The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1878-06-28

There was no reply, unless an almost
imperccptible pressure Of the taper fin
gers could be 50 termed. Frank took
Il for assent. and bending down he kiss
ed the lovely face once. twice, thrice.
till the cheeks were as brilliant a. the
rose Jessie wore i'm her dress.
my own, my darlingi" was all he
said. A sharp peal Of thunder passed
away UNDECIDED as he spoke. After a
pause, he resumed;
$50 you love me, Jessie! l never
thought you would care for me. dear y
Indeed do she whispered; .swhy
should | notP But | often wondered
that you selected me as your companion
all these weeks, for am 50 unfcrtun-
ate.-
"why. my darling. how are you so
unfortnnate?" and he passed his arm
around her taper waist.
use-because---ohl | can not
bear TO mention IL; though | 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
"Oh, Frank that is like your kind
sympathy for me. OF course you guess.
1t is because am blind, you know"
Frank recoiIed as il he hsd been stung,
a choking gasp escaped him, and he
could not speak ra moment.
Blind" he repeated nj length, as il
in dream; s.blind, Oh, Jessie! So
am IT,
4. 1900 49, pt;.d <.,,,, ~. h:..h
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 70 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 ig-
norance Of his infirmi'y, 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 met Have you never seen
me, never NJ alp"
She waited breathless for his answer.
1t fell almost lise blow.
"Neverl''
And this was the end Of her dream OF
love. She had been 50 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 il.
He was suffering, tool She drew herself
up, . beautiful smile upon her face,
then bending towards him she pressed
kiss. the first kiss Of her pure lips, up
on his forehead.
"' For better, for worse, till death do
us part, dear Frank, am yours, If you
will take me soi''
"sTill death do Us part, he repeated,
solemnly, and he in turn was stoop-
ing TO his love when
A hot and brilliant flash OF light rent
the cloud overhead, q 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.
TIL 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
themf-
II 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 a cottage
close by; the light clasp of the fingers
was Embossed 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 stuffed 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, dearestl"
Maggie, full Of Joy, FASTENED to the
bed. There was Jessie Hamblyn, in
deed; bnt il was the Jessie Of old. Her
eyes were open wide and full Of life
1T is true, Maggie, darling; it is
true, and ] can see you once again--I
can, can! Look, here are my roses,
there you stand. Oh, thank Heaven, I
can see the sky once morei"
She fell back exhausted; then, rising
again, cried:
us it true about Frank, I love him,
he loves me; the lightning struck us
YES. but gave me sight for him. Thank