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in his own mind； but his gentlemanly honor was at stake； so he
concluded to address the following letter to the father and mother
of Ambulinia； as his address in person he knew would only aggravate
the old gentleman； and perhaps his lady。
Cumming； Ga。； January 22； 1844
Mr。 and Mrs。 Valeer
Again I resume the pleasing task of addressing you； and once more beg
an immediate answer to my many salutations。 From every circumstance
that has taken place； I feel in duty bound to comply with my obligations；
to forfeit my word would be more than I dare do； to break my pledge；
and my vows that have been witnessed； sealed； and delivered in the
presence of an unseen Deity； would be disgraceful on my part； as well
as ruinous to Ambulinia。 I wish no longer to be kept in suspense
about this matter。 I wish to act gentlemanly in every particular。
It is true； the promises I have made are unknown to any but Ambulinia；
and I think it unnecessary to here enumerate them； as they who
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