Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1848-11-02
From Godeys Lddy's Book.
Marie Castcloni; or, the Unknown
Friend.
ny ANNA wILMOT.


bride was the daughter Of tradesman in
London, into whose society he had been
thrown while at Bath. When Malcolm
first met Emily Reardon, which was on
the day he reached the watering-place
one fashionable season. he saw that a
sweet and modest flower had fallen in his
way, and he resolved almost involuntari.
ly TO pluck it and hide it in his bosom.
Emily did not observe for several days
that an elegant-looking young man fire.
quently paused to gaze at her as she
walked out, and in the drawing-room
would stand for many moments at time
with his eyes fixed admringly upon her
But such urdisguised admiration could
not long remain unnoted, and soon her
gentle eyes would droop, and soft blush
cover her sweetly beautiful face, as she
became conscious Of the fact.
Malcolm saw that the fair young crea-
ture was startled from her pure and inno-
cent dream Of life, and that she shrank
from than courted his observation. This
maiden delicacy, so different from any
thing he had met with in the too highly
refined society in which he had moved,
but deepened the admiration felt by Nal
colin for the lovely stranger. He made
bolder approaches, and they seemed to
frighten her, for she rarely afterwards
appeared in public, unless with her father
or mother.
The oftener he saw her, the more was
the young man charmed with the beautl-
ful girl. The fact tha, she was the daugh-
ter of a tradesman did not, when discov-
cred, long dampen the ardor Of his feel
ings. On returning to London, le wait
ed on her father and formally declared
his wish to visit Emily. MIR. Reardon,
high-minded, viftuous man, was startled
and alarmed at the proposition, and beg
ged young Mslcaim not TO think Of az
intimacy with his daughter, as their so
cial positions were such that rnhappiness
to one or both must be the inevitable re.
suit. To this, Malcolm returned a most
solemn avowal that his intentions were
pure and honorable.
IL will not insult you so much as 10
question that for moment" said the
tradesman "but even as your wife, my
daughter could not be happy in the new
scenes to which you would introduce
her. And ! need not remind you, sir,
that an alliance with one of our station
would subject you to mort'iylng annoy
ances.
off can win the love Of your child,
no fear of what you suggest need be en-
teriained. A vrtuous affection is the
best guarantee for happiness" replied
the ardent young man. eff ! am willing
to throw aside the false estimation which
men place upon rank and birth, surely
you ought not to object. l see III your
daughter virtues that would adorn the
highest social position, and | can place
her where she will shine in her own pure
lustre."
But the father Of Emily did object, and
and most earnestly. Malcolm. however,
was not to be turned from his purpose
and Mr.. Reardon seeing this, yielded to
his desire to visit his daughter formally.
The result was as might have been an
ticipated Emily became the bride OF
the young nobeman. Her beauty, her
loveliness Of character, her refinement
and intelligence, soon made the naughty
ones into whose circle she was introduced,
forget her origin AS for the marriage,
it proved eminently happy. Malcolm had
yrruous mind and ahigh sense Of hon
or. lie could, therefore, appreciate
what was truly excellent in woman, and
love what was worthy ofexalted affection.
A few years after this marriage, Nal
colin started on tour through France
and Italy with his wife and their only
child, little girl just entering her fourth
three months, wishing TO enjoy a sea voy-
age they embarked from Naples in a yes-
sci bound for London. But they never
reached their destination soon after
sailing, terrible storm arose, which
continued many hours with unabated lu-
ry. At midnight the vessel was thrown
upon breakers, and in a few minutes
dashed to pieces. Nearly all OH board
perished. With his wife and child cling
ing to him, Malcolm endeayored to sup
port himself in the water. But the waves,
fashed into fury 10y the fierce storm, soon
overwhelmed them. There was a brief
struggle of the drowning man 10 rise a.
bove the surface with the precious bur
den of living souls, beloved even beyond
his own life, but the struggle was iruiiless
they all went down in the deep wa
ters.
When daylight broke along the shore
Of Sicily, sad relics of the storm were to
be found here and there washed upon the
strand. The saddest of these were many
dead bodies, among them that oft wife
of Malcolm. His body had also noated
to the shore but life proved to be extinct
The first object that met his eyes, on re,i-
wing, was the form OF her he had striven
so unavailing to save. The shock proved
too much for his reason.
Years afterwards, Edgar Malcolm a.
woke aud found himself denizcn Of y
in Palermo. Light came but
gradually into his mind. As II grew