A blind man's offering / by B. B. Bowen.

  • B. B. Bowen
Date:
1850
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A blind man's offering / by B. B. Bowen. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    73/444 page 65
    Accordingly matters were so arranged that Rochford received a peremptory letter from his father, requiring his immediate return home. He was determined not to comply with this requisition till at least he could have one interview with Maria, and be able to leave her with a full understanding of their mutual feelings and pur- poses. This interview he obtained the eve previous to his leaving the institution. They met at a place to which I have before referred as the home of music, and both seemed to feel a vague apprehension that it would be long before they should meet again. Rochford told Maria briefly that his father was a firm man, and would doubtless object to their union, yet he was determined, that, although he had never disobeyed his commands, yet he now should consult his own feelings, and Maria might depend on his unchanging affection. It was ar- ranged on the part of Maria, that, at the coming vaca- tion, she should return to her mother’s, and Rochford should meet her there. But now they must part, and the lovers were agitated beyond expression. As Roch- ford clasped his Maria to his breast, language was inad- equate to express the deep emotions of their souls, and in nature’s simple eloquence they but uttered each other’s name — O Francis! O Maria! They separ- ated, melancholy proofs that what God intended to constitute our purest bliss is too often made a source of our keenest misery! The next day, Rochford de- parted. A few weeks passed, and the vacation came. Maria was soon in her own home, full of hope and joyous ex- pectancy. In a few days Rochford joined her, and once more they walked amid the scenes of their early years. It was a beautiful evening in June, at the mellow hour of sunset. The loveliness of the heavens reflected the 6*
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