e citizens to inhale its healthful
draught without their dwellings, where they had been several months in a
manner shut up from the inclemencies of the cold season.

One morning after the family had taken breakfast, they sat talking over
late events and recent occurrences that had varied so materially within
the last three months. In this conversation, they were unmindful of the
hour, until Mr. Bolton, without ceremony, (as was his custom,) entered
the breakfast parlour. After the usual salutations to her parents, and
conversing some time with his aunt, he addressed Alida with his native
pleasantry, relating to her some stories of the satirical order as the
current news of the city. He afterwards informed her of the conversation
between himself and her father, and in what manner the latter had
replied. Alida remained silent, with her eyes fixed upon the floor, as
if revolving in her mind what to say. In the meantime, he did not await
her reply, but entreated her in the most pathetic language to consent to
elope with him, and at all events to unite her destiny with his; at the
same time telling her that implicit obedience to a parent's will, in an
affair that so materially concerned her happiness, could not be
expected, and that her father was much to blame in attempting to control
her liberty of choice; saying, moreover, that after their views should
be accomplished, that he had no doubt whatever of his reconciliation. He
had lately received intelligence of the death of an uncle in Savannah,
who had bequeathed to him his fortune. He was preparing for his
departure thence. He would not, therefore, give up his former project,
and thought to avail himself of this opportunity, (by all the rhetoric
he was master of,) to urge Alida to accept him and accompany him on his
journey. He even proposed whither they should escape from the eye of her
father for the performance of the marriage ceremony.

Alida was truly shocked and surprised at a proposition so unexpected
from Mr. Bolton, after he had known her father's decision. She had never
considered him in any other light than as a brother; and being a
connexion in the family, they had always been on terms of friendly
intercourse. She, therefore, would have avoided this meeting if she
could have had previously an idea of the result.

After he had made to her these several propositions, her displeasure
held her for some time silent, while it affected her mind sensibly.
Neverthele