05-the enemy conquered-第7章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



Ambulinia；　have　done　but　little　credit　to　yourself　by　honoring

his　visits。　　Oh；　wretchedness！　can　it　be　that　my　hopes　of　happiness

are　forever　blasted！　　Will　you　not　listen　to　a　father's　entreaties；

and　pay　some　regard　to　a　mother's　tears。　　I　know；　and　I　do　pray　that　God

will　give　me　fortitude　to　bear　with　this　sea　of　troubles；　and　rescue

my　daughter；　my　Ambulinia；　as　a　brand　from　the　eternal　burning。〃　

〃Forgive　me；　father；　oh！　forgive　thy　child；〃　replied　Ambulinia。　

〃My　heart　is　ready　to　break；　when　I　see　you　in　this　grieved　state

of　agitation。　　Oh！　think　not　so　meanly　of　me；　as　that　I　mourn

for　my　own　danger。　　Father；　I　am　only　woman。　　Mother；　I　am　only

the　templement　of　thy　youthful　years；　but　will　suffer　courageously

whatever　punishment　you　think　proper　to　inflict　upon　me；　if　you　will

but　allow　me　to　comply　with　my　most　sacred　promisesif　you　will　but

give　me　my　personal　right　and　my　personal　liberty。　　Oh；　father！　if

your　generosity　will　but　give　me　these；　I　ask　nothing　more。　

When　Elfonzo　offered　me　his　heart；　I　gave　him　my　hand；　never　to

forsake　him；　and　now　may　the　mighty　God　banish　me　before　I　leave　him

in　adversity。　　What　a　heart　must　I　have　to　rejoice　in　prosperity

with　him　whose　offers　I　have　accepted；　and　then；　when　poverty　comes；

haggard　as　it　may　be；　for　me　to　trifle　with　the　oracles　of　Heaven；

and　change　with　every　fluctuation　that　may　interrupt　our　happiness

like　the　politician　who　runs　the　political　gantlet　for　office　one　day；

and　the　next　day；　because　the　horizon　is　darkened　a　little；　he　is

seen　running　for　his　life；　for　fear　he　might　perish　in　its　ruins。　

Where　is　the　philosophy；　where　is　the　consistency；　where　is　the　charity；

in　conduct　like　this？　　Be　happy　then；　my　beloved　father；　and　forget　me；

let　the　sorrow　of　parting　break　down　the　wall　of　separation　and　make

us　equal　in　our　feeling；　let　me　now　say　how　ardently　I　love　you；

let　me　kiss　that　age…worn　cheek；　and　should　my　tears　bedew　thy　face；

I　will　wipe　them　away。　　Oh；　I　never　can　forget　you；　no；　never；　never！〃



〃Weep　not；〃　said　the　father；　〃Ambulinia。　　I　will　forbid　Elfonzo

my　house；　and　desire　that　you　may　keep　retired　a　few　days。　　I　will

let　him　know　that　my　friendship　for　my　family　is　not　linked　together

by　cankered　chains；　and　if　he　ever　enters　upon　my　premises　again；

I　will　send　him　to　his　long　home。〃　　〃Oh；　father！　let　me　entreat　you

to　be　calm　upon　this　occasion；　and　though　Elfonzo　may　be　the　sport

of　the　clouds　and　winds；　yet　I　feel　assured　that　no　fate　will　send

him　to　the　silent　tomb　until　the　God　of　the　Universe　calls　him

hence　with　a　triumphant　voice。〃



Here　the　father　turned　away；　exclaiming：　　〃I　will　answer　his　letter

in　a　very　few　words；　and　you；　madam；　will　have　the　goodness　to　stay

at　home　with　your　mother；　and　remember；　I　am　determined　to　protect

you　from　the　consuming　fire　that　looks　so　fair　to　your　view。〃







Cumming；　January　22；　1844。





SirIn　regard　to　your　request；　I　am　as　I　ever　have　been；　utterly　opposed

to　your　marrying　into　my　family；　and　if　you　have　any　regard　for　yourself；

or　any　gentlemanly　feeling；　I　hope　you　will　mention　it　to　me　no　more；

but　seek　some　other　one　who　is　not　so　far　superior　to　you　in　standing。





W。　W。　Valeer。







When　Elfonzo　read　the　above　letter；　he　became　so　much　depressed

in　spirits　that　many　of　his　friends　thought　it　advisable　to　use

other　means　to　bring　about　the　happy　union。　　〃Strange；〃　said　he；

〃that　the　contents　of　this　diminutive　letter　should　cause　me　to　have

such　depressed　feelings；　but　there　is　a　nobler　theme　than　this。　　I　know

not　why　my　MILITARY　TITLE　is　not　as　great　as　that　of　SQUIRE　VALEER。　

For　my　life　I　cannot　see　that　my　ancestors　are　inferior　to　those

who　are　so　bitterly　opposed　to　my　marriage　with　Ambulinia。　　I　know

I　have　seen　huge　mountains　before　me；　yet；　when　I　think　that　I　know

gentlemen　will　insult　me　upon　this　delicate　matter；　should　I　become

angry　at　fools　and　babblers；　who　pride　themselves　in　their　impudence

and　ignorance？　　No。　My　equals！　　I　know　not　where　to　find　them。　

My　inferiors！　　I　think　it　beneath　me；　and　my　superiors！　　I　think

it　presumption；　therefore；　if　this　youthful　heart　is　protected

by　any　of　the　divine　rights；　I　never　will　betray　my　trust。〃



He　was　aware　that　Ambulinia　had　a　confidence　that　was；　indeed；

as　firm　and　as　resolute　as　she　was　beautiful　and　interesting。　

He　hastened　to　the　cottage　of　Louisa；　who　received　him　in　her　usual

mode　of　pleasantness；　and　informed　him　that　Ambulinia　had　just　that

moment　left。　　〃Is　it　possible？〃　said　Elfonzo。　　〃Oh；　murdered　hours！　

Why　did　she　not　remain　and　be　the　guardian　of　my　secrets？　

But　hasten　and　tell　me　how　she　has　stood　this　trying　scene；

and　what　are　her　future　determinations。〃　　〃You　know；〃　said　Louisa；

〃Major　Elfonzo；　that　you　have　Ambulinia's　first　love；　which　is

of　no　small　consequence。　　She　came　here　about　twilight；　and　shed

many　precious　tears　in　consequence　of　her　own　fate　with　yours。　

We　walked　silently　in　yon　little　valley　you　see；　where　we　spent

a　momentary　repose。　　She　seemed　to　be　quite　as　determined　as　ever；

and　before　we　left　that　beautiful　spot　she　offered　up　a　prayer

to　Heaven　for　thee。〃　　〃I　will　see　her　then；〃　replied　Elfonzo；

〃though　legions　of　enemies　may　oppose。　　She　is　mine　by　foreordination

she　is　mine　by　prophesyshe　is　mine　by　her　own　free　will；　and　I

will　rescue　her　from　the　hands　of　her　oppressors。　　Will　you　not；

Miss　Louisa；　assist　me　in　my　capture？〃



〃I　will　certainly；　by　the　aid　of　Divine　Providence；〃　answered　Louisa；

〃endeavor　to　break　those　slavish　chains　that　bind　the　richest　of　prizes；

though　allow　me；　Major；　to　entreat　you　to　use　no　harsh　means　on　this

important　occasion；　take　a　decided　stand；　and　write　freely　to　Ambulinia

upon　this　subject；　and　I　will　see　that　no　intervening　cause　hinders

its　passage　to　her。　　God　alone　will　save　a　mourning　people。　　Now　is

the　day　and　now　is　the　hour　to　obey　a　command　of　such　valuable　worth。〃　

The　Major　felt　himself　grow　stronger　after　this　short　interview

with　Louisa。　　He　felt　as　if　he　could　whip　his　weight　in　wildcats

he　knew　he　was　master　of　his　own　feelings；　and　could　now　write

a　letter　that　would　bring　this　litigation　to　AN　ISSUE。







Cumming；　January　24；　1844。



Dear　Ambulinia





We　have　now　reached　the　most　trying　moment　of　our　lives；　we　are

pledged　not　to　forsake　our　trust；　we　have　waited　for　a　favorable　hour

to　come；　thinking　your　friends　would　settle　the　matter　agreeably

among　themselves；　and　finally　be　reconciled　to　our　marriage；

but　as　I　have　waited　in　vain；　and　looked　in　vain；　I　have　determined

in　my　own　mind　to　make　a　proposition　to　you；　though　you　may　think

it　not　in　accord　with　your　station；　or　compatible　with　your　rank；

yet；　〃sub　loc　signo　vinces。〃　　You　know　I　cannot　resume　my　visits；

in　consequence　of　the　utter　hostility　that　your　father　has　to　me；

therefore　the　consummation　of　our　union　will　have　to　be　sought

for　in　a　more　sublime　sphere；　at　the　residence　of　a　respectable

friend　of　this　village。　　You　cannot　have　an　scruples　upon　this

mode　of　proceeding；　if　you　will　but　remember　it　emanates　from　one

who　loves　you　better　than　his　own　lifewho　is　more　than　anxious

to　bid　you　welcome　to　a　new　and　happy　home。　　Your　warmest　associates

say　come；　the　talented；　the　learned；　the　wise；　and　the　experienced

say　come；all　these　with　their　friends　say；　come。　　Viewing　these；

with　many　other　inducements；　I　flatter　myself　that　you　will　come

to　the　embraces　of　your　Elfonzo；　for　now　is　the　time　of　your

acceptance　of　the　day　of　your　liberation。　　You　cannot　be　ignorant；

Ambulinia；　that　thou　art　the　desire　of　my　heart；　its　thoughts

are　too　noble；　and　too　pure；　to　conceal　themselves　from　you。　

I　shall　wait　for　your　answer　to　this　impatiently；　expecting　that　you

will　set　the　time　to　make　your　departure；　and　to　be　in　readiness

at　a　moment's　warning　to　share　the　joys　of　a　more　preferable　life。　

This　will　be　handed　to　you　by　Louisa；　who　will　take　a　pleasure　in

communicating　anything　to　you　that　may　relieve　your　dejected　spirits；

and　will　assure　you　that　I　now　stand　ready；　willing；　and　waiting

to　make　good　my　vows。



I　am；　dear　Ambulinia；　your



truly；　and　forever；



J。　I。　Elfonzo。







Louisa　made　it　convenient　to　visit　Mr。　Valeer's；　though　they

did　not　suspect　her　in　the　least　the　bearer　of　love　epistles；

consequently；　she　was　invited　in　the　room　to　console　Ambulinia；

where　they　were　left　alone。　　Ambulinia　was　seated　by　a　small　table

her　head　resting　on　her　handher　brilliant　eyes　were　bathed　in　tears。　

Louisa　handed　her　the　letter　of　Elfonzo；　when　another　spirit　animated

her　featuresthe　spirit　of　renewed　confidence　that　never　fails

to　strengthen　the　female　character　in　an　hour　of　grief　and　sorrow

like　this；　and　as　she　pronounced　the　last　accent　of　his　name；

she　exclaimed；　〃And　does　he　love　me　yet！　　I　never　will　forget

your　generosity；　Louisa。　　Oh；　unhappy　and　yet　blessed　Louisa！　may　you

never　feel　what　I　have　feltmay　you　never　know　the　pangs　of　love。　

Had　I　never　loved；　I　never　would　have　been　unhappy；　but　I　turn　to　Him

who　can　save；　and　if　His　wisdom　does　not　will　my　expected　union；

I　know　He　will　give　me　strength　to　bear　my　lot。　　Amuse　yourself

with　this　little　book；　and　take　it　as　an　apology　for　my　silence；〃

said　Ambulinia；　〃while　I　attempt　to　answer　this　volume　of　consolation。〃　

〃Thank　you；〃　said　Louisa；　〃you　are　excusable　upon　this　occasion；

but　I　pray　you；　Ambulinia；　to　be　expert　upon　this　momentous　subject；

that　there　may　be　nothing　mistrustful　upon　my　part。〃　　〃I　will；〃

said　Ambulinia；　and　immediately　resumed　her　seat　and　addressed　the

following　to　Elfonzo：







Cumming；　Ga。；　January　28；　1844。



Devoted　Elfonzo





I　hail　your　letter　as　a　welcome　messenger　of　faith；　and　can　now

say　truly　and　firmly　that　my　feelings　correspond　with　yours。　

Nothing　shall　be　wanting　on　my　part　to　make　my　obedience　your　fidelity。　

Courage　and　perseverance　will　accomplish　success。　　Receive　this

as　my　oath；　that　while　I　grasp　your　hand　in　my　own　imagination；

we　stand　united　before　a　higher　tribunal　than　any　on　earth。　

All　the　powers　of　my　life；　soul；　and　body；　I　devote　to　thee。　

Whatever　dangers　may　threaten　me；　I　fear　not　to　encounter　them。　

Perhaps　I　have　determined　upon　my　own　destruction；　by　leaving

the　house　of　the　best　of　parents；　be　it　so；　I　flee　to　you；　I　share

your　destiny；　faithful　to　the　end。　　The　day　that　I　have　concluded

upon　for　this　task　is　SABBATH　next；　when　the　family　with　the　citizens

are　generally　at　church。　　For　Heaven's　sake　let　not　that　day

pass　unimproved：　　trust　not　till　tomorrow；　it　is　the　cheat　of　life

the　future　that　never　comesthe　grave　of　many　noble　births

the　cavern　of　ruined　enterprise：　　which　like　the　lightning's

flash　is　born；　and　dies；　and　perishes；　ere　the　voice　of　him

who　sees　can　cry；　BEHOLD！　　BEHOLD！！　You　may　trust　to　what　I　say；

no　power　shall　tempt　me　to　betray　confidence。　　Suff