lly 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.
Alonzo feared that the delicacy of her constitution would fall a
sacrifice to the sorrow which preyed upon her heart, if not speedily
alleviated;--but alas! where were the means of alleviation?

She informed him that her father had that evening ordered her to become
the wife of Beauman. He told her that her disobedience was no longer to
be borne.--"No longer, said he, will I tamper with your perverseness:
you are determined to be poor, wretched and contemptible. I will compel
you to be rich, happy, and respected. You suffer the _Jack-a-lantern_
fancy to lead you into swamps and quagmires, when, did you but follow
the fair light of reason, it would conduct you to honour and real
felicity. There are happiness and misery at your choice.

"Marry Beauman, and you will roll in your coach, flaunt in your silks;
your furniture and your equipage are splendid, your associates are of
the first character, and your father rejoices in your prosperity.

"Marry Alonzo, you sink into obscurity, are condemned to drudgery,
poorly fed, worse clothed, and your relations and acquaintances shun and
despise you. The comparison I have here drawn between Beauman and Alonzo
is a correct one; for even the wardrobe of the former is of more value
than the whole fortune of the latter.

"I give you now two days to consider the matter; at the end of that time
I shall expect your decision, and hope you will decide discretely. But
remember that you become the wife of Beauman, or you are no longer
acknowledged as my daughter."

"Thus, said Melissa, did my father pronounce his determination, which
shook my frame, and chilled with horror every nerve of my heart, and
immediately left me.

"My aunt added her taunts to his severities, and Beauman interfered with
his ill-timed consolation. My mother and Edgar ardently strove to allay
the fever of my soul, and mitigate my distress. But the stroke was
almost too severe for my nature. Habituated only to the smiles of my
father, how could I support his frowns?--Accustomed to receive his
blessings alone, how could I endure his sudden malediction."

Description would fail in painting the s