Alida; or, Miscellaneous Sketches of Incidents During the Late American War.

by Frank V. Webster

  CHAPTER XXIII.

  O let me view, in annual succession, my children, friends, and relatives. Those that in friendship's bonds are linked together by ties of dear remembrance.

  The scene was highly animated, and the days were delightfully pleasant,when Alida returned with her parents to the country. The showers ofApril had cleared the atmosphere and revived the earth with a livelygaiety. The ice in the bay and river had melted away, and the steamboathad again began its course. The rumbling water-fall was again heard atthe mill, the pensive stream stole its way through the forest,reflecting from its lucid bosom the light cloud which dwelt in theair--floating on the gentlest zephyrs. The hills and mountains teemedwith verdure, and the serpentine valleys were shaded by a friendlyfoliage. All nature flourished, grew, and expanded, calling forthejaculations of gratitude and piety, and boldly declaring that acelestial Being overshadows us with his providence.

  As soon as the family were settled in the country, the parents of Alidamade preparation to call the children together in commemoration of theirfather's birthday. When the time arrived for the celebration of thisfestive scene, the morning arose with every beauty that could bid fairfor a cheerful day, and the company assembled at an early hour. Bonvillewas among those who arrived from the village. He appeared in excellentspirits, as if some new thought had entered his mind, which had givenhim new hopes of success. He informed Alida, in the course of theafternoon, that he had received intimation from a friend in England,that Theodore was now living in London. After hazarding many conjecturesrespecting him, he then ventured to add that he hoped he had not metthere any new object, to cause him to become forgetful of formerfriends. Displeasure was manifest in the countenance of Alida, at thissuspicion, although she feared it might be true. Theodore had promisedto be faithful in a correspondence, and he certainly might have foundopportunities, since the happy change of affairs in the country, to makesome communications to his friends, if he had been so disposed. Againshe thought, as they had been separated by parental authority, that itmight have its influence to cause him to become altogether forgetful;and her spirits now sunk under the idea of Theodore's inconstancy.Bonville continued to speak of him with indifference, observingattentively how Alida was affected. He inquired earnestly if she hadever received any intelligence from him, during his absence, (as hethought he might have written to her brother.) She answered him in thenegative. He expressed his surprise, and after giving many darkintimations of his perfidy, he changed the subject.

  Alida was before this extremely pensive and thoughtful, and theseinjurious insinuations of Theodore, increased her dejection. She oncefirmly believed she had a friend she could lean upon under allcircumstances, and his falsity appeared to her now confirmed. A kind ofgloomy superstition pervaded her mind, an anxious foreboding of futureevil, which all her pious reflections and reasoning powers could notwholly control. She endeavoured to repress these painful sensations,when in the presence of her parents; but the eyes of her fatherfrequently rested on her in filial anxiety. Her brother likewise wouldoften observe her innate sadness, and whatever his thoughts might be asto the cause, he was still reserved, and forebore to name any thing tohis sister.

  Although Bonville was sometimes conscious of his injustice towardsTheodore, and felt ashamed of his conduct, he was still determined toproceed with reiterated calumnies, to the ear of Alida, with the hope toensure to himself her hand before Theodore would probably return toAmerica.

  L' innocenza a e costretta a sofferire, talvolta le piu crudeli persecuzioni; ma, con vergogna e con danno della calumnia e della malvagita, alla fine pur ne trionfa.

  The appearance of Bonville was imposing to look upon, his countenanceillumined by seeming sincerity and candour, no one could retain an ideafor any length of time, that was altogether detrimental. To atreacherous heart, he joined a frankness of manner which amused andinterested every one in his favour. Though no one was ever more carelessof his veracity, yet he carried the appearance of authenticity in all hesaid. He had never been used to restraint or disappointment, by thesilly indulgence of his parents, and seemed confident that he shouldsucceed in all his particular wishes, and thought that all obstaclescould be surmounted by his own machinations and management.

  The evening was drawing near its close by a round of innocentamusements, when a letter was handed Alida from her father, that he hadreceived from a friend in the city. It contained the unwelcome andunexpected news of the death of Mr. Bolton, who arrived at Savannah atan unfavourable season of the year, at a period when an epidemic feverprevailed. He caught the infection, and a few days terminated theexistence of this amiable and accomplished youth. He was pious,benevolent and charitable. He possessed a wisdom firm and unchangeable,strictly adhering to the principles of the church and the Christianreligion, and was steadfast in his opinions against all opposition. Hewas deeply regretted by a numerous acquaintance. His aunt mourned theloss of her favourite nephew, and Alida's father likewise deplored hispremature death, although he had thought proper to oppose his wishes.