Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1856-11-06
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MY SISTER NELLY.
A Touching Love Story.

A Touching Love Story.
We were poor people, but our parents
always said they were rich in Nelly and
me. We lived III little gable-roofed
cottage. with a grey chimney GROWING it.
Roses and sweet brier looked in at all the
front windows, while a great grapevine,
with its purple clusters, just out of reach
of my hand, Rugged the back of the
house.
I do not remember ever wishing | was
rich but once, and that was when | over
heard mother and father saying how much
it cost to send sister Nelly to school, for
she was great scholar She was also
very beautiful, that sister of mine She
stands before me now. SO fair and life-like,
though it is seven long years since the
grass first grew green over the white
hands they folded on her bosom when she
Law down under the willow to sleep.
Let me see; it must be eight years this
very month since the occurrence of that
event which braided such bright flowers
of hope and love in the life-warp of my
Nelly. Oh such dark clouds, such black
surging pillows! She had gone out to
walk. for she was ve:y fond of solitary
pedestrian excursions. The day was de-
clining, and my mother had grown some
what uneasy at her protracted absence,
when we heard the wicket open suddenly,
and quick footsteps along the grayel-walk.
The next moment there was loud imper
alive knock at the front door. My moth
err opened it, then staggered back with
very pale cheeks at the sight it revealed.
Nelly was lying pale and deathlike. in the
arms of a young gentleman, her long nut
brown ours floating away from the pallor
eff fffg 4 Ha+sailla.
!" No, madam, your daughter is not dead
NOT even injured she has only tainted"
said the young man, answering the ques-
ton that he read in my mothers eyes, but
which her lips could not express. a
little care will soon restore her"
He carried my sister in, my mother
leading the way, and laid her down on the
lounge in the bedroom. | lowered anx-
iously about her, when my mother bathed
her temples with camphor, and the gen
tleman chafed her cold hands, meanwhile
explaining the circumstance which occa-
stoned her fanting. He was riding has
tiiy home to his fathers, when his horse,
a high spirited animal, took fright at
something in the road, and dashed of
headlong with his driver On turning a
sharp angle in the road he came 50 sud
denly upon my sister as TO knock her
down, and then he sprang from his horse
and raising her, discovered that she had
tainted: and the dark, fine eyes Of the
gentleman expressed more s~ef regret ut
the circumstance. than even the greceful
apology which he made my mother.
Well, the life tinge rippled slowly back
to Nelly's cheek, and she opened her
brown eyes and stared wonderingly
around. her. In a few moments she sat
up, with mothers arm about her waist,
and replied to the eager inquiries Of the
gentleman that she felt quite we'll. re
member he relnained with her until she
had walked twice across the room, to as
sure him she was entirely recovered, and
then with another long admiring glance
Oh her face, he babe us farewell.
The next day the stranger stopped at
the door moment to inquire ifmy sister
was quite well after her recent fright,
and on the subsequent one magnificent
hoQuet was left for Miss Graham, with
the compliments Of Edward Preston at
tached to the card which accompanied the
rich exotics. We knew then that the
gentleman was the son Of old Squire Pres
ton. who lived in the, large mansion on
the hill. A proud, exclusive family were
the Prestons, mingling very little with
the society in the village 9 Edward was
never a bit like them, Nelly said, with a
blush. They had been playfellows in
childhood.
A few days after, Nelly and went out
to take walk at sunset, and Mr.. Pres
ton came very suddenly upon US. / could
not help admiring the courtly grace with
which he lifted his hat and asked permis-
sion to accompany us to slight elevation
not far of, which, he said, would not only
afford fine view of the sunset, but give
us a picture of exquisite landscape
beauty.
OF course, Nelly and / could not de-
cline this invitation, and the young man
was very careful assisting us, particular.
~ my sister, over every stone or obstacle
in the road. And then how eharmingly
he talked getting surreptitious gIances
OF Nelly's face all the time-that face
that Looked SO strangely fair, with the
dying day-beam fitting among her brown
cnrls.
Mr.. Preston accompanied us home that
night, and when he had said Good even.
ing, and left US, / turned back on The
door step and saw him watching Nelly al
the while l told her, and the crimson