The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register., 1824-07-15

from the clergyman who attended the
Malefactor in prison, and to whom the
confession was made. 1t may be proper
to remark, that this man, at the time OF
his execution, was but two and twenty
years of age.
TzIE MALEFACTOR.
any father was respectable tradesman,
in this town, and ], his only son, was educa
ted with all possible care, under his immc
diatc inspection, to succeed him in his busi-
ness. From my earliest years, my DISPOSE
ton was silent and reserved, and the perusal
Of instructive and entertaining books, the
dearest, and almost sole employment Of my
leisure hours. | avoided, from choice, the
noisy pleasures of the world; and my pa
rents cherished me, on account of the cx-
elusive attachment for my home, with re-
doubled affection. In my seventeenth year
lost my mother. My father continued sin
gle for 4 considerable time longer in content
4n,! happiness; he was actually approach
ing his siXticth birth day, when he had the
weakness to fall in love (f indeed, the pas
sion could be so tcrmed) with the youthful
daughter of one of our ncighbors, whose on
! ly riches consisted in her extraordinary
beauty and unsullied reputation. He formal
ly demanded her hand of her parents; and
the latter, who had looked upon him as Il
thriving, wealthy tradesman compelled their
child, partly by threats, and partly by per-
suasion, to pledge her faith to him, rather
with her lips than with her heart The
wedding day was already fixed, when my
father fell dangerously ill; he, however,
soon partially recovered, and although his
physician, and some still remaining weak
ness couselcd TO delay, he paid but little at
tehtion to either, but summoned up all his
strength, and celebrated his marriage as well
and as galy as his situation permitted. But
or that very day whilst seated amidst his
friends, enjoying the delights Of the festive
board, he suddenly became SO faint and i'll,
that he was Obliged to be carried from the
table to his bed, from which he never again
arose. He fingered in this state a whole
year. And it is certain, incontestably Cer-
tain, that this i'll starred marriage never was
consumatcd.
meanwhile the maiden whom he had es-
poused, assumed the name OF his wife, and
in reward for the resignation and cheerful
ness with which she supported the tolls, and
fulfilled the duties fan afIcctonatc and care
ful nurse, he bequcathed to her by his will
his whole property; and left me, his only
son-agaiust whom he had never had cause
to utter a serious complaint--with the cA-
cepton of my scanty legal portion, penny
less! How much reason socver l might now
appear to have, to hate, or at least, to shun
a person who had deprived me, almost in an
unlawful manner, of considerable fortune
the contrary feeling prevailed over my re-
sentiment. She was, as have already OBJ
served, young, beautiful, of an irreproacha-
Il Il a
every body, and from the first moment Of
our acquaintance, peculiarly engaging in hel
behavior to mc. Little then aware of the
reason, yet sought her company at ever!
lciaure hour-dclightcd in her conversation
often asked her opinion on the affairs ot
the house, and soon observed with secre,
pleasure, that She was on her part anxious
to obtain mine, even on triiles, and followed
my advice with the most scrupulous attea-
tion. Thus passed on some months, and
thought not on the danger of our growingat-
tachmcnt but when she daily became dear
or to nc, when no place without her any
longer had charms for me, and sleeping u
waking, her idea was constantly present t
my thoughts; then, too late, observed the
namc that glowcd within my breast Ter
rificd at the precipicc on which ! stood, anC
resolved as much as possible to avoid onc
who never could be mine, | should immc-
dately have quilted my fathers house, ha(
not been withheld BY the dread OF the com
mcnts my fellow citizens would make OF
my conduct, by whom it might have been
deemed the effect of anger against my parent
for so unkntly disinheriting me-by the pre-
sent situation of affairs i'll our business, to the
, prosperity of which my presence was abso-
lutcly indispcnsable-and lastly, by the eyi'
IDENTIFY approaching dissolution of my still
beloved father.
"However, / maintained, during some
time, nv resolution of stunning her society
; but no sooner was she aware of this, than, OIL
the first opportunity, following me to a Sc
questcred part of the house, she implorct
me with tears in her eyes, to tell her thu
reason of such an alteration in my conduct
TOR which she had never Intentionally givcl
me any cause. l stammered out somethin.
in the form of an excuse, but all that | coult
say, was, by her, gently, yet clearly refutcd
and at last, as my agitation increased, ant
some words escaped me, which but to wei
explained my real feelings; she could nc
, longer restrain the impulse of her affection
but throwing herself into my arms, avowed
her attachment to me. This event put an
end to all constraint on my part and no long,
t er endeavoring to disguise my love- SUI,
t forced myself to try to impress on her Aiiii',
t the impossbility of her ever being mine' and
the absolute necessity of an eternal separa-
tion from her; and after an heart-rehdlne