LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1409, 21 August 1878, Page 3

LITERATURE.

A BrNCH OF ROSES. [" Cassells' Magazine."] Cone-hided. Chapter 11. Nearly two mouths passed away, and niiV the party at '"> Keotory remained the same. To those of mv readers who have stayed in sweet South Devon, I need not explain the pleasan*. life which young pe pie can—and I believe do—lead in that land of picnics. Love iu those latitudes ripens with the strawberries, and comes as natura'iy as cream ; so the young couples at the Kectory paired off almost unconsciously. Such an arrangement in the case of Algy Vernon and Maggie Denne was not surprising, for they had been rcquainted from childhood. Mrs Vernon and the late Mrs Denne had been schoolfellows. They had never severed the friendship thus initiated, and what was more natural than that the affection thus entertained by the parents should descend to the children ? At any rate. Algy was deeply in love with the pretty Maggie; and she. though not so much preoccupied respecting him thought her old friend very nice indeed, and if the truth were told, preferred him to all her nume oua admirers.

But F.ank Carson and Jessie Hamblyn '■ad no such excuse. Yet the influence of the Hevonahire air was such as to kindle a spark, which showed symptons of bursting out into a very decided flame indeed. The train of sympathy was laid, it required but that (-park to be applied to it, and th> n the barriers of prudence would give way before the explosion. If Algernon and Macei> understood each other, so did Frank and Jessie, and the numerous ex ursi ns and picnic 3 in which they passed the afternoon only served to rivet the-r bonds closer One sultry afternoon a laat excur ion was p'anned to the F;dry Glen. The patty had been increased on this occasion by th-ee conpl s from a neighbor'ng parish, and despite the threatening appearance of curtain hnge mas*e3 of c oud, the sxpedition starred The roroan'ij spot which Maggie—no mean jnd ein thpse matters had selected for the afternoon meal, was one of those lovely bits of landscape so familinr to many of us. A brawling stream makes its sparkling way amidst moss-covered jbonlders ;ver pebbly shtllows, and swirls amongst the wild flowers beneath its banks, 'iht-n gl ding calmly into an unruffled pool, it lazily creeps beneath a picturesque bridge through the single arch of which ancient structure the moor is seen * xlending its wild and undulating curves. And then the water, secure in its pride of high birth in yonder nil's, takes no h' ed of the narrow passage till, ere it is awa-e, it is caught in a rapid, and hur- ■ led over the cascade to the sea, where it is lo t f r ever.

Such were the features of the woodland dining-room on that eventiful day-a day never to be forgotten by any member of that merry party.

The cloth was soon laid beside the stream, and when all was ready full justice was done to the alfresco meal. More than once a muttered grow] or subdued roll was heard over the hiUs, but the tuggestion of thunder wan met by the reply tint fie sound was me ely the echoes of the blasting operations a ! ; the quarri s. or the ratt.e of the trucks oa the neighoring tramway. The air got more aud more sultry, and even the insects seemed to deep. The trees whispered to each other, end their topmost branches waved a gentle welcome to the scarcely felt breeze that stirred the haves. The vicnic party broke into groups after d nner ; the groups in.o pairs, and cautioning the oth rs not to go t o far, as there \va3 a storm brewing. Frank and Jessie did not wander away. Escorted by Algernon a;id Maggie to a rustic seat »bove the stream clo-e to a tall and she.tering tree. th r 'y sat together while the more vent resome o? the the party climbed ihetall rocks, or wandered upthi stream, leaping from st> ne to stone, where assistance and much holding of hands wa« a nece-sity.

Oh, ye Devon streams, for whit are ye not responsibl < ? ' ! ow many happy faces ye have mirrored in your Bparklmg waers ! Prank and J ssie chatted for some time on indifferent nubjects. nntd at la«t she sighed deeply, and said ha f-"bs"nt y—- • Oh. how very sorry f shall be to leave here—l 1 ave been so happy!' Then she added suddenly, 'Evety one has been so very kind 'o me!' ' 1 am dreadfully sorry you must gr>,' he said with an answering righ, and somehow as he spoke, know not how how docs it ever happen? their hands touch-d ; his fingers clasped hers, and hers were not withdrawn. The train wis fi;e I !

1 Jessie, deirest Jes-ie,' ha whispered, ' can you love me ? Will you be my wife ?' There was no reply nrle ; s «n almost im percotible pressure of the ta;>er tmgers coul 1 be so termed. Frank took it for assent, and bending down he kissed the lovely face onc°, twice, thrice, till the eheek» were as brilliant as the crimson rose Jessie wore in her dress.

' My own, my darling !' was all he said A sharp peal of tnunder passed away unheeded as he spoke. After a pause, he resnmed—

*So you do love me, Jessie. I never thought you wouldeara for me dear.' ' Tnde: d I do,' she whispered ; ' why should I not? But I of.en wondered that you me as your companion all these week- for I am so unf >rtnuat .'

• Why, my darlit g. how are you unfortunate ?' and he passed his arm around her taper waist. ' Because —because—oh! I cannot bear to mention it; thongh 1 do not mind now—at not nearly so much.' 1 But what is this terrible reason why I should not love you, Jessie? Tel me, deareat.'

'Oh Frank! that is like your kind sympathy for me. Of course you guess. It is because lam blind, you know.'

Frank recoiled a? if he had been stung, a choking gasp escaped uim, and he could not for a moment. ' Blind !' he repeated at length, as if in a dream ; * blind ! Oh, Jessie ! So am I!'

It was too true. Blind from bis birth, Frank Oarsonbad never dreamed thak 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. Frank's knowledge of the pround and neighbourhood in which he had I'ved for years had enabled him to keep Jessie in ignorance of his infirmity which he of course fancied she was aware of. And had it come to this after all.

Jess'e seized his hand. ' Oh, do not tell me that! Frank, dear Frank, say you can see me ! Have you never seen me, nt>ver at aU ?' She waited breathless for his answer. It fell almost like a blow. •Nftver!'

And this was the end of the dream of love. She had been so very happy to think that ono man at least had been so kind and sympathetic ; that one man had seen her vacant eyes and scarred face, and had loved her for herself alone, not for her beauty and her wealth. But now—the chirm was snapped —the golden bowl was broken. She bent her head. A great warm drop fell upon her hand, now cla ped in his once more. She started as she felt it. He was suffering too. She drew herself u», a beautiful smile upon her face, *h-n bending towards hi-n she pressed a kiss, the rirst kiss of her pure lips, upon his forehead. ' For better, for worse, till death us do part,' dear Frank, I am yours, if you will take me so.'

' rill death do us part,' he repeated solemnly, and he in turn was stooping to his love when

A hot and brilliant flash of light rent the cloud overhead, a rattling peal of thunder followed it to earth, and Frank and Jessie Uy extended beneath the riven tree, hand in hand, to all appearance locked in sleep-the sleep that knows no waking ! Tll death did the<o part. W ag this to be their parting, on the threshold of their lives ?

Peal after peal of thunder rattled o 1 erhead, the lightning flashed around them, .ho

rain poured down in torrents, and there they lay unconscious of the the elemental war asleep!

' Merciful Heaven, have pity on them !' It was the rector who spoke, as he and some others of the party came suddenly upon the senseless forms beneath th* tree. Was the prayer heard ? We darn nofc speculate on subjects Buch as this. Who can tell ? The bodies were borne to a cottage close by ; the light clasp of the fingers was nnloosed at length. Jessie, the hunch of roses contrasting so with her pallid fac*, was la d upon a bf»rl Frank was in the next room, insensible still A stifled sigh first proclaimed to Maegio Deone that her heartfelt prayer had been answered, and Jessie sat upright. Turning to her kind attendant, she said faintly—- ' Maggie, dearest 1' Maggie, full of joy, hastened to the bed There was Jessie Hamblyn, indeed—but it was the Jessie of old. Her eyes were open. wide, and full of life. ' It is true, Maggie, darling, it is true, and I can see you onc« again—l can, I can! Look, here are my roses—there you s'and. Oh I thank Heaven, I can Bee the sky once more !' She fell back exhausted, then rising again, cried—'ls it true about Frank ? I Jove him, he loves me ; the liehtning struck us—yes, but gave me sight for him Thank God I \S here is Frank?' she inquired after a pause. 'ln the next room,' said Matrgie, as she wiped away her happy tears Oh. Jexsie ! how thankful we all are. We feared the won't f or both.' At this moment the rector entered softly. ' Oh, come in, papa, come in; darling Jc-s»ie can see us all a ;ain. Is it not wonder* ful T lam bo thanl fal!'

•It is indeed wondeiful' replird Mr Denne. 'And now,'he said, after he had affectionately congratulated Jessie, • I have more Rood n»ws ; Frank has recovered, and has ask'd for Jossie. May he come in ? '

1 I will go to him.' she said, rising from the bed. And before they could stop her she had hurried awsy to the next room where, lyfrg upon a sofa, was poor Frank Carson. She hastfned towards him. ' Oh, !' she cried. ' dearest Frank, I am so glad ' Then blushing red, *he whispered, 'Til dea'h do us pa't. God has given my eye sight once again, to nurse and tend you a 1 my life Dear, dear Frank.' He said no word till, rising up, he knelt beside the sofa, and Jessie's thanksgiving and his went up to heaven together. But little remain? to be told. The lovers were united before|many months had passed. Algernon and Maggie soon followed the g>od example set them by Jessie and her lover. On the former weddmg day the only gift presented to the lovely b ide by her devoted husband, frank, was a bunch of roses.

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