it--the first object that arrested his attention was the lovely form of
Melissa, shrouded in the sable vestments of death! Cold and lifeless,
she lay stretched upon the hearse, beautiful even in dissolution; the
dying smile of complacency had not yet deserted her cheek. The music of
her voice had ceased; her fine eyes had closed for ever. Insensible to
objects in which she once delighted; to afflictions which had blasted
her blooming prospects, and drained the streams of life, she lay like
blossomed trees of spring, overthrown by rude and boisterous winds. The
deep groans which convulsed the distracted bosom, and shocked the
trembling frame of Alonzo, broke the delusive charm: he awoke, rejoiced
to find it but a dream, though it impressed his mind with doleful and
portentous forebodings.

It was a long time before he could again close his eyes to sleep; he at
length fell into a slumber, and again he dreamed. He fancied himself
with Melissa, at the house of her father, who had consented to their
union, and that the marriage ceremony between them was there performed.
He thought that Melissa appeared as she had done in her most fortunate
and sprightly days, before the darts of adversity, and the thorns of
affliction, had wounded her heart. Her father seemed to be divested of
all his awful sternness, and gave her to Alonzo with cheerful freedom.
He awoke, and the horrors of his former dream were dissipated by the
happy influences of the last.

"Who knows, he said, but that this may finally be the case; but that the
sun of peace may yet dispel the glooms of these distressful hours!" He
arose, determined to return home in a few days. He went out and enjoyed
his morning walk in a more composed frame of spirits than he had for
some time experienced. He returned, and as he was entering the door he
saw the weekly newspaper of the town, which had been published that
morning, and which the carrier had just flung into the hall.----The
family had not yet arisen. He took up the paper, carried it to his
chamber, and opened it to read the news of the day. He ran his eye
hastily over it, and was about to lay it aside, when the death list
arrested his attention, by a display of broad black lines. The first
article he read therein was as follows:

"Died, of a consumption, on the 26th ult. at the seat of her uncle, Col.
W. D--, near Charleston, South Carolina, whither she had repaired for
her health, Miss Melissa D----, the amiable daug