The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-04-13
choking gasp escaped him, and he could not


aRllndr, Ne repeated ut length, as II In o
dream. .Blindl Oh, Jessie! SO am / r
It was too true. Blind from his birth,
Frank Carson had never dreamed that Jessie
was afflicted like himself Maggie 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 neigh
borhood In which he had lived for years had
enabled him to keep Jessie In ignorance OF
his lntirmity, which he OF course tanced she
was aware Of.
And had it come to this after all
Jessie seized his hand. "Oh, do not tell me
that! Frank, dear Frank, say you can see
mel Have you never seen me; never at ally
She waited hrpathless for his answer. 1t
fell almost like o blow.
"Never!'
And this was the end of her dream of love
She had been 50 very happy to think that one
| man ut least had been SO kind and synpa-
thetic; that one man had seen her vacant
eyes and SCARED face, and had loved her for
| herself alone not for her beauty and hel
wealth. But now-the charm was snapped
| the golden bowl was brokenl She bent her
| head A great warm drop fell upon her hand,
now clasped IN his once more. She started as
| she feltit He was suffering, too. She drew
herself up, q beautiful smile upon her face,
| then bending toward him she pressed kiss,
| the first kiss Of her pure lips, upon his fore
head
"'For better, for worse, till death do us
part dear Frank, / am yours, IL you will
| take me SOL
"'Till death do ,is part he repeated, sol
EMMY, and he in turn was STOPPING to his
| love When
| A hot and brilliant flash Of light rent the
/ cloud overhead. q rafting peal OF thunder
| followed II to earth, and Frank and Jessie lay
extended beneath the riven tree, hand In hand
| to all appearance locked IN sleep-the sleep
| that knows no waking.
| Till death did item part! Was this to be
their parting, on the threshold Of their lives
4 Peal after peal Of thunder ratified overhead
the lightning flashed around them, the raiI
| poured down In torrents, and there they NY
| unconscious of the elemental war-asleep!
i "Merciful heaven, have pity on them r
| It was the rector who spoke, as he and some
| others of the party came suddenly upon the
senseless forms beneath the tree.
Was the prayer heard2 We dare not spec.
ulate on subjects such as this. Who can tell
The bodies were borne to o cottage close
by; the light clasp Of the fingers WAS IN
loosed at length Jessie, the bunch Of roses
contrasting SO with her pallid lace, was lad
upon bed, Frank w S In the next room, In
sensible still.
II A stitled sigh first proclaimed to Maggie
Denne that her heartfelt prayer had been an
swered, and Jessie sat upright. Turning tc
her kind attendant, she said faintly:
"Maggie, dearestl'
Maggie, full of joy, hastened to the bed
There was Jessie Hamhlyn, indeed; but il
| was the Jessie Of old. Her eyes were opcL
wide and full Of lifei
ut is true, Maggie, darling; 1t is true. ant
can see you once again-1 can, canl Look
here are my roses there you stand. 81,
thank heaven ] can see tho sky once more
She fell back exhausted, then, rising again
cried:
us 1t true about Frank? ! love him. h
loves me: the lightning struck us yes, bu
gave me sight for him. Thank God! Where
Is Frank she inquired after Q pause.
In the next room" said Maggie, as sh'
wiped away her happy tears. "Oh. Jessie
how thankful we all are! We feared TIN
worst for BOTH
All this moment the rector entered softly.
"On, come In, papa, come In; darling Jes
sic can see us all again. Is 1t not wonder
full am SO thankful
lit is wonderful replied Mr.. Denne
"And now" he said, after he had affection
ately congratulated Jessie, Il have mor
good news: Frank has recovered and has
asked for Jessie. May he come In :"
II will 20 to him. she said, rising from th,
bed. And before they could stop her she hat
hurried away to the next room, where, lyins
upon sofa, was poor Frank Carson. Sh
cried, dearest Frank, | am SO glad" Thei
blushing rosy red she whispered, It'll dealt
do us part. God has given me my eyesigh
once again, to nurse and tend you all m,
life Dear, dear Frank"
He said not word till, rising up, he knel
beside the sofa, and Jessies Thanksgiving
and his went up TO Heaven together.
But little remains to be told. The lover
were united before many months had passed
Algernon and Maggie soon followed the goo'
example set them by Jessie and her lover
On the formers wedding day the only gf
presented to the lovely bride by her devote'
husband, Frank, was bunch Of roses.