hadalready gone abroad. Edgar, the brother of Melissa, had entered the armyin the capacity of chaplain. He was soon expected home, where heintended to tarry until the consummation of the nuptials, before he setout for the camp. Letters recently received from him, informed that heexpected to be at his father's in three or four days.
About three weeks previous to the appointed marriage day, Alonzo andMelissa one afternoon rode out to the village which had been chosen fortheir future residence. Their carriage stopped at the only inn in theplace, and from thence they walked around this modern Vaucluse, charmedwith the secluded beauties of its situation. They passed a little timeat the spot selected for their habitation; they projected the structureof the buildings, planned the gardens, the artificial groves, the walks,the mead, the fountains, and the green retreat of the summer house, andthey already saw, in anticipation, the various domestic blessings andfelicities with which they were to be surrounded.
They took tea at the inn, and prepared to return. It was at the latterend of the month of May, and nature was adorned in the bridal ornamentsof spring; the sun was sunk behind the groves, which cast their sombreshades over the valley, while the retiring beams of day adorned thedistant eastern eminences with yellow lustre.
The birds sung melodiously in the groves, the air was freshened by lightwestern breezes, bearing upon their wings all the entrancing odours ofthe season. Around the horizon, electric clouds raised their brazensummits, based in the black vapour of approaching night.
They slowly ascended the hill south of the town, where they paused a fewmoments to enjoy the splendours of the evening scene. This hill, whichcommanded a prospect of all the surrounding country, the distant sound,and the adjacent towns and villages, presented to the eye, on a singleview, perhaps one of the most picturesque draperies painted by nature.Alonzo attended Melissa to her father's, and the next day returned home.
His father had been absent for three or four days to one of thecommercial seaports, on business with some merchants with whom he wasconnected in trade. He returned the next day after Alonzo got home:--hisaspect and his conversation were marked with an assumed and unmeaningcheerfulness. At supper he ate nothing, discoursed much, but in anunconnected and hurried manner, interrupted by long pauses, in which heappeared to be buried in contemplation.
After supper, he asked Alonzo if it were not possible that his marriagewith Melissa could be consummated within a few days. Alonzo, startled atso unexpected a question, replied, that such a proposal would beconsidered extraordinary, perhaps improper: besides, when Melissa hadfixed the day, she mentioned that she had an uncle who lived nearCharleston, in South Carolina, whose daughter was to pass the summerwith Melissa, and was expected to arrive before the appointed day. Itwould, he said, be a delicate point for him to request her to anticipatethe nuptials, unless he could give some cogent reasons for so doing; andat present he was not apprised that any such existed. His father, aftera few moments hesitation, answered, "I have reasons, which, whentold"--here he stopped, suddenly arose, hastily walked the room in muchvisible agony of mind, and then retired to his chamber.
Alonzo and his mother were much amazed at so strange a proceeding. Theycould form no conjecture of its cause or its consequence. Alonzo passeda sleepless night. His father's slumbers were interrupted. He wouldfrequently start up in the bed, then sink in restless sleep, withincoherent mutterings, and plaintive moans. In the morning, when heappeared at breakfast, his countenance wore the marks of dejection andanguish.
He scarcely spoke a word, and after the table was removed, he orderedall to withdraw except his wife and Alonzo; when, with emotions thatspoke the painful feelings of his bosom, he thus addressed them:
"For more than forty years I have toiled early and late to acquireindependence and ease for myself and my family. To accomplish this,I became connected with some English importing merchants in a seaporttown, and went largely into the English trade. Success crowned ourendeavours; on balancing our accounts two years ago, we found that ourexpectations were answered, and that we were now sufficiently wealthy toclose business, which some proposed to do; it was, however, agreed tomake one effort more, as some favourable circumstances appeared tooffer, in which we adventured very largely, on a fair calculation ofliberal and extensive proceeds.
"Before returns could be made, the war came on, embarrassments ensued,and by indubitable intelligence lately received, we find that ourproperty in England has been sequestered; five of our ships, laden withEnglish goods, lying in English harbours, and just ready to sail forAmerica, have been seized as lawful prizes. Added to this, three vesselsfrom the Indies, laden with island produce, have been taken on theirhomeward bound voyage, and one lost on her return from Holland. Thiswreck of fortune I might have survived, had I to sustain only my equaldividend of the loss: but of the merchants with whom I have beenconnected, not one remains to share the fate of the event; all haveabsconded or secreted themselves. To attempt to compound with mycreditors would be of little avail; my whole fortune will not pay onefourth of the debts; so that, compound or not, the consequence to me isinevitable ruin.
"To abscond would not secure me, as most of my remaining property isvested in real estate. And even if it would, I could not consent to it:I could not consent to banish myself from my country; to flee like afelon; to skulk from society with the base view of defrauding mycreditors. No, I have lived honestly, and honestly will I die. By fairapplication and long industry my wealth has been obtained; and it shallnever justly be said, that the reputation of my latter days was stainedwith acts of baseness and meanness. I have notified and procured ameeting of the creditors, and have laid the matters before them. Someappeared favourable to me; others insinuated that we were all connectedin fraudulent designs, to swindle our creditors. This I repelled withbecoming spirit, and was in consequence threatened with immediateprosecution. Whatever may be the event, I had some hopes that yourhappiness, Alonzo, might yet be secured. Hence I proposed your unionwith Melissa, before our misfortunes should be promulgated. Your parentsare old; a little will serve the residue of their days. With youracquirements you may make your way in life. I shall have no property togive you; but I would still wish you to secure that which you prize farabove, and without which, both honours and emoluments are unimportantand worthless."
At this moment a loud rap at the door interrupted the discourse, andthree men were ushered in, which proved to be the sheriff and hisattendants, sent by the more inexorable creditors of Alonzo's father andcompany, to level on the property of the former, which orders theyfaithfully executed, by seizing the lands, tenements and furniture, andfinally arresting the body of the old gentleman, which was soon releasedby his friendly neighbours becoming bail for his appearance; but theproperty was soon after sold at public vendue, at less than half itsvalue, and Alonzo's father and mother were compelled to abandon thepremises, and take shelter in a little hut, belonging to a neighbouringfarmer, illy and temporarily furnished by the gratuitous liberality of afew friends.
We will not stop the reader to moralize on this disastrous event. Thefeelings of the family can better be conceived than detailed. Hurled ina moment from the lofty summit of affluence to the low and barren valeof poverty! Philosophy came to the aid of the parents, but who canrealise the feelings of the son! Thus suddenly cut short of hisprospects, not only of future independence, but even of support, whatwould be the event of his suit to Melissa, and stipulated marriage? Wasit not probable that her father would now cancel the contract? Could sheconsent to be his wife in his present penurious situation?--And indeed,could he himself consent to make her his wife, to make her miserable?
In this agitated frame of mind he received a letter from his friend inMelissa's neighbourhood, requesting him to come immediately to hishouse, whither he repaired the following day. This person had ever beenthe unchanging friend of Alonzo; he had heard of the misfortunes of hisfamily, and he deeply sympathized in his distress. He had lately marriedand settled in life: his name was Vincent.
When Alonzo arrived at the house of his friend, he was received with thesame disinterested ardour he ever had been in the day of his mostunbounded prosperity.--After being seated, Vincent told him that theoccasion of his sending for him was to propose the adoption of certainmeasures which he doubted not might be considered highly beneficial asit respected his future peace and happiness. "Your family misfortunes,continued Vincent, have reached the ears of Melissa's father. I know theold gentleman too well to believe he will consent to receive you as hisson-in-law, under your present embarrassments. Money is the god to whichhe implicitly bows. The case is difficult, but not insurmountable. Youmust first see Melissa; she is now in the next room. I will introduceyou in; converse with her, after which I will lay my plan before you."
* * * * *
Alonzo entered the room; Melissa was sitting by a window which lookedinto a pleasant garden, and over