fjgj. EDMUND, A TALE. 187 



SHEND, is my fifter ; (he wrote me concerning your vifits, 

 and her apprehenfions of the confequences — The day after 

 receiving her letter, I fet out to fee my daughter ; I had 

 not got half way, when I was alarmed with her cries from 

 a carriage which drove p^Tl. Fortunately I had brought a 

 fervant along with me, by whofe afliftance I refcued my 

 child. We returned home ; I queftioned Maria concern- 

 ing your coirefpondence with her ; Ihe gave me a circum- 

 ftantial detail of the matter, concluding with an account of 

 her being fcized and carried off by two men whom (he had 

 never feen before, not a quarter of ajnile from her aunt's 

 honfe. fwas inclined to think this to b^ a contrivance of 

 yours •, and not hearing any more of you, confirmed me in 

 that opinion. It was but very lately I was undeceived j 

 a fevcre illnefs produced a confeffion of the whok affair,: 

 from the wretch whom you fotidly call your friend.' 



" Oh ! how am I difappointed, exclaimed Edmund; be- 

 trayed by one whom I eileemed my bofom friend — Maria. 

 loft for ever ! — Diftrafting thought — 'WTiat now remains 

 for me ' — Oh I heavenly Friendship, foul of happinefs, where 

 fiiall I now find thee ? who (liall now lead me to thy abode ?" 

 ' Young man, faid Mr. Tounshend, you need not go far to 

 •fiiid her — She dwells beneath this humble roof — You have 

 yet a friend.' — Edmund ftretched out his hand to the old 

 gentleman ; his feelings were too big for utterance ; the tear 

 llarted in his e_ye — ' Look, on me as your father, continued 

 Mr. Tounshend — I have yet a daughter — Perhaps in her 

 you may find fome traces of your Maria Ebmdnd re- 

 mained filent, except the figh which burfted from his agi- , 

 tated bofom. Mr. Todnshend retired ; but foon returned, 

 leading in a woman. " Hfavens ! what do I fee, exclaim- 

 Edmund, the moment he fet his eyes on her — My Maria — 

 Sure I cannot be millaken." — ' You are not, faid Mr. Toun- 

 shend; itisfhe herfelf, though brought indeed by forrow to 

 the brink of the grave, heaven was pleafed to reftore 

 her to her aged parent, to preferve her as a blefling to her 

 Edmund, as the reward of bis virtues, as the compenfation 

 of his fuflFerings.' Sweet was the embrace of love, beyond the 

 pov;er of word toexprefij^the charming Maria hidhermodeft 

 face in her Edmund's bofom, while the tears of feniibility 

 ttowed plentifully from her eyes. He appeared not now the 



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