Alonzo and Melissa; Or, The Unfeeling Father: An American Tale
Page 30
myself thepreparations. Name your day, and if the lady is portionless, in that sheshall be to me a Melissa."
Alonzo bowed his head in gratitude; and after appointing that day week,he departed.
Invitations were once more sent abroad for the wedding of Alonzo andMelissa.--Few indeed knew it to be the real Melissa, but they weregenerally informed of Alonzo's reasons for preferring the celebration ather father's.
The evening before the day on which the marriage was to take place,Alonzo and Melissa were sitting with the Vincents in an upper room, whena person rapped at the door below. Vincent went down, and immediatelyreturned, introducing, to the joy and surprise of the company, Edgar!
Here, again, we shall leave it for the imagination to depict the sceneof an affectionate brother, meeting a tender and only sister, whom hehad long since supposed to be dead! He had been at his father's, and hismother had let him into the secret, when he immediately hastened toVincent's. He told them that he did not stay long in Holland; that afterreceiving Alonzo's letter from Paris, he felt an unconquerablepropensity to return, and soon sailed for America, arrived at Boston,came to New-Haven, took orders in the ministry, and had reached homethat day. He informed them that Mr. Simpson and family had arrived athis father's, and some relatives whom his mother had invited.
The next morning ushered in the day in which the hero and heroine of ourstory were to consummate their felicity. No _cross purposes_ stood readyto intervene their happiness, no obdurate father, no watchful, scowlingaunt, to interrupt their transports. It was the latter end of May;nature was arrayed in her richest ornaments, and adorned with hersweetest perfumes. The sun blended its mild lustre with the landscape'slovely green; silk-winged breezes frolicked amidst the flowers; thespring birds carolled in varying strains:
"The air was fragrance, and the world was love."
Evening was appointed for the ceremony, and Edgar was to be theofficiating clergyman.
"To tie those bands which nought but death can sever."
When the hour arrived, they repaired to the house of Melissa's father,where numerous guests had assembled. Melissa was introduced into thebridal apartment, and took her seat among a brilliant circle of ladies.She was attired in robes "white as the southern clouds," spangled withsilver, and trimmed with deep gold lace; her hair hung loosely upon hershoulders, encircled by a wreath of artificial flowers. She had regainedall her former loveliness; the rose and the lily again blended theirtinges in her cheek; again _pensive sprightliness_ sparkled in her eye.
Alonzo was now introduced, and took his seat at the side of Melissa. Hisfather and mother came next, who were placed at the right hand of theyoung couple: Melissa's parents followed, and were stationed at theleft. Edgar then came and took his seat in front; after which the guestswere summoned, who filled the room. Edgar then rising, motioned to theintended bride and bridegroom to rise also. He next turned to Alonzo'sfather for his sanction, who bowed assent. Then addressing his ownfather, with emotions that scarcely suffered him to articulate. "Do you,sir, said he, give this lady to that gentleman?" A solemn silenceprevailed in the room. Melissa was extremely agitated, as her fatherslowly rising, and with down-cast eyes,
"Where tides of heavy sorrow swell'd,"
took her trembling hand, and conveying it into Alonzo's, "May the smilesof heaven rest upon you, he said; may future blessings crown yourpresent happy prospects; and may your latter days never be embittered bythe premature loss of near and dear----"
Pungent grief here choaked his utterance, and at this moment Melissa,falling upon her knees, "Dear father! she exclaimed, bursting intotears, pardon deception; acknowledge your daughter--your own Melissa!"
Her father started--he gazed at her with scrutinizing attention, andsunk back in his chair.--"My daughter! he cried--God of mysteriousmercy! it is my daughter!"
The guests caught the contagious sympathy; convulsive sobs arose fromall parts of the room. Melissa's father clasped her in his arms--"And Ireceive thee as from the dead! he said. I am anxious to hear the mightymystery unfolded. But first let the solemn rites for which we areassembled be concluded; let not an old man's anxiety interrupt theceremony."
"But you are apprised, sir, said Alonzo, of my inability to support yourdaughter according to her deserts."
"Leave that to me, my young friend, replied her father. I have enough:my children are restored, and I am happy."
Melissa soon resumed her former station. The indissoluble knot was tied:they sat down to the wedding feast, and mirth and hilarity danced incheerful circles.
Before the company retired, Edgar related the most prominent incidentsof Alonzo and Melissa's history, since they had been absent. The guestslistened with attention: they applauded the conduct of our new bride andbridegroom, in which Melissa's father cordially joined. They rejoiced tofind that Alonzo's father had regained his fortune, and copiouslibations were poured forth in honour of the immortal Franklin.
And now, reader of sensibility, indulge the pleasing sensations of thybosom--for Alonzo and Melissa are MARRIED.
* * * * *
Alonzo's father was soon in complete repossession of his formerproperty. The premises from which he had been driven by his unfeelingcreditors, were yielded up without difficulty, and to which heimmediately removed. He not only recovered the principal of the fortunehe had lost, but the damages and the interest; so that, although likeJob, he had seen affliction, like him his latter days were better thanhis beginning. But wearied with the bustles of life, he did not againenter into the mercantile business, but placing his money at interest insafe hands, lived retired on his little farm.
A few days after the wedding, as Melissa was sitting with Alonzo, Edgarand her parents, she asked her father whether the old mansion wasinhabited.
"Not by human beings, he replied.----Since it has fallen into my hands Ihave leased it to three or four different families, who all left itunder the foolish pretence or impression of hearing noises and seeingfrightful objects, and such is the superstition of the people that noone now, will venture to try it again, though I suppose its inhabitantsto consist only of rats and mice."
Melissa then informed them of all that had happened when she was there,the alarming noises and horrible appearances she had been witness to,and in which she was confident her senses had not deceived her.Exceedingly astonished at her relation; it was agreed that Edgar andAlonzo, properly attended, should proceed to the mansion, in order tofind whether any discoveries could be made which might tend to theelucidation of so mysterious an affair.
For this purpose they chose twenty men, armed them with muskets andswords, and proceeded to the place, where they arrived in the dusk ofthe evening, having chosen that season as the most favourable to theirdesigns.
They found the drawbridge up, and the gate locked, as Edgar's fathersaid he had left them. They entered and secured them in the same manner.When they came to the house, they cautiously unlocked the door, andproceeded to the chamber, where they struck a fire and lighted candles,which they had brought with them. It was then agreed to plant fifteen ofthe men at suitable distances around the mansion, and retain five in thechamber with Alonzo and Edgar.
The men, who were placed around the house, were stationed behind trees,stumps or rocks, and where no object presented, lay flat on the ground,with orders not to stir, or discover themselves, let what would ensue,unless some alarm should be given from the house.
Alonzo and Edgar were armed with pistols and side arms, and postedthemselves with the five men in the chamber, taking care that the lightsshould not shine against the window shutters, so that nothing could bediscovered from without. Things thus arranged, they observed almost animplicit silence, no one being allowed to speak, except in a lowwhisper.
For a long time no sound was heard except the hollow roar of winds inthe neighbouring forest, their whistling around the angles of themansion, or the hoarse murmers of the distant surge. The night was dark,and only illuminated by the feeble t
winkling of half clouded stars.
They had watched until about midnight, when they were alarmed by noisesin the rooms below, among which they could distinguish footsteps andhuman voices. Alonzo and Edgar, then taking each a pistol in one hand,and a drawn sword in the other, ordered their men to follow them,prepared for action. Coming to the head of the stairs, they saw abrilliant light streaming into the hall; they therefore concluded totake no candles, and to prevent discovery they took off their shoes.When they came into the hall opposite the door of the room from whencethe light and noises proceeded, they discovered ten men genteellydressed, sitting around a table, on which was placed a considerablequantity of gold and silver coin, a number of glasses and severaldecanters of wine. Alonzo and his party stood a few minutes, listeningto the following discourse, which took place among this _ghostly_gentry.
"Well, boys,