Alonzo and Melissa; Or, The Unfeeling Father: An American Tale, Page 7

verdant meadows whose tall grass wavedto the evening breeze. Farther on, low vallies spread their umbrageousthickets, where the dusky shadows of night had begun to assemble.

  On high hills beyond, the tops of lofty forests, majestically moved bythe billowy gales, caught the sun's last ray. Fleecy summer cloudshovered around the verge of the western horizon, spangled with silverytints or fringed with the gold of evening.

  A mournfully murmuring rivulet purled at a little distance from thegarden, on the borders of a small grove, from whence the American wilddove wafted her sympathetic moaning to the ear of Melissa. She satleaning on a small table by the window, which was thrown up. Herattention was fixed. She did not perceive Vincent and Alonzo as theyentered. They advanced towards her. She turned, started, and arose. Witha melancholy smile, and tremulous voice, "I supposed, she said, that itwas Mrs. Vincent who was approaching, as she has just left the room."Her countenance appeared dejected, which, on seeing Alonzo, lighted upinto a languid sprightliness. It was evident she had been weeping.

  Vincent retired, and Alonzo and Melissa seated themselves by the window."I have broken in upon your solitude, perhaps, too unseasonably, saidAlonzo. It is however, the fault of Vincent:--he invited me to walk intothe room, but did not inform me that you were alone." "Your presence wassudden and unexpected, but not unseasonable, replied Melissa. I hopethat you did not consider any formality necessary in your visits,Alonzo."

  Alonzo. I once did not think so. Now I know not what to think--I knownot how to act. You have heard of the misfortunes of my father's family,Melissa?

  Mel. Yes; I have heard the circumstances attending that event--an eventin which no one could be more deeply interested, except the immediatesufferers, than myself.

  Al. Your father is also acquainted with my present situation?

  Mel. He is.

  Al. How did he receive the intelligence?

  Mel. With deep regret.

  Al. And forbade you to admit my addresses any longer?

  Mel. No, not absolutely.

  Al. If even in an unqualified or indirect manner, it is proper I shouldknow it.

  Mel. It certainly is. Soon after we received the intelligence of yourfamily misfortunes, my father came into the room where I was sitting;"Melissa, said he, your conduct has ever been that of a dutiful child;mine, of an indulgent parent.--My first, my ultimate wish, is to see mychildren, when settled in life, happy and honourably respected. For thispurpose, I have bestowed on them a proper education, and design suitablyto apportion my property between them. On their part, it is expectedthey will act prudently and discreetly, especially in those things whichconcern their future peace and welfare.--The principal requisite toensure this is a proper connexion in marriage." Here my father paused aconsiderable time, and then continued--"I know, my child, that yoursituation is a very delicate one. Your marriage day is appointed; it wasappointed under the fairest prospects; by the failure of Alonzo'sfather, those prospects have become deeply darkened, if not totallyobliterated.

  "To commit your fortune through life, to a person unable to support you,would be hazardous in the extreme. The marriage day can at least besuspended; perhaps something more favourable may appear.--At any rate,I have too much confidence in your discretion, to suppose that you will,by any rash act, bring either poverty or reproach upon yourself or yourconnexions." Thus spake my father, and immediately withdrew.

  "In our present dilemma, said Alonzo, what is proper to be done?"

  "It is difficult to determine, replied Melissa. Should my fatherexpressly forbid our union, he will go all lengths to carry his commandsinto effect. Although a tender parent, he is violent in his prejudices,and resolute in his purposes. I would advise you to call at my father'shouse tomorrow, with your usual freedom. Whatever may be the event,I shall deal sincerely with you. Mr. and Mrs. Vincent are now my onlyconfidants. From them you will be enabled to obtain information, shouldI be debarred from seeing you. I am frequently here; they told me theyexpected you, but at what day was not known. Mrs. Vincent has been myfriend and associate from my earliest years. Vincent you know. In themwe can place the utmost confidence. My reliance on Providence, I trust,will never be shaken; but my future prospects, at present, are dark andgloomy."

  "Let us not despair, answered Alonzo; perhaps those gloomy clouds whichnow hover around us, will yet be dissipated by the bright beams of joy.Innocence and virtue are the cares of Heaven. There lies my hope.To-morrow, as you propose, I will call at your father's."

  Melissa now prepared to return home; a whippoorwill tuned its nightlysong at a little distance; but the sound, late so cheerful andsprightly, now passed heavily over their hearts.

  When Alonzo returned, Vincent unfolded the plan he had projected."No sooner, said he, was I informed of your misfortunes, than I wasconvinced that Melissa's father would endeavour to dissolve yourintended union with his daughter. I have known him many years, andhowever he may dote on his children, or value their happiness, he willnot hesitate to sacrifice his other feelings to the acquirement ofriches. It appeared that you had but one resource left. You and Melissaare now united by the most solemn ties--by every rite except those whichare merely ceremonial. These I would advise you to enter into, and trustto the consequences. Mrs. Vincent has proposed the scheme to Melissa;but implicitly accustomed to filial obedience, she shudders at the ideaof a clandestine marriage. But when her father shall proceed to rigorousmeasures, she will, I think, consent to the alternative. And thismeasure, once adopted, her father must consent also; or, if not, yousecure your own happiness, and, what you esteem more, that of Melissa."

  "But you must be sensible of my inability to support her as shedeserves, replied Alonzo, even should she consent to it."

  "The world is before you, answered Vincent; you have friends, you haveacquirements which will not fail you. In a country like this, you canhardly fail of obtaining a competency, which, with the other requisites,will ensure your independence and felicity."

  Alonzo informed Vincent what had been agreed upon between Melissa andhimself, respecting his visiting her on the morrow; "after which, hesaid, we will discourse further on the subject."

  The next day Alonzo repaired to the house of Melissa's father. As heapproached he saw Melissa sitting in a shady recess at one end of thegarden near which the road passed. She was leaning with her head uponher hand, in a pensive posture; a deep dejection was depicted upon herfeatures, which enlivened into a transient glow as soon as she sawAlonzo. She arose, met him, and invited him into the house.

  Alonzo was received with a cool reserve by all except Melissa. Herfather saluted him with a distant and retiring bow, as he passed withMelissa to her room. As soon as they were seated, a maiden aunt, who haddoubled her teens, outlived many of her suiters, and who had lately cometo reside with the family, entered, and seated herself by the window,alternately humming a tune, and impudently staring at Alonzo, withoutspeaking a word, except snappishly, to contradict Melissa in any thingshe advanced, which the latter passed off with only a faint smile.

  This interruption was not of long continuance. Melissa's father entered,and requested the two ladies to withdraw, which was instantly done. Hethen addressed Alonzo as follows:----"When I gave consent for you tomarry my daughter, it was on the conviction that your future resourceswould be adequate to support her honourably and independently.Circumstances have since taken place, which render this point extremelydoubtful. Parental duty and affection demand that I should know yourmeans and prospects before I sanction a proceeding which may reduce mychild to penury and to want."

  He paused for a reply, but Alonzo was silent. He continued--"Youyourself must acknowledge, that to burthen yourself with the expense ofa family; to transfer a woman from affluence to poverty, without even anobject in view to provide for either, would be the height of folly andextravagance." Again he paused, but Alonzo was still silent. Heproceeded--"Could you, Alonzo, suffer life, when you see the wife ofyour bosom, probably your infant children, pining in misery for want
ofbread? And what else have you to expect if you marry in your presentsituation? You have friends and well wishers; but which of them willadvance you four or five thousand pounds, as a gratuity? My daughtermust be supported according to her rank and standing in life. Are youenabled to do this? If not, you cannot reasonably suppose that I shallconsent to your marrying her. You may say that your acquirements, yourprudence, and your industry, will procure you a handsome support. Thiswell may do in single life; but to depend on these for the futureexigencies of a family, is hazarding peace, honour and reputation, at asingle game of chance. If, therefore, you have no resources orexpectation but such as these, your own judgment will teach you thenecessity of immediately relinquishing all pretensions to the hand ofMelissa"--and immediately left the room.

  Why was Alonzo speechless through the whole of this discourse?--Whatreply could he have