Sharp County record., 1878-07-12

There was no reply, unless an almost
imperceptible pressure of the taper nm
gers could be so termed. Frank took
it for assent, and bending down he kiss
ed the lovely face once, twice, thrice
till the cheeks were as brilliant as the
rose Jessie wore in her dress.
"My own, my darling!" was all he
said. A sharp peal of thunder passed
away unheeded as he spoke. After
pause, he resumed:
$50 you love me, Jessie! never
thonght you would care for me, dear.
"Indeed do" she whispered; "why
should l not? But | often wondered
that you selected me as your companion
all these weeks, for | am so untortun-
ate.n
"Why, my darling, how are you so
unfortunate?" and he passed his arm
around her taper waist.
"Because-because---oh! can not
bear to mention it; though l do not
mind now---at least, not nearly SO
much"
"But what is this terrible reason why
| should not love youP Tell me, dear
est.n
"Oh, Frank! that is like your kind
sympathy for me. Of cOurseyou guess.
It is because 1 am blind, you know"
Frank recoiled as if he had been stung,
choking gasp escaped him, and he
could not speak fra moment. .
"Blind!n he repeated at length, as If
in dream; "blind! Oh, Jessie! So
am Il"
It was too true. Blind from his birth,
Frank Carson had never dreamed that
Jessie was afflicted like himself. Mag
ole had never told him this, and the
terrible fact was now revealed to the
lovers for the first time. Franks
knowledge of the ground and neighbor-
hood in which he had lived for years
had enabled him to keep Jessie in lg.
norance of his infrmity, which he OF
course fancied she was aware of.
And it had 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 breathless for his answer.
1t fell almost like blow.
"Never!"
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 so
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 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! She drew herself
up, a beautiful smile upon her face,
then bending towards him she pressed
a kiss, the first kiss of her pure lips, up
-e,s.-ls;;a. f. rolso~<A ,..---s- ,'--.- -.,s 70
"s For better, for worse, till death do
us part, dear Frank, | am yours, if you
will take me sol"
"sTill death do us part, repeated,
solemnly, and he in turn was stoop-
ing to his love when
A hot and brilliant flash of light rent
the cloud overhead, rafting peel OF
thunder followed it to earth, and Frank
and Jessie lay extended beneath the
riven tree, hand in hand, to all appear
ance locked in sleep-the sleep that
knows no waking.
Till death did them part! Was this
to be their parting, on the threshold OF
their lives?
Peal after peal of thunder ratified
overhead, the lightning flashed around
them, the rain poured down in torrents,
and there they lay unconscious of the
elemental war-asleep!
"Merciful heaven, have pity on
them!"
1t was the Rector who spoke, as he
and some others came suddenly upon
the senselers forms beneath the tree.
Was the prayer heard? We dare not
speculate on subjects such as this. Who
can tell?
The bodies were borne to cottage
close by; the light clasp of the fingers
was unloosed at length. Jessie, the
bunch of roses contrasting so with her
pallid face, was laid upon bed, Frank
was in the next room, insensible still.
A stlfed sigh first proclaimed to Mag
gle Denne that her heartfelt prayer had
been answered, and Jessie sat upright.
Turning to her kind attendant, she said
family:
Maggie, dearest!"
Maggie, full of joy, fastened to the
bed. There was Jessie Hamblyn, in
deed; bnt it was the Jessie of old. Her
eyes were open wide and full of life!
cit is true, Maggie, darling; it is
true, and l can see you once again.
can, l can! Look, here are my roses,