05-the enemy conquered-第9章

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promise　the　most　generally　perform　the　least。　　Can　you　for　a　moment

doubt　my　sincerity　or　my　character？　　My　only　wish　is；　sir；　that　you

may　calmly　and　dispassionately　look　at　the　situation　of　the　case；

and　if　your　better　judgment　should　dictate　otherwise；　my　obligations

may　induce　me　to　pluck　the　flower　that　you　so　diametrically　opposed。　

We　have　sword　by　the　saintsby　the　gods　of　battle；　and　by　that

faith　whereby　just　men　are　made　perfectto　be　united。　　I　hope；

my　dear　sir；　you　will　find　it　convenient　as　well　as　agreeable

to　give　me　a　favorable　answer；　with　the　signature　of　Mrs。　Valeer；

as　well　as　yourself。





With　very　great　esteem；



your　humble　servant；



J。　I。　Elfonzo。







The　moon　and　stars　had　grown　pale　when　Ambulinia　had　retired

to　rest。　　A　crowd　of　unpleasant　thoughts　passed　through　her　bosom。　

Solitude　dwelt　in　her　chamberno　sound　from　the　neighboring

world　penetrated　its　stillness；　it　appeared　a　temple　of　silence；

of　repose；　and　of　mystery。　　At　that　moment　she　heard　a　still　voice

calling　her　father。　　In　an　instant；　like　the　flash　of　lightning；

a　thought　ran　through　her　mind　that　it　must　be　the　bearer

of　Elfonzo's　communication。　　〃It　is　not　a　dream！〃　she　said；

〃no；　I　cannot　read　dreams。　　Oh！　　I　would　to　Heaven　I　was　near

that　glowing　eloquencethat　poetical　languageit　charms　the

mind　in　an　inexpressible　manner；　and　warms　the　coldest　heart。〃　

While　consoling　herself　with　this　strain；　her　father　rushed　into

her　room　almost　frantic　with　rage；　exclaiming：　　〃Oh；　Ambulinia！　

Ambulinia！！　undutiful；　ungrateful　daughter！　　What　does　this　mean？　

Why　does　this　letter　bear　such　heart…rending　intelligence？　

Will　you　quit　a　father's　house　with　this　debased　wretch；　without　a

place　to　lay　his　distracted　head；　going　up　and　down　the　country；

with　every　novel　object　that　many　chance　to　wander　through　this　region。　

He　is　a　pretty　man　to　make　love　known　to　his　superiors；　and　you；

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