Alida Part 38

The face of the Sound was ruffled by the lingering breezes, as they idly wandered over its surface. Long Island was thinly enveloped in smoky vapour; scattered along its sh.o.r.es lay the numerous small craft, with larger ships, of the hostile fleet. A few skiffs were pa.s.sing and re-pa.s.sing the Sound. Several American war-sloops lay on a point which jutted out from the mainland into the river.

[_A&M_:

The sound was only ruffled by the lingering breezes, as they idly wandered over its surface. Long-Island, now in possession of the British troops, was thinly enveloped in smoky vapor; scattered along its sh.o.r.es lay the numerous small craft and larger ships of the hostile fleet. A few skiffs were pa.s.sing and repa.s.sing the Sound, and several American gun-boats lay off a point which jutted out from the main land, far to the eastward.]

Alida walked leisurely around the yard, contemplating the various beauties of the scene, the images of departed joys (that she was now about to leave). The days when Theodore partic.i.p.ated with her in admiring the splendours of rural prospect, raised in her bosom the sigh of deep regret. She entered the garden, and traced the walks, now overgrown with weeds and tufted gra.s.s. The flower-beds were choked with the low running brambles, and tall rushes and daisies had usurped the empire of the kitchen garden. The viny arbour was princ.i.p.ally gone to decay, and the eglantine blushed mournfully along the fences.

[_A&M_:

Melissa walked around the yard, contemplating the varying beauties of the scene: the images of departed joys--the days when Alonzo had partic.i.p.ated with her in admiring the splendours of rural prospects, raised in her bosom the sigh of deep regret. She entered the garden and traversed the alleys, now overgrown with weeds and tufted knot gra.s.s. The flower beds were choaked with the low running bramble and tangling five finger; tall, rank rushes, mullens and daisies, had usurped the empire of the kitchen garden. The viny arbour was broken, and princ.i.p.ally gone to decay; yet the "lonely wild rose"

blushed mournfully amidst the ruins.]

Alida continued to walk the garden until the servant informed her that the carriage was waiting to take her to the city.

Although they set out rather late in the day, they arrived in town some hours before sunset. They drove immediately to their dwelling, which was situated in a pleasant part of Greenwich-street, near the Battery.

Alida, after she had thrown off her travelling apparel, seated herself by the window in silence. Her mind was absorbed in deep reflection and thoughtfulness. She watched the slow declining sun, as it was sinking beneath the horizon. Pensive twilight spread her misty mantle over the landscape. The western sky glowed with the spangles of evening; deepening glooms advanced. The last beam of day faded from the view, and all was enveloped in night. Innumerable stars glittered in the firmament, intermingling their quivering l.u.s.tre with the pale splendours of the milky way.

[_A&M_:

She then retired to her chamber, seated herself at the western window, and watched the slow declining sun, as it leisurely sunk behind the lofty groves. Pensive twilight spread her misty mantle over the landscape; the western horizon glowed with the spangles of evening. Deepening glooms advanced. The last beam of day faded from the view and the world was enveloped in night. The owl hooted solemnly in the forest, and the whipperwill sung cheerfully in the garden. Innumerable stars glittered in the firmament, intermingling their quivering l.u.s.tre with the pale splendours of the milky way.]

When Alida was summoned to tea, her parents made various observations to endeavour to amuse her thoughts, and draw her from her taciturnity.

After tea she again returned to the window, where she sat till a late hour, apparently in deep meditation, till at length growing weary and restless, she retired to her room.

As she had for several nights in succession slept but little, she soon fell into a slumber, and did not awake till near the dawn of day. She did not close her eyes again to sleep. Daylight soon appeared, and the cheerful sun darting his enlivening rays through the windows of this antique mansion, recovered her exhausted spirits, and dissipated, in some measure, the cheerless reflections that still continued to hover about her imagination.

[_A&M_:

.... As she, for two nights, had been deprived of her usual rest, she soon fell into a slumber.

Daylight soon appeared, and the cheerful sun darting its enlivening rays through the crevices and windows of the antique mansion, recovered her exhausted spirits, and dissipated, in some degree, the terrors which hovered about her mind.]

She arose, and went down to breakfast with spirits somewhat revived, and changed to a temporary resignation to past events and recent occurrences. A thought impressed her mind which gave her new consolation.

"Who knows," said she, "but that the sun of peace may yet dispel the glooms of these distressful hours, and restore this throbbing bosom to its former serenity?"

[_A&M_ (Alonzo speaking):

"Who knows (he said) but that this may finally be the case; but that the sun of peace may yet dispel the glooms of these distressful hours!"]

In the meantime, Theodore remained in the neighbourhood of Alida until he heard the family had left and gone to the city. He then prepared himself to set out early the next day for the habitation of his parents.

He informed Raymond of his promise to write to Alida, and to transmit letters through his agency for her inspection every convenient opportunity.

After pa.s.sing a weary watchful night, he arose at the first dawning of day, and proceeded on his journey with a heavy heart and painful reflections.

[_A&M_:

Alonzo journeyed along with a heavy heart and in an enfeebled frame of spirits.]

After he had pa.s.sed through the neighbouring village, and gained the bridge, he looked over and bade the residence of Alida a mournful farewell. Fearful forebodings crossed his mind that they were separated forever; then again those more consolatory, that, perhaps, after a long delay, he and Alida might yet again meet and be happy.

[_A&M_:

He then, in extreme vexation and disappointment, flung himself into the sedan, and drove from the mansion. Frequently did he look back at the building, anxiously did he scrutinize every surrounding and receding object. A thrill of pensive recollection vibrated through his frame as he pa.s.sed the gate, and the keen agonizing pangs of blasted hope, pierced his heart, as his carriage rolled over the bridge.]

Traits of glory had painted the eastern skies. The glittering day-star, having unbarred the portals of light, began to transmit its retrocessive l.u.s.tre. Thin scuds flew swiftly over the moon's decrescent form. Low, hollow winds murmured among the bushes, or brushed the limpid drops from the intermingling foliage.

[_A&M_ (before previous pa.s.sage):

Traits of glory now painted the eastern skies. The glittering day-star, having unbarred the portals of light, began to transmit its retrocessive l.u.s.tre. Thin scuds flew swiftly over the moon's decrescent form. Low, hollow winds, murmured among the bushes, or brushed the limpid drops from intermingling foliage.]

The dusky shadows of night fled to the deep glens and rocky caverns of the wilderness. The American lark soared high in the air, consecrating its matin lay to morn's approaching splendours.

[_A&M_:

The dusky shadows of night fled to the deep glens, and rocky caverns of the wilderness. The American lark soared high in the air consecrating its matin lay to morn's approaching splendours.]

The woodlands and forest tops on the high hills caught the sun's first ray, which, widening and extending, soon gemmed the landscape with a varying brightness.

[_A&M_:

The forest tops, on high mountains, caught the sun's first ray, which widening and extending, soon gem'd the landscape with brilliants of a thousand various dies.]

It was late in the afternoon before Theodore arrived at his father's. He found his parents contented and happy at their present residence, which was extremely pleasant, and afforded them many accommodations.

[_A&M_:

In pursuance of his design he went to his father's. He found the old gentleman, with his man contentedly tilling his farm, and his mother cheerfully attending to household affairs, as their narrow circ.u.mstances would not admit her to keep a maid without embarra.s.sment....]

"You have been long gone, my son," said his father: "I scarcely knew what had become of you. Since I have become a farmer, I know little of what is going on in the world, and we were never happier in our lives.

We live as independently as we could desire, and realize the blessings of health and contentment. Our only disquietude is on your account, Theodore. Your affair with Alida, I suppose, is not so favourable as you could wish. But despair not, my son; hope is the harbinger of fairer prospects; rely on Providence, which never deserts those who submissively bow to its dispensations.

[_A&M_:

"You have been long gone, my son, (said his father) I scarcely knew what had become of you. Since I have become a farmer I know little of what is going forward in the world; and indeed we were never happier in our lives ... we live frugally, and realize the blessings of health, comfort and contentment; our only disquietude is on your account, Alonzo. Your affair with Melissa, I suppose is not so favourable as you could wish, but despair not, my son; hope is the harbinger of fairer prospects; rely on Providence, which never deserts those who submissively bow to the justice of its dispensations."]

Place entire confidence and dependence on the Supreme Being," said his father, "and the triumph of fort.i.tude and resignation will be yours."

His father paused. His reasonings, however they convinced the understanding, could not heal the wounds of Theodore's bosom. In Alida he had looked for as much happiness as earth could afford, nor could he see any prospect in life which could repair to him her loss.

[_A&M_ (Benjamin Franklin speaking):

"... place entire dependence on the SUPREME, and the triumph of fort.i.tude and resignation will be yours."

Franklin paused. His reasonings, however they convinced the understanding, could not heal the wounds of Alonzo's bosom. In Melissa he looked for as much happiness as earth could afford, nor could he see any prospect in life which could repair the loss he had sustained.]

Unwilling to disturb the serenity of his parents, he did not wish to acquaint them with the whole affair of his troubles. He answered, that perhaps all might yet be well; that, however, in the present state of his mind, he thought a change of place and scene might be of advantage.

He said, moreover, that he no longer had an excuse, and that circ.u.mstances now compelled him to join the army.