Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-09-26


once in his demeanour-a GOODNESS Of manner
and Of expression. which but too evidently told
that his affections were in the wane.
His manncrs, did not escape the scruteniz-
ing eye ofCaptain Falkner; and whilst tho in
dignant father suspected the reason Of the evil
dent change, the fond and feeling mother,
knew too we'll the cause Of it, and wcpt as she
beheld the approaching ruin Other daughter--
" the deep damnation other hopes" IfMary
wept, she wept in silence and in secret, for her
proud heart, already lacerated to the core,
scorned to imploro the pity and commisscra-
ton Of hcs seducerr--and ste only painted for
the arrival Of that hour, which should screen
her from the world, and hide her disgrace be-
meath the cold clod Of the valley. But her
father, rithing with agony and painting with
indignant fire, demanded Of Haroby, an in
slant restoration of his daughters fame, and
an immediate union; TO which Harroby COM
piled, and appointed the day for the celebra-
ton Of the nuptials ;--madc a thousand pro-
u
while, the wretchcd Mary smiled, for she
thought she yet beheld prospect Of escaping
from the ruin that awaited her. But how
vain, and idle were all her hopcs!-Thc day
arrived; the hour arrived--the clergyman was
ready TO administer the sacred vow-thc
friends Of the family had assembled to witness
the sacred ceremony; and yet Harroby appear
cd not! AS tho anxious Mary sat by the win
dow, watching for the coming of her chosen
nc;-she saw him approach the dwelling;
when instantly, he turned towards another
street, and abandoned her to her SORROWS.
His designs were cvident-it was plain that
he intended TO avoid the falflment of his prom
scs the asscmblage retired involved in grief
and modification, and the deludcd girl fell
scnscless upon the floor. In a state Of pro-
found insensibility she remained Cor some
days, when she gave birth 10 u stil!-born
babe, the fruit Of imprudence. gull, and folly.
The shock was too great to he supported by
Captain Falkncr and his wifc--bo,h became
'maniacs, and in a little period. inscns!bly sunk
into the same cold and silent grave.
But the wrctehed Mary was destined for TO
such happy fate;- she remained to receive the
cold-heariedness Of the world, and bear all the
ills that flesh is heir to. Those WHO had mn-
gled with her in the same happy circles of So
cicty, now deserted her-,hey who had par
taken Of her hospitality, and basked in tho
sunshine of her smiles and her friendship
abandoned her in disgust, and left her TO stem
the rude current that opposed her. For som,
two or three years, she remained at homo ts
weep over her sorrows and distressos; but a
length, hoping to find peace in another and @
distant region. she took passage for Charles.
ton, South-Carolina, in packet ship from New
York, determined upon spending the remnant
Of her days. with o relative who dwcit in that
hospitablc city. On the voyage, passenger.
who had been noticed for the sngularity Of his
department, was observed by the ship-master,
to watch her intently, but the moment her
eyes were raised toward him, he avoided her
anxious TO escape the glances Of her ego.
The passage Of the vessel. had thus far been
remarkably pleasant, but when the ship had
arrived off the destined port, tremendous
hurricane overlook her, and she was stranded
On that dreadful shoal, known by the name OF
the Rat,lesnako. All, save the strange pas
sengcr and the master Of the ship, pcrishcd in
the pillows; but he who had been so remarkable
for his singularity, as the laboring ship parted,
firmly claspcd to his bosom tho lifeless form OF
Mary Talkncr; and whilst thus embra ced, he
cluna to n remnant of the vessel, till boat
bore him from the raging surge. Ho spoke
not, nor would he divulgo the namc Of the iifc-
less female, who was now conveyed 10 the
shore, and inferred in the gravo yard Of St.
Philip.
Exhausted, lonely and for!orn, lie wandered
for some time round the city, when his abjcct
appearance, and evident insanity, attracted the
attention of the guardian oftho poor; he was
conveyed to the Alms-Housc, where, in fcw
weeks he died, amid all the horrors Of insanity
and rcmorsc. In that common receptacle for
stranCcrs--in that common charne-houso for the
wre,chcd and abandoned, he was inferred, un-
went, unhonored, and unknown. During the
lucid intervals which ho enjoyed, whilst
an inmate of the Asylum, he had written n
brief history Of his lifc-rccounted the errors
which had led to his untimcly cnd-a,owcd
his name to be Damon Harroby, and that that
Of the female passenger, was Mary Falkner;
all Of which. together with the anncxcd'