The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1856-08-28
WESTERLY, r. l., THURSDAY, AUGUST 2S 1856

! 10 tuluk OF au intimacy WIN HIS uaugn
ter, as their social positions We're sucl
that unhappincss to one or both must
be the inevitable result. To this, Nal
colin returned a most solemn avowal
that his intentions were pure and honor
able.
| will not insult you so much as to
question that for moment said the
tradcsman, 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 in your station
would subject you to mortilying annoy
ancc.'
IF can win the love of your child
no fear of what you SUGGEST need be en-
tertaiued A vrtuous affection is the
best guarantee for happiness, replied
the ardent young man. III am willing
to throw aside the false estimation which
men place upon rank and birth, surely
you ought not to object see in your
daughter virtues that would adorn the
highest social position, and | can place
her where she will shine in her own
pure lustrc.'
But the father of Emily did object,
and most earnestly. Malcolm, how
ever was not to be turned from his pur-
pose, and Mr.. Rcardon seeing this,
yielded to his desire to visit his daughte"
formally. The result was as might
have been anticipated. Her beauty, her
lovclness of character, her refinement
and Intelligence, soon made the naughty
ones into whose circle she was intro
duced, forget her origin. As for the
marriage, it proved eminently happy.
Malcolm had virtuous mind aud high
sense of honor. lie could, therefore
appreciate what was tru y excellent in
woman, and love what was worthy of
EXALTED 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 summer After an absence of
two or three months, wishing to enjoy II
sea voyage, they embarked from Naples
in vessel bound for London But they
never reached their destination. Soon
after sailing, terrible storm arose
which continued many hours with un
abated fury At midnight the vessel
was thrown upon breakers, and in few
minutes was dashed to pieces. Nearly
all on board perished. With his wife
and child clinging to him, Malcolm en-
deavored to support himself in the water.
But the waves, lashed into fury by the
fierce storm, soon overwhelmed them.
There was a brief struggle of the drown
ing man to rise above the surface with
the precious burden Of living souls, be-
loved even beyond his whole life, but
the struggle was iruitless-they all went
down into the deep waters.
When daylight broke along the shore
of Sicily, sad relies of the storm were to
be found here and there washed upon
the strand. The saddest of these were
many dead bodies, among them the wife
of Malcolm. His body had also hoated
ashore, but life proved not to be entirely
extinct. The first object that met his
eyes on reviving, was the form OF her he
had striven so unavailingly to save. The
shock proved too much for his reason.
Years afterwards, Edgar Malcolm
awokc and found himself the dcnizcn Of
monastery in Palermo. Light came
but gradually into his mind. As it
grew more distinct, and visible the
broken relies OF the happy past, his nina
sickeued, and he turned for consolation
to those around him. No great inhu-
encc was required to make him content
I, remain in the clustered secIusion,
where, the world forgetting, the wGr''da
forgot he found or hoped to find, peace
for troubled spirit, balm for a wounded
heart A portion of the income of his
large estate was made over to the church
and the balance left to accumulate in
the hands of his legal agent, to be dis
posed of in any manner that he might
determine. Strong efforts were made
by his friends, so soon as he was dis
covered, to induce him to return to