Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1856-11-06

well nigh broken Nelly's heart, was the
offspring Of another brain. than that Of
Edward Preston's; and the brief. cold
epistle in Nelly's delicate hand, telling
him that another love now frightened the
heartiistone where the fame of girlish
fancy which he had kindled had died out
forever, furnished entire solution to Ed
ward Preston's long silence.
Nelly, darling. do not tell me so r
said Edward. " cannot bear it Oh
merciful Heaven. spare her to meW and
the strong man bowed his head on the pill
low. and wept like child.
Nelly twined her small transparent fin
gers within his own, and talked to him
long and lovingly Of the bright home to
which she was going; and Edward Pres
tons sobs grew hushed before that low,
soothing voice, which seemed already to
have caught somewhat Of the melody of
angels: and at last he lifted his head and
said, !" Nelly, dearest, as YOU would have
my name upon earth, will you not bear
it to that brighter world to which our
Heavenly Father is calling your"
They were married reader. Two days
later a fair May sunset looked in with its
holy smile upon that solemn bridal. Mel
ly's brown hair flowed away from her
white brow, which the blue veins crossed
50 legibly. How beautiful she looked in
her white dress as the half smile strayed
over her lips, while the pulses Of her
heart were growing very low.
Two days later the fair May sunset
looked into that bedroom and witnessed
another bridal. Alas, alas! there were
no kisses, no smiles; only tears-for Mel
~ was welded to Death!
Seven years have since departed Isit
here in my mothers bedroom, and the
May sunset looks in at the window. and
l.:4.-z4r-s=z74 sfsI.sss wrap themselves
round the hand which travels across my
paper. Far off, white monument CLEANS
through the willow that droops by its
side" Ellen. wife of Edward Preston,
aged twenty" is engraven on it. Sister,
sweet sisteri seven times has the winter
hung her white bridal sheets over thy
grave, and the spring woven her green
vestments around it; seven long years
have the strains from the spirit-harp flow
ed over the white fields where the burial
mounds are never heaped, and where the
wall Of the autumn never means through
the breeze,
Squire Preston and his wife sleep there
too, only little way from Nelly. One
year ago. when the proud lady lay on her
death-bed, she sent for me. That fearful
revelation But promised to forgive
it, and may Heaven help me to forget it.
Last month when the bright stars look
ed like the meek, preycrfut eyes of the
scraphs out OF the pale blue sky, Edward
Preston and | went to Nelly's grave, and
as we stood there in the silence of the
night. he drew his arms around my waist
and said to me, Annie, sweet sister of
my Nelly! here beside the grave where
laid her down in my agony to slumber,
seven long years ago. do now ask ven
to take the place in my heart which was
once hers. Annie dearest will you look
up with those eyes SO likesher own, and
say whether you can be second Nelly
to me 7"
There in the solemn starlight, by Mel
ly's grave, did look up and my eyes
made an answer to Edward Preston.
Before the bright summer has departed
there wilPbe another bridal at our cottage
and no voice will be uplifted in scorn or
disapproyal that Edward Preston has
chosen the cottage-girl for his wife.
Look down from thy home in the heav-
ems and bless the nuptials of thy beloved,
oh, Nelly, my sisterl