The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1881-10-07
A KIND HEART.

The woods were gayly bedecked with
their autumnal foliage, and the robins
had ceased chirping their sweet lays {;
but the brook murmured on, with its
lulling intonation, beneath the rustling
branches OF the trees, as happily as it
did when its banks were luxmiant with
summers green verdure. And it was
by this tiny rustic bridge that spanned
the stream in the shadow of the trees
that Nettie first met Lennox Vale. He
had been listlessly tempting the speck-
led trout in the stream with his rod
when she came down from the cottage
near by, to fetch pail of water and on
meeting the pretty gill he rose from his
recumbent position, gallantly doffed his
hat, and laughingly demanded her toll
to cross the bridge. She blushed pret-
tilN aud would have retraced her steps
in dismay had he not reassured her by
few joking words, aud to her astonish.
ment filled her pail and carried it to the
cottage for her,
That was the way tn y became ac-
quaintcd, and it was not long before
both were hopelessly in love with each
other, although the sweet words had
not yet been spoken which would reveal
their passion. He was handsome, and
being from New York, possessed the
polished manners of thorough gentle.
man, while she, reared in the quiet lit
tic village of Roselle, was as innocent
aud simple as country girl could be.
He afterward called at the cottage
where dwelt Widow Borrowdale "a
graceful little lady, if possible more
beautiful than her daughter. An air of
mystery surrounded the pretty widow,
which was only apparent to Lennox Vale;
but he, too, was a mystery to them, as
the extent of his confidence was that he
was New Yorker, rusticating few
months for recreation. He boarded at
the hotel in the village, but from the
day he met Nettie most of his time was
spent near her.
And Thus the happy days of summer
and autumn sped rapidly by, and cold,
bleak winter approached in biting gusts
over the Blue Ridge, at the base of
which the stream wound its sinuous
course. And winters approach brought
terror to the widows heart, for she had
been unfortunate all summer the bank
in which she had deposited what little
money she owned had failed and left
her penniless, This news she commu-
nicated to Nettie, one evening, as they
sat in the tiny parlor before the cheer
full fire, few minutes after Lennox had
returned to his hotel,
II do not know what we shall do,
Nettie dear" she said, dolefully. "The
few thousand dollars were all your
father left us when he died, and that
money he brought from England"
From England, mamma ?" queried
Nettie, in surprise.
"Yes, my dear mover told you we
are English, did /? Dear me, how rap,
idly time flies Why certainly am an
English woman, but you were born
herein this house. And do you know,
Nettie, your grandfather was noble
man?'
"Why, no, mamma" replied the as-
tonished girl.
"Well, he was" continued Mrs. Bor-
rowdale "The story of my life is au
unhappy one, but will tell il briefly
Your father was the only child of Lord
Borowdale, and / was the daughter OF
u London merchant. My father and
mother died leaving me destitute, and
was obliged to earn my bread by teach.
ing in private seminary. Your father
met me, and falling in love with each
other, We were married. BY this act
!.........-I IL -. T..