05-the enemy conquered-第10章

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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。　　Suffer　me　to　add　one

word　more。





I　will　soothe　thee；　in　all　thy　grief；



Beside　the　gloomy　river；



And　though　thy　love　may　yet　be　brief；



Mine　is　fixed　forever。





Receive　the　deepest　emotions　of　my　heart　for　thy　constant　love；

and　may　the　power　of　inspiration　by　thy　guide；　thy　portion；　and　thy　all。　

In　great　haste；



Yours　faithfully；



Ambulinia。







〃I　now　take　my　leave　of　you；　sweet　girl；〃　said　Louisa；　〃sincerely

wishing　you　success　on　Sabbath　next。〃　　When　Ambulinia's　letter　was

handed　to　Elfonzo；　he　perused　it　without　doubting　its　contents。　

Louisa　charged　him　to　make　but　few　confidants；　but　like　most　young

men　who　happened　to　win　the　heart　of　a　beautiful　girl；　he　was　so

elated　with　the　idea　that　he　felt　as　a　commanding　general　on　parade；

who　had　confidence　in　all；　consequently　gave　orders　to　all。　

The　appointed　Sabbath；　with　a　delicious　breeze　and　cloudless　sky；

made　its　appearance。　　The　people　gathered　in　crowds　to　the　church

the　streets　were　filled　with　neighboring　citizens；　all　marching

to　the　house　of　worship。　　It　is　entirely　useless　for　me　to　attempt

to　describe　the　feelings　of　Elfonzo　and　Ambulinia；　who　were　silently

watching　the　movements　of　the　multitude；　apparently　counting　them　as　then

entered　the　house　of　God；　looking　for　the　last　one　to　darken　the　door。　

The　impatience　and　anxiety　with　which　they　waited；　and　the　bliss

they　anticipated　on　the　eventful　day；　is　altogether　indescribable。　

Those　that　have　been　so　fortunate　as　to　embark　in　such　a　noble

enterprise　know　all　its　realities；　and　those　who　have　not　had　this

inestimable　privilege　will　have　to　taste　its　sweets　before　they　can

tell　to　others　its　joys；　its　comforts；　and　its　Heaven…born　worth。　

Immediately　after　Ambulinia　had　assisted　the　family　off　to　church；

she　took　advantage　of　that　opportunity　to　make　good　her　promises。　

She　left　a　home　of　enjoyment　to　be　wedded　to　one　whose　love　had

been　justifiable。　　A　few　short　steps　brought　her　to　the　presence

of　Louisa；　who　urged　her　to　make　good　use　of　her　time；　and　not

to　delay　a　moment；　but　to　go　with　her　to　her　brother's　house；

where　Elfonzo　would　forever　make　her　happy。　　With　lively　speed；

and　yet　a　graceful　air；　she　entered　the　door　and　found　herself

protected　by　the　champion　of　her　confidence。　　The　necessary

arrangements　were　fast　making　to　have　the　two　lovers　united

everything　was　in　readiness　except　the　parson；　and　as　they　are

generally　very　sanctimonious　on　such　occasions；　the　news　got

to　the　parents　of　Ambulinia　before　the　everlasting　knot　was　tied；

and　they　both　came　running；　with　uplifted　hands　and　injured　feelings；

to　arrest　their　daughter　from　an　unguarded　and　hasty　resolution。　

Elfonzo　desired　to　maintain　his　ground；　but　Ambulinia　thought

it　best　for　him　to　leave；　to　prepare　for　a　greater　contest。　

He　accordingly　obeyed；　as　it　would　have　been　a　vain　endeavor　for　him

to　have　battled　against　a　man　who　was　armed　with　deadly　weapons；

and　besides；　he　could　not　re