Alonzo and Melissa; Or, The Unfeeling Father: An American Tale, Page 9

you into swamps and quagmires, when, did you but followthe fair light of reason, it would conduct you to honour and realfelicity. There are happiness and misery at your choice.

  "Marry Beauman, and you will roll in your coach, flaunt in your silks;your furniture and your equipage are splendid, your associates are ofthe first character, and your father rejoices in your prosperity.

  "Marry Alonzo, you sink into obscurity, are condemned to drudgery,poorly fed, worse clothed, and your relations and acquaintances shun anddespise you. The comparison I have here drawn between Beauman and Alonzois a correct one; for even the wardrobe of the former is of more valuethan the whole fortune of the latter.

  "I give you now two days to consider the matter; at the end of that timeI shall expect your decision, and hope you will decide discretely. Butremember that you become the wife of Beauman, or you are no longeracknowledged as my daughter."

  "Thus, said Melissa, did my father pronounce his determination, whichshook my frame, and chilled with horror every nerve of my heart, andimmediately left me.

  "My aunt added her taunts to his severities, and Beauman interfered withhis ill-timed consolation. My mother and Edgar ardently strove to allaythe fever of my soul, and mitigate my distress. But the stroke wasalmost too severe for my nature. Habituated only to the smiles of myfather, how could I support his frowns?--Accustomed to receive hisblessings alone, how could I endure his sudden malediction."

  Description would fail in painting the sensations of Alonzo's bosom, atthis recital of woe. But he endeavoured to mitigate her sorrows by theconsolation of more cheering prospects and happier hours.

  Vincent and his lady now came into the room. They strenuously urged thepropriety and the necessity of Alonzo and Melissa's entering into thebands of wedlock immediately. "The measure would be hazardous," remarkedMelissa. "My circumstances"--said Alonzo. "Not on that account,interrupted Melissa, but my father's displeasure----" "Will be the same,whether you marry Alonzo, or refuse to marry Beauman," replied Vincent.Her resolution appeared to be staggered.

  "Come here, Melissa, to-morrow evening, said Mrs. Vincent; mean time youwill consider the matter, and then determine." To this Melissa assented,and prepared to return home.

  Alonzo walked with her to the gate which opened into the yardsurrounding her father's house. It was dangerous for him to go farther.Should he be discovered with Melissa, even by a domestic of the family,it must increase the persecutions against her. They parted. Alonzo stoodat the gate, gazing anxiously after Melissa as she walked up the longwinding avenue, bordered with the odour-flowing lilac, and lofty elm,her white robes now invisible, now dimly seen as she turned the anglesof the walk, until they were totally obscured, mingling with the gloomand darkness of the night. "Thus, said Alonzo, thus fades the angel ofpeace from the visionary eyes of the war-worn soldier, when it ascendsin the dusky clouds of early morning, while he slumbers on the field ofrecent battle."--With mournful forebodings he returned to the house ofVincent. He arose after a sleepless night and walked into an adjoiningfield. He stood leaning in deep contemplation against a tree, when heheard quick footsteps behind him. He turned, and saw Edgar approaching:in a moment they were in each other's arms, and mingled tears. Theyreturned to Vincent's and conversed largely on present affairs. "I havediscoursed with my father on the subject, said Edgar. I have urged himwith every possible argument to relinquish his determination: I fear,however, he is inflexible.

  "To assuage the tempest of grief which rent Melissa's bosom was my nextobject, and in this I trust I have not been unsuccessful. You will seeher this evening, and will find her more calm and resigned. You, Alonzo,must exert your fortitude. The ways of Heaven are inscrutable, but theyare right.

  "We must acquiesce in its dealings. We cannot alter its decrees.Resignation to its will, whether merciful or afflictive, is one of thoseeminent virtues which adorn the good man's character, and ever find abrilliant reward in the regions of unsullied splendour, far beyondtrouble and the tomb."

  Edgar told Alonzo that circumstances compelled him that day to departfor the army. "I would advise you, said he, to remain here until youraffair comes to some final issue. It must, I think, ere long, beterminated. Perhaps you and my sister may yet be happy."

  Alonzo feelingly expressed his gratitude to Edgar. He found in him thatdisinterested friendship, which his early youth had experienced. Edgarthe same day departed for the army.

  In the afternoon Alonzo received a note from Melissa's father,requesting his immediate attendance. Surprised at the incident, herepaired there immediately. The servant introduced him into a room whereMelissa's father and aunt were sitting.----"Hearing you were in theneighbourhood, said her father, I have sent for you, to make aproposition, which after what has taken place, I think you cannothesitate to comply with. The occurrence of previous circumstances maylead you to suppose that my daughter is under obligations to you, whichmay render it improper for her to form marriage connections with anyother. Whatever embarrassments your addresses to her may have produced,it is in your power to remove them; and if you are a man of honour youwill remove them. You cannot wish to involve Melissa in your presentpenurious condition, unless you wish to make her wretched. It thereforeonly remains for you to give me a writing, voluntarily resigning allpretensions to the hand of my daughter; and if you wish her to be happy,honourable, and respected in this life, this I say you will not hesitateto do."

  A considerable pause ensued. Alonzo at length replied, "I cannotperceive any particular advantage that can accrue from such a measure.It will neither add nor diminish the power you possess to commandobedience to your will, if you are determined to command it, either fromyour daughter, or your servant."----

  "There, brother," bawled the old maid, half squeaking through her nose,which was well charged with rappee, "did'nt I tell you so? I knew thefellow would not come to terms no more than will your refractorydaughter. This love fairly bewitches such foolish, crack-brainedyoungsters. But say Mr. ----, what's your name, addressing herself toAlonzo, will love heat the oven? will love boil the pot? will loveclothe the back? will love----"

  "You will not, interrupted Melissa's father, speaking to Alonzo, itseems, consent to my proposition? I have then, one demand to make, whichof right you cannot deny. Promise me that you will never see my daughteragain, unless by my permission."

  "At the present moment I shall promise you nothing," replied Alonzo,with some warmth.

  "There again, said the old maid, just so Melissa told you this morning,when you requested her to see him no more. The fellow has fairlybetwattled her. I wish I had him to deal with. Things wasn't so when Iwas a girl; I kept the rogues at a distance, I'll warrant you. I alwaystold you, brother, what would come of your indulgence to your daughter.And I should not wonder if you should soon find the girl had eloped, andyour desk robbed in the bargain."

  Alonzo hastily arose: "I suppose, said he, my presence can be dispensedwith."

  "Well, young man, said Melissa's father, since you will not comply withany overtures I make; since you will not accede to any terms I propose,remember, sir, I now warn you to break off all communication andcorrespondence with my daughter, and to relinquish all expectationsconcerning her. I shall never consent to marry my daughter to a beggar."

  "Beggar!" involuntarily exclaimed Alonzo, and his eyes flashed inresentment.--But he recollected that it was the father of Melissa whohad thus insulted him, and he suppressed his anger. He rushed out of thehouse, and returned to Vincent's. He had neither heard nor seen anything of Melissa or Beauman.

  Night came on, and he ardently and impatiently expected Melissa. Heanticipated the consolation her presence would bestow. Edgar had toldhim she was more composed. He doubted whether it were proper to exciteanew her distress by relating his interview with her father, unless shewas appraised of it. The evening passed on, but Melissa came not. Alonzogrew restless and uneasy. He looked out, then at his watch. Vincent andhis lady assured him that she would soon be there. He paced the room.Still he became
more impatient. He walked out on the way where she wasexpected to come. Sometimes he advanced hastily; at others he movedslowly; then stood motionless, listening in breathless silence,momentarily expecting to discover her white form approaching through thegloom, or to hear the sound of her footsteps advancing amidst thedarkness. Shapeless objects, either real or imaginary, frequentlycrossed his sight, but, like the unreal phantoms of night, they suddenlypassed away, and were seen no more. At length he perceived a dusky whiteform advancing in the distant dim obscurity. It drew near; his heartbeat in quick succession; his fond hopes told him it was Melissa. Theobject came up, and hastily passed him, with a "good night, sir."

  It was a stranger in a white surtout. Alonzo hesitated whether toadvance