The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-04-18

my wifep' =
There was no reply, unless an almos
imperceptible pressure of the taper fin
gers could be so termed. Frank took i
for assent, and bending down he kisset
the lovely face once, twice, thrice, til
the cheeks were as brilliant as the Grim
son rose Jessie wore in her dress.
Myown, my darling" was all he said
A sharp peal Of thunder passed away un
needed as he spoke. After a pause hi
resumed:
80 You do love me, Jessiel / nevel
thought you would care for me, dear"
Indeed do" she whispered; "why
should / not? But 1 often wondered
that you selected me as your compan
ion all these weeks, for l am SO unfor
tunate."
"Why, my darling, how are you unfor
tunate" and he passed his arm around
her taper waist.
"Because-because-ohl can not beal
to mention it; though | do not mind now,
at least not nearly so much"
"But what is this terrible reason why
should not love you, Jessie? Tell me,
dearest"
"Oh, Frank! that is like your kind
sympathy for me. OF course you guess.
1t is because am blind, you knowp
Frank recoiled as if he had been stung,
a choking gasp escaped him, and he could
not speak for a moment.
"BlindP' he repeated at length, as if
in a dream. Blind Oh, Jessie! So
am Il"
1t 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 neighborhood, in which he
had lived for years, had enabled him to
keep Jessie in ignorance of his infrmity,
which he of course fancied she was aware
of.
And had it come to this after all!
Jessie seized his hand. "Oh, do not tell
me this! Frank, dear Frank, say you
can see me! Have you never seen me;
never at alp
She waited breathless for his answer.
IL lell almost ike q Dl0W.
"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 telt it. He was suffering, too. She
drew herself up, beautiful smile upon
her face, then bending toward him, she
pressed kiss, the first kiss of her pure
lips, upon his forehead.
"'For better for worse, till death do
US part, dear Frank, l am yours, if you
will take me so!n
"TIll death do us part" he repeated,
solemnly, and he in turn was stopping to
his love when
A hot and brilliant fash of light rent
the cloud overhead, a rattling peal of
thunder followed it to earth, and Frank
and Jessie lay extended beneath the rivcn
tree, hand in hand, to all appearance
locked in sleep-the sleep that knows no
waking.
Till death did them partl Was this to
be their parting, on the threshold of their
lives?
Peal after peal of thunder ratified over
head, the lightning flashed around them,
the rain poured down in torrents, and
there they lay unconscious Of the ele-
mental war-asleep!
"Merciful heaven have pity on them!'
1t 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 heard? We dare not
speculate Oh 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, insen>ible still
A stifed 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, indeed;
but it was the Jessie of old. Her eyes
were open and full of life.
ut is true, Maggie, darling; it is true,
and can see you once again-l can,
can! Look, here are my roses; there you
stand. Oh, thank Heaven, / can see the
sky once morep'
She fell back exhausted then, rising
again, cried:
as it true about Frank? ] love him;
he loves me; the lightning struck us
YES, but gave me sight for him. Thank
Godl Where is Frank" she inquired,
after pause.
an the next room" said Maggie, as she
wiped away hec happy tears. "Oh, Jessicl
how thankful we all arel We feared the
worst for bothP'
At this moment the rector entered
softly.
"Oh, come in, papa; come in. Darling
Jessie can see us all again. Is it not won
derful? | am so thankfup
at IS wonderful" replied Mr., Denne.
"And now," he said, after he had affec-
tionately congratulated Jessie, II have
more good news; Frank has recovered
and has asked for Jessie. May he
come inY
81 will 60 to him" she said, rising