Alonzo and Melissa; Or, The Unfeeling Father: An American Tale
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or to return. It was possible, though not probable, that Melissamight have come some other way. He hastened back to Vincent's--she hadnot arrived. "Something extraordinary, said Mrs. Vincent, has preventedher coming. Perhaps she is ill."--Alonzo shuddered at the suggestion. Helooked at his watch; it was half past eleven o'clock. Again he hastilysallied out, and took the road to her father's.
* * * * *
The night was exceedingly dark, and illuminated only by the feebleglimmering of the twinkling stars. When he came within sight of thehouse, and as he drew near no lights were visible--all was still andsilent. He entered the yard, walked up the avenue, and approached thedoor. The familiar watch-dog, which lay near the threshold, fawned uponhim, joyfully whining and wagging his tail. "Thou still knowest me,Curlow, said Alonzo; thou hast known me in better days; I am now poorand wretched, but thy friendship is the same." A solemn stillnessprevailed all around, interrupted only by the discordance of the nightlyinsects, and the hooting of the moping owl from the neighbouringforest.--The dwelling was shrouded in darkness. In Melissa's room nogleam of light appeared. "They are all buried in sleep, said Alonzo,deeply sighing, and I have only to return in disappointment."
He turned and walked towards the street; casting his eyes back, theblaze of a candle caught his sight. It passed rapidly along through thelower rooms, now gleaming, now intercepted, as the walls or the windowsintervened, and suddenly disappeared. Alonzo gazed earnestly a fewmoments, and hastily returned back. No noise was to be heard, no newobjects were discernible.--He clambered over the garden wall, and wentaround to the back side of the house. Here all was solemn and silent asin front. Immediately a faint light appeared through one of the chamberwindows; it grew brighter; a candle entered the chamber; the sash wasflung up, and Melissa seated herself at the window.
The weather was sultry, she held a fan in her hand; her countenance,though stamped with deep dejection, was marked with serenity, but paleas the drooping lily of the valley. Alonzo placed himself directly underthe window, and in a low voice called her by name. She started wildly,looked out, and faintly cried, "Who's there?" He answered, "Alonzo.""Good heavens, she exclaimed, is it you, Alonzo? I was disappointed inmeeting you at Vincent's this evening; my father will not suffer me togo out without attendants. I am now constantly watched and guarded."
"Watched and guarded! replied Alonzo: At the risque of my life I willdeliver you from the tyranny with which you are oppressed."
"Be calm, Alonzo, said she, I think it will not last long. Beauman willsoon depart, after which there will undoubtedly be some alteration.Desire Mrs. Vincent to come here to-morrow; I believe they will let mesee her. I can, from time to time, inform you of passing events, so thatyou may know what changes take place. I am placed under the care of myaunt, who suffers me not to step out of her sight. We pass the night inan adjoining chamber--from whence, after she had fallen asleep, I stoleout, and went down with a design of walking in the garden, but found thedoors all locked and the keys taken out. I returned and raised thiswindow for fresh air. Hark! said she; my aunt calls me. She has wakedand misses me. I must fly to her chamber. You shall hear more from meto-morrow by Mrs. Vincent, Alonzo." So saying, she let down the windowsash, and retired.
Alonzo withdrew slowly from the place, and repassed the way he came.As he jumped back over the garden wall, he found a man standing at itsfoot, very near him: after a moment's scrutiny he perceived it to beBeauman. "What, my chevalier, said he to Alonzo, such an adept in theamorous science already? Hast thou then eluded the watchful eyes ofArgus, and the vigilance of the dragon!"
"Unfeeling and impertinent intruder, retorted Alonzo, seizing hold ofhim; is it not enough that an innocent daughter must endure a mercilessparent's persecuting hand, but must thou add to her misery by thydisgusting interference!"
"Quit thy hold, tarquin, said Beauman. Art thou determined, afterstorming the fortress, to murder the garrison?"
"Go, said Alonzo, quitting him; go sir, you are unworthy of my anger.Pursue thy grovelling schemes. Strive to force to your arms a lady whoabhors you, and were it not on one account, must ever continue todespise and hate you."
"Alonzo, replied Beauman, I perceive thou knowest me not. You and I wererivals in our pursuit--the hand of Melissa. Whether from freak orfortune, the preference was given to you, and I retired in silence. Fromcoincidence of circumstances, her father has now been induced to givethe preference to me. My belief was, that Melissa would comply with herfather's will, especially after her prospects of connecting with youwere cut off by the events which ruined your fortune. You, Alonzo, haveyet, I find, to learn the character of women. It has been my particularstudy. Melissa, now ardently impassioned by first impressions, irritatedby recent disappointment, her passions delicate and vivid, heraffections animated and unmixed, it would be strange, if she couldsuddenly relinquish primitive attachments founded on such premises,without a struggle. But remove her from your presence for one year, withonly distant and uncertain prospects of seeing you again, admit me asthe substitute in your absence, and she accepts my hand as freely as shewould now receive yours. I had no design--it was never my wish to marryher without her consent. That I believe I shall yet obtain. Underexisting circumstances, it is impossible but that you must be separatedfor some considerable time. Then, when cool deliberation succeeds to thewild vagaries, the electric fire of frolic fancy, she will discover thedangerous precipice, the deadly abyss to which her present conduct andinclinations lead. She will see that the blandishments, without thepossessions of life, must fade and die. She will discriminate betweenthe shreds and the trappings of taste. She will prefer indifference andsplendour to love and a cottage.
"At present I relinquish all further persuit; to-morrow I return toNew-London. When Melissa, from calm deliberation and the advice offriends, shall freely consent to yield me her hand, I shall return toreceive it. I came from my lodgings this evening to declare theseintentions to her father: but it being later than I was aware of, thefamily had gone to rest. I was about to return, when I saw a light fromthe chamber window, which soon withdrew. I stood a moment by the gardenwall, when you approached and discovered me." So saying, he bade Alonzogood night, and walked hastily away. "I find he knows not the characterof Melissa," said Alonzo, and returned to Vincent's.
The next day Alonzo told the Vincents of all that had passed, and it wasagreed that Mrs. Vincent should visit at Melissa's father's thatafternoon. She went at an early hour. Alonzo's feelings were on the rackuntil she returned, which happened much sooner than was expected; whenshe gave him and Vincent the following information:
"When I arrived there, said she, I found Melissa's father and motheralone, her mother was in tears, which she endeavoured to conceal. Herfather soon withdrew. After some conversation I enquired for Melissa.The old lady burst into tears, and informed me that this morningMelissa's aunt (the old maid) had invited her to ride out with her.A carriage was provided, which, after a large trunk had been placedtherein, drove off with Melissa and her aunt; that Melissa's father hadjust been informing her that he had sent their daughter to a distantpart of the country, where she was to reside with a friend until Alonzoshould depart from the neighbourhood. The reason of this suddenresolution was his being informed by Beauman, that notwithstanding hisprecaution, Melissa and Alonzo had an interview the last evening. Whereshe was sent to, the old lady could not tell, but she was convinced thatMelissa was not apprised of the design when she consented to go. Heraunt had heretofore been living with the relatives of the family invarious parts of the state."
Alonzo listened to Mrs. Vincent's relation with inexpressible agitation.He sat silent a few moments; then suddenly starting up, "I will find herif she be on the earth!" said he, and in spite of Vincent's attempts toprevent him, rushed out of the house, flew to the road, and was soon outof sight.
Melissa had not, indeed, the most distant suspicion of the designs ofher father and aunt. The latter informed her that she was going to takea morning's ride,
and invited Melissa to accompany her, to which sheconsented. She did not even perceive the trunk which was fastened onbehind the carriage. They were attended by a single servant. They droveto a neighbouring town, where Melissa had frequently attended her fatherand mother to purchase articles of dress, &c. where they alighted at afriend's house, and lingered away the time until dinner; after which,they prepared, as Melissa supposed, to return, but found, to hersurprise, after they had entered the carriage, that her aunt ordered thedriver to proceed a different way. She asked her aunt if they were notgoing home. "Not yet," said she. Melissa grew uneasy; she knew she wasto see Mrs. Vincent that afternoon; she knew the disappointment whichAlonzo must experience, if she was absent. She begged her aunt toreturn, as