n at her cousin's the preceding evening, and that she
was not there. He also found that Beauman was not in town. Where to
search next, or what course to pursue, he was at a loss to determine.

The next morning he rose early and wandered about the town. As he passed
by the house of Melissa's cousin, he saw the lady, who had appeared at
the window, walking in the garden. Her air, her figure, had very much
the appearance of Melissa; but the lineaments of her countenance were,
when viewed by the light of day, widely dissimilar. Alonzo felt no
strong curiosity farther to examine her features, but passing on,
returned to his lodgings.

How he was now to proceed, Alonzo could not readily decide. To return to
his native place, appeared to be as useless as to tarry where he was.
For many weeks had he travelled and searched every place where he
thought it probable Melissa might be found, both among her relatives and
elsewhere. He had made every effort to obtain some clue to her removal
from the old mansion, but he could learn nothing but what he had been
told by John. If his friends should ever hear of her, they could not
inform him thereof, as no one knew where he was. Would it not,
therefore, be best for him to return back, and consult with his friends,
and if nothing had been heard of her, pursue some other mode of enquiry?
He might, at least, leave directions where his friends might write to
him, in case they should have any thing whereof to apprise him.

An incident tended to confirm this resolution. He one night dreamed that
he was sitting in a strange house, contemplating on his present
situation, when Melissa suddenly entered the room. Her appearance was
more pale, sickly and dejected, than when he last saw her. Her elegant
form had wasted away, her eyes were sunk, her cheeks fallen, her lips
livid. He fancied it to be night, she held a candle in her hand, smiling
languidly upon him;--she turned and went out of the room, beckoning him
to follow: he thought he immediately arose and followed her. She glided
through several winding rooms, and at length he lost sight of her, and
the light gradually fading away, he was involved in deep darkness.--He
groped along, and at length saw a faint distant glimmer, the course of
which he pursued, until he came into a large room, hung with black
tapestry, and illuminated by a number of bright tapers. On one side of
the room appeared a hearse, on which some person was laid: he went up to