enquired Alonzo.
"In the church-yard right before our door, she answered. My husband isthe sexton; he put up her large white marble tomb-stones;----they arethe largest and whitest in the whole burying-ground; and so, indeed,they ought to be, for never was there a person who deserved them more."
Tired with the old woman's garrulity, and with a bosom bursting withanguish, Alonzo paid for his ale without drinking it, bade her goodnight, and slowly proceeded to the church-yard. The moon, in fulllustre, shone with solemn, silvery ray, on the sacred piles, and funeralmonuments of the sacred dead; the wind murmured mournfully among theweeping willows; a solitary nightingale[A] sang plaintively in thedistant forest; and a whippoorwill, Melissa's favourite bird, whistlednear the portico of the church. The large white tomb-stones soon caughtthe eye of Alonzo. He approached them with tremulous step, and withfeelings too agitated for description. On the head-stone he read asfollows:
SACRED To the Memory of inestimable departed WORTH; To unrivalled Excellence and Virtue. Miss MELISSA D----, Whose remains are deposited here, and whose ethereal part became a seraph, October 26, 1776, In the 18th year of her age.
[Footnote A: This bird, though not an inhabitant of the northern states, is frequently to be met with in Georgia and the Carolinas.]
Alonzo bent, kneeled, he prostrated himself, he clasped the green turfwhich enclosed her grave, he watered it with his tears, he warmed itwith his sighs. "Where art thou, bright beam of heavenly light! he said.Come to my troubled soul, blessed spirit! Come, holy shade! come in allthy native loveliness, and cheer the bosom of wretchedness, by thy griefdispersing smile! On the ray of yon evening star descend. One momentleave the celestial regions of glory--leave, one moment, thy sisterbeatitudes, and glide, in entrancing beauty, before me: wave, benignlywave thy white hand, and assuage the anguish of despairing sorrow! Alas!in vain my invocation! A curtain, impenetrable, is drawn betwixt me andthee, only to be disclosed by the dissolution of nature."
He arose and walked away: suddenly he stopped. "Yet, said he, if spiritsdeparted lose not the power of recollection;--if they have knowledge ofpresent events on earth, Melissa cannot have forgotten me--she must pityme." He returned to the grave; he took her miniature from his bosom;he held it up, and earnestly viewed it by the moon's pale ray.
"Ah, Franklin! he exclaimed, how tenderly does she beam her lovely eyeupon me! How often have I drank delicious extacy from the delicacy ofthose unrivalled charms! How often have they taught me to anticipatesuperlative and uninterrupted bliss! Mistaken and delusive hope![_returning the miniature to his bosom._] Vain and presumptuousassurance. Then [_pointing to the grave_] there behold how my dearestwishes, my fondest expectations are realized!----Hallowed turf! lielightly on her bosom!--Sacred willows! sprinkle the dews gently over hergrave, while the mourning breezes sigh sadly amid your branches! Heremay the "widowed wild rose love to bloom!" Here may the first placidbeams of morning delight to linger; from hence, the evening rayreluctantly withdraw!--And when the final trump shall renovate andarouse the sleeping saint;--when on "buoyant step" she soars to glory,may our meeting spirits join in beatifick transport! May my enrapturedear catch the first holy whisper of her consecrated lips."
* * * * *
Alonzo having thus poured out the effusions of an overcharged heart,pensively returned to the inn, which he entered and seated himself inthe common room, in deep contemplation. As usual at public inns, anumber of people were in the room, among whom were several officers ofthe American army. Alonzo was too deeply absorbed in melancholyreflection, to notice passing incidents, until a young officer came,seated himself by him, and entered into conversation respecting theevents of the war. He appeared to be about Alonzo's age; his person wasinteresting, his manners sprightly, his observations correct.--Alonzowas, in some degree, aroused from his abstractedness;--the manners ofthe stranger pleased him. His frankness, his ease, his understanding,his urbanity, void of vanity or sophistication, sympathetically caughtthe feelings of Alonzo, and he even felt a sort of solemn regret whenthe stranger departed. He soon retired to bed, determining to proceedearly in the morning.
He arose about daylight; the horizon was overcast, and it had begun torain, which before sunrise had encreased to a violent storm. He foundtherefore that he must content himself to stay until it was over, whichdid not happen till near night, and too late to pursue his journey. Hewas informed by the inn-keeper, that the theatre, which had been closedsince the commencement of the war, was to be opened that night only,with the tragedy of _Gustavus_, and close with a representation ofBurgoyne's capture, and some other recent events of the American war.To "wing the hours with swifter speed," Alonzo determined to go to thetheatre, and at the hour appointed he repaired thither.
As he was proceeding to take his seat, he passed the box where sat theyoung officer, whose manners had so prepossessed him the precedingevening at the inn. He immediately arose: they exchanged salutations,and Alonzo walked on and took his seat. The evening was warm, and thehouse exceedingly crowded. After the tragedy was through, and before theafter-piece commenced, the young officer came to Alonzo's box, and madesome remarks on the merit of the actors. While they were discoursing, abustle took place in one part of the house, and several people gatheredaround a box, at a little distance from them. The officer turned, leftAlonzo, and hastened to the place. To the general enquiry, "_what's thematter?_" it was answered, that "a lady had fainted." She was led out,and the tumult subsided.
As soon as the after-piece was closed, Alonzo returned to the inn. As hepassed along he cast his eyes toward the church-yard, where lay the"wither'd blessings of his richest joys." Affection, passion,inclination, urged him to go and breathe a farewell sigh, to drop afinal tear over the grave of Melissa. Discretion, reason, wisdom forbadeit--forbade that he re-pierce the ten thousand wounds of his bosom, bythe acute revival of unavailing sorrows. He hurried to his chamber.
As he prepared to retire to rest, he saw a book lying on the table nearhis bed. On taking it up he found it to be _Young's Night Thoughts_, abook which, in happier days, had been the solace of many a gloomy, manya lucid hour. He took it up and the first lines he cast his eyes uponwere the following:
"Song, beauty, youth, love, virtue, joy: this group Of bright ideas--flowers of Paradise, As yet unforfeit! in one blaze we bind. Kneel, and present it to the skies; as all We guess of Heaven! And _these_ were all her own And she was mine, and I was--was most blest-- Like blossom'd trees o'erturn'd by vernal storm, Lovely in death the beauteous ruin lay-- Ye that e'er lost an angel, pity me."
His tears fell fast upon the book! He replaced it and flung himself intobed. Sleep was far from him; he closed not his eyes till the portals oflight were unbarred in the east, when he fell into interrupted slumbers.
When he awoke, the morning was considerably advanced. He arose. Oneconsolation was yet left--to see his parents happy. He went down toorder his carriage; his favourite stranger, the young officer, was inwaiting, and requested a private interview. They immediately retired toa separate room, when the stranger thus addressed Alonzo:
"From our short acquaintance, you may, sir, consider it singular that Ishould attempt to scrutinize your private concerns, and moreextraordinary you may esteem it, when I inform you of my reasons for sodoing. Judging, however, from appearances, I have no doubt of yourcandour. If my questions should be deemed improper, you will tell meso."
Alonzo assured him he would treat him candidly. "This I believe, saidthe young officer; I take the liberty therefore to ask if you are anAmerican?"----"I am," answered Alonzo. "I presume, said thestranger--the question is a delicate one--I presume your family isrespectable?" "Sacredly so," replied Alonzo. "Are you married, sir?""I am not, and have ever been single." "Have you any prospects ofconnecting in marriage?" "I have not, sir." "I may then safely proceed,said the stranger; I trust you will hear me attentively; you
will judgematurely; you will decide correctly, and I am confident that you willanswer me sincerely.
"A young lady of this city, with whom I am well acquainted, and to whom,indeed, I am distantly related, whose father is affluent, whoseconnections are eminently respectable, whose manners are engaging, whosemind is virtue, whose elegance of form and personal beauty defycompetition, is the cause, sir, of this mission.--Early introduced intothe higher walks of life, she has passed the rounds of fashionablecompany; numberless suitors sighed for her hand, whom she complaisantlydismissed without disobliging, as her heart had not yet been touched bythe tender passion of love. Surprising as it may, however, seem, it isnow about six months since she saw in her dream the youth who possessedthe power to inspire her with