wild. undula.
ting carves. And then the water, Sc
cure in its pride of high birth in yon-
der hills. takes no heed Of the narrow
I passage till, ere it is aware, /. is caught
I in rapid, and hurried over the cascade
to the sea, where it is lost forever.
4 Such were the features ofthe wo cd
land dining-room on that eventful day-a
day never to he forgotten by any mem
Der of that merry party.
The cloth was soon laid beside the
stream, and when all was ready full
justice was done to tire al .fresco meal.
More than once muttered growl or
subdued roll was heard over the hills,
but the suggestion of thunder was met
by the reply that the sound was mere :
ly the echoes of the blasting operations
at the quarries. or the rafting OF the
trucks on the neighboring tramway.
The air got more and more sultry,
and even tue insects seemed to sleep.
The trees whispered TO each other, and
their topmost branches waved gentle
welcome to the scarcely.felt breeze that
stirred the leaves. The picnic party
broke into groups after dinner; the
groups into pairs, each cautioning the
others not TO 80 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
moro venturesome Of the party climbed
the tall rocks or wandered up the stream,
leaping from stone to stone, where as
sistance and much holding of hands
was necessity.
Oh. ye Devon streams, for what arc
you not responsible? How many hap
py faces ye hayc mi:rored in your
sparkling waters
Frank and Jessie chatted for some
time on indifferent subjects. until ut
last she sighed deeply, and said half
absently:
oh, how very sorry / shall be TO
leave here have been so happy +
Then she added, suddenly: Every
one has been SO very kind to me =
Il am dreadfully sorry you must go,
he said, with an answering sigh. aud
somehow, as lac spoke, we know not
how-how does it ever happen? their
hands touched 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and hers were not withdrawn.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
imperceptible pressure OF the taper fin
gers could be 50 termed. Frank took
it for assent, and bending down he
kissed the lovely face once, twice, thrice,
till the checks were as brilliant rs the
crimson rose Jessie wore in her dress
My own, my darling!' was all he
said. A sharp peal OF thunder passed
away unheeded rs he spoke. After a
pause he resumed:
so you do love me, Jessie never
thought you would care FOR me, dear
Indeed 1 do she whispered; why
should l not? But | often wondered
that you selected me as your compan.
ion all these weeks, for 1 am 20 unfor-
tunate.'
Why, my darling. how are you I'M.
fortunatc?' and he passed his arm q.
round her waist.
Decause-because- | cannot
bear to mention it; though do not
mind now-at least, not nearly so much.
'But what is this terrible reason why
| should hot love you, Jessie? Tell me
dearest
% Frank chat is like your kind sym.
patliy for me. or cou sc, you guess
1t is because | am blind, you know t.
Frank recoIled as if he bad boon
stung, choking gasp escaped him, and
hn nNul1 utNool- for
Blind J be repeated at length, as il
in dream blind? o Jessie So am !!
twas too true, Blind from his birth
Frank Carson had never dreamed that
Jessie was afflicted like himself Mag
gle had never told him this, and The
terrible fact was now revealed To the
lovers for tho first time. Frank q
knowledge Of the ground and neighbor
hood in which he had lived for years
had enabled him to keep Jessie in igno
rance ofhis infrmity. which he ofcourso
fancied she was aware OF.
And had il come TO this, after all?
Jessie seized his hand. oh, do not
tell me that Frank, dear Frank say
you can see me Have you never seen
me. never at alp
She waited breathles5 for his answer
/ II fell almost like blow.
Never !
And this was tho end OF her dream
Of love Sine had been so very happy
TO think that one man ut least had been
50 kind and sympathetic that one man
bad seen her vacant eyes and SCARED
face, and bad loved her for herself alone,
not for her beauty and her wealth. But
now--the charm was snapped--the gol-
den 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. lie was sui.
7 lering, too. She drew herself up, a
beautiful smile upon her face. then =
bending toward bin she pressed a kiss.
the first kiss Of her pure lips, upon his
/ forehead.