Alida Part 36

Mrs Vincent now came to the door of the room and beckoned to her husband, who went out, but immediately returned leading in Melissa after which he retired. "Oh, Alonzo!" was all she could say, and burst into tears. Alonzo led her to a seat, gently pressed her hand, and mingled his tears with hers but was unable to speak. Recovering at length he begged her to moderate her grief.]

"Where," said he, "is your fort.i.tude, and your firmness, Alida, which I have so often seen triumphing over affliction?" Her extreme anguish prevented a reply. Theodore endeavoured to console her, though consolation was a stranger to his own breast.

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"Where is your fort.i.tude and your firmness (said he) Melissa, which I have so often seen triumphing over affliction?" Her extreme anguish prevented a reply. Deeply affected and alarmed at the storm of distress which raged in her bosom, he endeavoured to console her, tho' consolation was a stranger to his own breast.]

"Let us not," said he, "increase our flood of affliction by a tide of useless sorrow. Perhaps more prosperous days are yet in reserve for us; happiness may yet be ours. Heaven cannot desert Alida," said Theodore; "as well might it desert its angels. This th.o.r.n.y path may lead to fair fields of light and verdure. Tempests are succeeded by calms; wars end in peace; the splendours of the brightest morning arise on the wings of blackest midnight. Troubles will not always last."

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"Let us not Melissa (said he) increase our flood of affliction by a tide of useless sorrow: perhaps more prosperous days are yet in reserve for us; happiness may yet be ours--never, never! (she exclaimed) Oh what will become of me! Heaven cannot desert you (said Alonzo) as well might it desert its angels. This th.o.r.n.y and gloomy path may lead to fair fields of light and verdure. Tempests are succeeded by calms, wars end in peace; the splendors of the brightest morning arise on the wings of blackest midnight.

"Troubles will not always last...."]

The grief which had almost overwhelmed Alida, now began to subside, as the waves of the ocean gradually cease their tumultuous commotion after the turbulent winds are laid asleep. Deep and long drawn sighs succeeded. The irritation of her feelings had caused a more than usual glow upon her cheek which faded away as she became composed, until a livid paleness spread itself over her features.

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The rage of grief which had overwhelmed Melissa, began now to subside as the waves of the ocean gradually cease their tumultuous commotion, after the turbulent winds are laid asleep. Deep sobs and long drawn sighs succeeded to a suffocation of tears. The irritation of her feelings had caused a more than usual glow upon her cheek, which faded away as she became composed, until a livid paleness spread itself over her features....

Raymond and his lady now came into the room. They strenuously urged the propriety and necessity for Theodore and Alida to enter into the bands of matrimony.

"The measure would be hazardous," remarked Alida. "My circ.u.mstances,"

said Theodore. "Not on that account," interrupted Alida, "but the displeasure of my father."

"Come here, Alida, to-morrow evening," said Mrs. Raymond. "In the mean time you will consider the matter and then determine." To this Alida a.s.sented and prepared to return home.

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Vincent and his lady now came into the room. They strenuously urged the propriety and the necessity of Alonzo and Melissa's entering into the bands of wedlock immediately. "The measure would be hazardous," remarked Melissa. "My circ.u.mstances"--said Alonzo.

"Not on that account, (interrupted Melissa) but my father's displeasure"--"Will be the same, whether you marry Alonzo, or refuse to marry Beauman," replied Vincent. Her resolution appeared to be staggered. "Come here, Melissa, tomorrow evening (said Mrs.

Vincent); meantime you will consider the matter, and then determine."--To this Melissa a.s.sented, and prepared to return home.]

Theodore attended her as far as the gate which opened into the yard surrounding the dwelling. It was dangerous for him to go further, lest he should be discovered even by a domestic of the family. He stood here awhile looking anxiously after Alida as she walked up the avenue, her white robes now invisible, now dimly seen, until they were totally obscured, mingling with the gloom and darkness of the night, ere she reached the door of her father's mansion.

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Alonzo walked with her to the gate which opened into the yard surrounding her father's house. It was dangerous for him to go farther. Should he be discovered with Melissa, even by a domestic of the family, it must increase the persecutions against her. They parted. Alonzo stood at the gate, gazing anxiously after Melissa as she walked up the long winding avenue, bordered with the odor-flowing lilac, and lofty elm, her white robes now invisible, now dimly seen, as she turned the angles of the walk, until they were totally obscured, mingling with the gloom and darkness of the night.]

"Thus," said Theodore, "fades the angel of peace from the visionary eyes of the war-worn soldier, when it ascends in the dusky clouds of early morning, while he slumbers on the field of recent battle." With mournful forebodings he returned to the house of his friend. After pa.s.sing a sleepless night, he arose and walked out into an adjoining field; he stood for some time, leaning, in deep contemplation, against a tree, when he heard quick footsteps behind him. He turned around, and saw Albert approaching. In a moment they were in each other's arms, and mingled tears. They soon returned to Raymond's where they conversed largely on present affairs.

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"Thus, (said Alonzo) thus fades the angel of peace from the visionary eyes of the war-worn soldier, when it ascends in the dusky clouds of early morning, while he slumbers on the field of recent battle."

With mournful forebodings he returned to the house of Vincent. He arose after a sleepless night, and walked into an adjoining field.

He stood leaning in deep contemplation against a tree, when he heard quick footsteps behind him. He turned, and saw Edgar approaching; in a moment they were in each other's arms, and mingled tears. They returned to Vincent's and conversed largely on present affairs.]

"I have discoursed with my father on the subject," said Albert; "I have urged him with every possible argument, to relinquish his determination to keep you and Alida separate. I fear, however, he is inflexible."

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"I have discoursed with my father on the subject, (said Edgar) I have urged him with every possible argument to relinquish his determination; I fear, however, he is inflexible.]

"To endeavour to a.s.suage the grief which rent Alida's bosom was my next object, and in this I trust I have not been unsuccessful. You will see her this evening, and will find her more calm and resigned. You, Theodore, must exert your fort.i.tude. The ways of Heaven are inscrutable, but they are right. We must acquiesce in its dealings; we cannot alter its decrees. Resignation to its will, whether merciful or afflictive, is one of those eminent virtues which adorn the good man's character, and will ever find a brilliant reward in the regions of unsullied happiness."

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"To a.s.suage the tempest of grief which rent Melissa's bosom was my next object, and in this I trust I have not been unsuccessful. You will see her this evening, and will find her more calm and resigned.

You, Alonzo, must exert your fort.i.tude. The ways of Heaven are inscrutable, but they are right.

"We must acquiesce in its dealings. We cannot alter its decrees.

Resignation to its will, whether merciful or afflictive, is one of those eminent virtues which adorn the good man's character, and ever find a brilliant reward in the regions of unsullied splendor, far beyond trouble and the tomb."]

Albert told Theodore that circ.u.mstances compelled him that day to return to the city. "I would advise you," said he, "to remain here until your affair comes to some final issue. It must, I think, ere long, be terminated. Perhaps you and my sister may yet be happy."

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Edgar told Alonzo that circ.u.mstances compelled him that day to depart for the army. "I would advise you, (said he) to remain here until your affair comes to some final issue. It must, I think, ere long, be terminated. Perhaps you and my sister may yet be happy."]

Theodore feelingly expressed his grat.i.tude to Albert. He found in him that disinterested friends.h.i.+p which his early youth had experienced.

Albert the same day departed for New-York.

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Alonzo feelingly expressed his grat.i.tude to Edgar. He found in him that disinterested friends.h.i.+p, which his early youth had experienced.--Edgar the same day departed for the army.

The shades of night came on almost insensibly, as Theodore was anxiously expecting Alida. He antic.i.p.ated the consolation her presence would bestow. Albert had told him she was more composed. The evening pa.s.sed on, but she came not.

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Night came on, and he ardently and impatiently expected Melissa. He antic.i.p.ated the consolation her presence would bestow. Edgar had told him she was more composed.... The evening pa.s.sed on, but Melissa came not. Alonzo grew restless and uneasy. He looked out, then at his watch.]

Raymond a.s.sured him she would soon be there. He paced the room, and then walked out on the way whither she was expected to come. He hesitated some time whether to advance or return. It was possible, though not probable, that she might have come some other way. He hastened back to the house of his friend; she had not arrived.

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Vincent and his lady a.s.sured him that she would soon be there. He paced his room. Still he became more impatient. He walked out on the way where she was expected to come....

.... Alonzo hesitated whether to advance or to return. It was possible, though not probable, that Melissa might have come some other way. He hastened back to Vincent's. She had not arrived.]

"Something extraordinary," said Mrs. Raymond, "has undoubtedly prevented her coming. Perhaps she is ill." Theodore shuddered at the suggestion.

He looked at his watch: it was past twelve o'clock. Again he hastily sallied out and took the road to her father's.

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