Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-04-19
Ghaitt &iteratnre.
MARIE CASTELON NJ;
on THE ITNKNOWN FRIEND

Ok TIE UNhNOWN FRIEND.
EDGAR MALCOLM, Young nobleman, had
contracted love marriage, rare circum-
stance among the gentry. His bride was the
daughter Of tradesman in London, into
whose society he had been thrown while at
Bath. When Malcolm first met Emily Rear
don, 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 in
voluntarily to pluck it and hide it in his bo-
som.
Emily did not observe for several days that
an elegant looking young man frequently
paused to gaze at her as she walked out, and
IN the drawing-room would stand for many
minutes at time, with his eyes fixed admir-
irglv upon her. DC. sGeb undisguised ad-
lniraten e lssiy. long retiain uhnoted, and |
soon her a.le eyes would droop, and a soft
blush cover her sweetly. beautiful face as she
became conscious Of the fact
Malcolm saw that the fair young creature
was startled from her pure and innocent
dream Of life, and that she rathershrank from
than courted his observation. This maiden
delicacy so different from anything he had
met with in the too highly refined society in
which he had moved, but deepened the ad-
miration felt by Malcolm for the lovely stran-
ger. He made boder approaches, and they
seemed to frighten her, for she rarely after
wards appeared in public, unless with her
father or mother.
The oftener he saw her, the more was the
young man charmed with the beautiful girl.
The fact that she was the daughterof trades
man did not, when discovered, long damp
the ardor Of his feelings. On returning to
London, he waited on her father and formal.
~ declared his wish to visit Emily. Mr..
Rearlon, high-minded virtuous man, was
ttarll. and alarmed at the proposition, and
begged young Malcolm not to think Of an
intimacy with his daughter, as their social
'os;tions were such that unhappiness to one
Of both must be the inevitable result. To
tiis Malcolm returned most solemn avow-
al that his intentions were pure and honora-
bic.
will not insult you so much as to ques-
ton 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 re-
mind you sir, that an alliance with one in
our station would subject you to Notifying
annoyances.'
If can win the love of your child, no
fear Of whatyou suggest need be entertained.
A virtuous affection is the best guarantee for
happiness replied the ardent Young man.
4 e,I
nation which men place upon rank and birth,
surely you ought not to object. see in your
daughter virtues that would adorn the high
est social position and | can place her where
she will shine in her own pure lustre'
But the father Of Emily did object, and
most earnestly. Malcolm, however, was not
to be turned from his purpose, and Mr.. Rear
don seeing this, yielded to his desire to visit
his daughter formally. The result was as
might have been anticipated. Emily became
the bride ofthe young nobleman. Her beau
ty, her loveliness ofcharacter, her refinement
and intelligence, soon made the naughty
ones into whose circle she was introduced for
=. get hororisin. A. So. tl.A IT rarauad
emineutly happy. Malcolm had virtuous
mind and high sense Of honor. He could
therefore, appreciate what was truly excellent
in woman, and love what was worthy Of exal
ted affection.
A few years after this marriage, Malcolm
started on long tour through France anC
Italy with his wife and their only child,
little girl, Just entering her fourth summer
After an absence of two or three months
wishing to enjoy a sea voyage, they embark
ed from Naples in a vessel bound for Lon
don. But they never reached their destina
ton. Soon after sailing, terrible storr
arose. which continued many hours with ur
abated fury. At midnight the vessel w
thrown upon some rocks, and III a few mil
utes was dashed TO pieces. Nearly all O
board perished With his wife and chill
cHnging to him, Malcolm endeavored to SUI
port himself in the water. But the wave
lashed into fury by the fierce storm, SOC
overwhelmed them. There was brief stru
gle of the drowning man to rise above tt
surface with the precious burthen Of livir
souls, beloved even Beyond his own life; b
the struggle was fruitles'-they all we
; lawH into the deep waters.
When daylight broke alorg the shore
Sicily, sad relics Of the storm were to be foul
here and there washed upon the strand.
The sadlsst o. these were many dead DO
ies-among them that Of the wife of NJ
colin. Ills body had also f)ated to
shore, but life proved not to be entirely
tnct. The first object that met his eyes,
reyving, was the form of her he had striv
80 uuayaihngly to save. The shock prov
too much for his reason.
Years afterwards, E!gu Malcolm awe
and found himself the d5nizen of a mona'
ry in Palermo. Light came but gradu'
into his mind. As it grew more distil
and made visible the broken relics of the h
py past, his mind sickened, and he tur
for consolation 10 those around him.
great influence was required to make
content to remain in the clustered seclus
where, the world forgetting, by the world
got, he found, or hoped to find, peace &
troubled spirit, oam for wounded hear
A portion Of the income of his large es
was nude over to the church, and the
ance left to accumulate in the hands Of
legal agent, to be disposed Of in any ma
that he might determine. Strong ct
were made by his friends, as soon as he
discovered, to induce him to return to
gland but he resisted all persuasion,
finally, to put barrier between himself
the world, he took the vows of reli.
order. He was no longer Sir Edgar