Alonzo and Melissa; Or, The Unfeeling Father: An American Tale
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and accordingto her request he had left the keys of the gate and bridge with her:he desired Alonzo to tarry there until he ran to the mansion.
He returned in about half an hour. "She is gone, sure enough, said John;but how, or where, it is impossible for me to guess."--Convinced that heknew nothing of the matter, Alonzo left him and returned to Vincent's.
Vincent and his lady were much surprised at Alonzo's account ofMelissa's sudden disappearance, and they wished to ascertain whether herfather's family knew any thing of the circumstance. Social intercoursehad become suspended between the families of Vincent and Melissa'sfather, as the latter had taxed the former of improperly endeavouring topromote the views of Alonzo. They therefore procured a neighbouringwoman to visit Melissa's mother, to see if any information could beobtained concerning Melissa; but the old lady had heard nothing of hersince her departure with her aunt, who had never yet returned.--Alonzoleft Vincent's and went to Mr. Simpson's. He told them all that hadhappened since he was there, of which, before, they had heard nothing.At the houses of Mr. Simpson and Vincent he resided some time, whilethey made the most dilligent search to discover Melissa; but nothingcould be learned of her fate.
Alonzo then travelled into various parts of the country, making suchenquiries as caution dictated of all whom he thought likely to give himinformation;--but he found none who could give him the leastintelligence of his lost Melissa.
In the course of his wanderings he passed near the old mansion housewhere Melissa had been confined. He felt an inclination once more tovisit it: he proceeded over the bridge, which was down, but he found thegate locked. He therefore hurried back and went to John's, whom he foundat home. On enquiring of John whether he had yet heard any thing of theyoung lady and her aunt; "All I know of the matter, said John, is, thattwo days after you were here, her aunt came back with a strangegentleman, and ordered me to go and fetch the furniture away from theroom they had occupied in the old mansion. I asked her what had becomeof young madam. She told me that young madam had behaved veryindiscreetly, and she found fault with me for leaving the keys in herpossession, though I did not know that any harm could arise from it.From the discourse which my wife and I afterwards overheard betweenmadam and the strange gentleman, I understood that young madam had beensent to reside with some friend or relation at a great distance, becauseher father wanted her to marry a man, and she wishes to marry somebodyelse." From John's plain and simple narrative, Alonzo concluded thatMelissa had been removed by her father's order, or through the agency,or instigation of her aunt. Whether his visit to the old mansion hadbeen somehow discovered or suspected, or whether she was removed by somepreconcerted or antecedent plan, he could not conjecture.--Still, thesituation in which he found the mansion the night he went to convey heraway, left an inexplicable impression on his mind. He could in no manneraccount how the candle could be placed at the window according toagreement, unless it had been done by herself; and if so, how had she sosuddenly been conveyed away?
Alonzo asked John where Melissa's aunt now was.
"She left here yesterday morning, he answered, with the strangegentleman I mentioned, on a visit to some of her friends."
"Was the strange gentleman you speak of her brother?" asked Alonzo.
"I believe not, replied John, smiling and winking to his wife;--I knownot who he was; somebody that madam seems to like pretty well."
"Have you the care of the old mansion?" said Alonzo.
"Yes, answered John, I have the keys; I will accompany you thither,perhaps you would like to purchase it; madam said yesterday she thoughtshe should sell it."
Alonzo told him he had no thoghts of purchasing, thanked him for hisinformation, and departed.
Convinced now that Melissa was removed by the agency of her persecutors,he compared the circumstances of John's relation. "She had been sent toreside with some friend or relation at a great distance." This greatdistance, he believed to be New London, and her friend or relation, hercousin, at whose house Alonzo first saw her, under whose care she wouldbe safe, and Beauman would have an opportunity of renewing hisaddresses. Under these impressions, Alonzo did not long hesitate whatcourse to pursue--he determined to repair to New London immediately.
In pursuance of his design he went to his father's. He found the oldgentleman with his man contentedly tilling his farm, and his mothercheerfully attending to household affairs, as their narrow circumstanceswould not admit her to keep a maid without embarrassment. Alonzo's soulsickened on comparing the present state of his family with its formeraffluence; but it was an unspeakable consolation to see his aged parentscontented and happy in their humble situation; and though the idea couldnot pluck the thorn from his own bosom, yet it tended temporarily toassuage the anguish of the wound.
"You have been long gone, my son, said his father; I scarcely knew whathad become of you. Since I have become a farmer I know little of what isgoing forward in the world; and indeed we were never happier in ourlives. After stocking and paying for my farm, and purchasing therequisites for my business, I have got considerable money at command:we live frugally, and realize the blessings of health, comfort, andcontentment. Our only disquietude is on your account, Alonzo. Youraffair with Melissa, I suppose, is not so favourable as you could wish.But despair not, my son; hope is the harbinger of fairer prospects: relyon Providence, which never deserts those who submissively bow to thejustice of its dispensations."
Unwilling to disturb the serenity of his parents, Alonzo did not tellthem his troubles. He answered, that perhaps all might yet come right;but that, as in the present state of his mind he thought a change ofsituation might be of advantage, he asked liberty of his father totravel for some little time. To this his father consented, and offeredhim a part of the money he had on hand, which Alonzo refused, saying hedid not expect to be long gone, and his resources had not failed him.
He then sold off his books, his horses, his carriages, &c. the_insignia_ of his better days, but now useless appendages, from which heraised no inconsiderable sum.--He then took a tender and affectionateleave of his parents, and set out for New London.
Alonzo journeyed along with a heavy heart and in an enfeebled frame ofspirits. Through disappointment, vexation, and the fatigues he hadundergone in wandering about, for a long time, in search of Melissa,despondency had seized upon his mind, and indisposition upon his body.He put up the first night within a few miles of New Haven, and as hepassed through that town the next morning, the scenes of early life inwhich he had there been an actor, moved in melancholy succession overhis mind. That day he grew more indisposed; he experienced an unusuallanguor, listlessness and debility; chills, followed by hot flashes,heavy pains in the head and back, with incessant and intolerable thirst.It was near night when he reached Killingsworth, where he halted, as hefelt unable to go farther: he called for a bed, and through the nightwas racked with severe pain, and scorched with a burning fever.
The next morning he requested that the physician of the town might besent for;--he came and ordered a prescription which gave his patientsome relief; and by strict attention, in about ten days Alonzo was ableto pursue his journey. He arrived at New London, and took lodgings witha private family of the name of Wyllis, in a retired part of the town.
The first object was to ascertain whether Melissa was at her cousin's.But how should he obtain this information? He knew no person in the townexcept it was those whom he had reason to suppose were leagued againsthim. Should he go to the house of her cousin, it might prove an injuryto her if she were there, and could answer no valuable purpose if shewere not.--The evening after he arrived there he wrapped himself up inhis cloak and took the street which led to the house of Melissa'scousin: he stopped when he came against it, to see if he could make anydiscoveries. As people were passing and repassing the street, he gotover into a small enclosure which adjoined the house, and stood under atree, about thirty yards from the house: he had not long occupied thisstation, before a lady came to the chamber window, which was flung up,opposite t
o the place where he stood; she leaned out, looked earnestlyaround for a few minutes, then shut it and retired. She had brought acandle into the room, but did not bring it to the window; of course hecould not distinguish her features so as to identify them.
He knew it was not the wife of Melissa's cousin, and from her appearancehe believed it to be Melissa. Again the window opened, again the samelady appeared;--she took a seat at a little distance within the room;she reclined with her head upon her hand, and her arm appeared to besupported by a stand or table. Alonzo's heart beat violently; he now hada side view of her face, and was more than ever convinced that it wasMelissa. Her delicate features, though more pale and dejected than whenlast he saw her;--her brown hair, which fell in artless circles aroundher lily neck; her arched eye-brows and commanding aspect. Alonzo movedtowards the house, with a