The Westerly echo, & Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1854-1858, 1858-03-18
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Immediately afterwards she was ush-
cred into the rosm. l had no epportu-
nifty Of judging whether she was old or
ysung, as she was closely vsilsd. 1t
was evident she had recently suffered
so.s loss in her family, for she was
was dress in deep black invited her
to be seated, and placed myself in a
listening attitude.
Have l the pleasure of speaking to
Mr.. Melton p she asked, in 4 musical
voice.
l Bowed afirmativsly.
1 wish to consult you, SIR she con
tinued in the same clear voice, 'on a
matter which nearly concerns my hap
piness. will At once lay tho case be-
fore you for ysur opinion. Ishould frst
tell you my name is Mcleod, Margaret
Lsod-'
McLeod' interrupted with start.
Not any relation to the gentleman who
last week was-'I hesitated to finish the
sentence.
Murdered, you we're about TO say,
she continued. Yes, sir, l am bis
daus shter.' And she lifted her veil from
her lace as she said this, revealing tea.
tires of unsurpassed lovsliucss.
l gszsd with increased interest on my
fair visitor, for the fact is, the murder
Of James McLecd bad made a great
noise. The papers had been filled with
tho details of it during the past week.
You arc aware continued Miss
that q young man named
Harvey Johnston, is arrested on suspi-
ciou of having committed the deed bu,
knew him to be innocent y
Indeed = 1 returned, 'hsw is that /?
Appearances are very much against
him, if We can judge by newspaper re-
ports
l tell you he is innocent, innocent p
she exclaimed, bursting into a flood of
tears. Harvey could never have COM
nistcd a crime like shat ! o, you don't
know LiH, sir, if you did, not the slight
sst shade of suspisisu would remain on
your mind for minute
By the vehement tone in which she
addressed me, | Immediately penetrated
her secret, that she was in love with
Harvey Johnston. I gently bintsd tha,
such was the case TO ber; she imme.
distely acknowledged it to be the truth.
I bcsought the ysung lady to lay the
whole facts of the case before me as she
knew them. This she proceeded to do,
md the substance Of her statement was
Is follows.
Mr.. James Mcleod was a retired
merchant, living up town, as Blesksr
Street was then called. He was a Wild
over, bis family consisting Of himself,
lis daughter-ths Only child he had-a
lady, who acted as kind
,f governsss, and two female servants.
Mr.. Mcleod was a very stern man,
Who never changed an opinion, and who
would be obcyed to the letter in his
He scarcely ever smiled,
put passed through the world unloving
Ind unloved. 1t is true his only daugh-
Ter, Margaret, sometimes appeared to
soften him, but still he never seemed to
regard her with the fondness ola parent
lie was polite to her and that was all
As for Margaret, she loved her father
10 much a. his sold nature would allow
ser but never having received any to-
kens Of love from him, it can scarcely
be wondered that her affection was more
. natter Of duty than feeling.
Up TO within = car frsm the date Of
Ibis history, they had lived . very reiir-
ID life, seeing little or no company
Their house in Blcsksr street, was q
very largo Ose, so they could only oess-
py asmsll portion Of it, snd remember
The impression Of lopelipess cssvsysd 10
my mind by Mrs. McLood, wseu she
vas describing the uninbsbitsd part Of
Ihe house.
One day her father informed her that
hs lad made an spgsssmspt for her and
himself TO spssd the evening With a for
.sr partner Of bis. II Was hero she
arst net Harvey Johnston, spd ,boy
we're soon attached 10 each other. They
bscams fat ftionds, and tho ffisndship