you."

They then ascended a flight of stairs: the stranger opened the door of a
chamber--"The gentleman I mentioned to you madam," he said. Alonzo
entered; the stranger closed the door and retired. The lady was sitting
by a window at the lower end of the room, but arose as Alonzo was
announced. She was dressed in sky-blue silk, embroidered with spangled
lace; a gemmed _tiara_ gathered her hair, from which was suspended a
green veil, according to the mode of those times; a silken girdle, with
diamond clasps, surrounded her waist, and a brilliant sparkled upon her
bosom. "The stranger's description was not exaggerated, thought Alonzo;
for, except one, I have never seen a more elegant figure:" and he almost
wished the veil removed, that he might behold her features.

"You will please to be seated, sir, she said. I know not how--I feel an
inconceivable diffidence in making an excuse for the inconveniences my
silly caprices have given you."

Enchanting melody was in her voice! Alonzo knew not why, but it thrilled
his bosom, electrified his soul, and vibrated every nerve of his heart.
Confused and hurried sensations, melancholy, yet pleasing; transporting
as the recurrence of youthful joys, enrapturing as dreams of early
childhood, passed in rapid succession over his imagination!

She advanced towards him and turned aside her veil. Her eyes were
suffused, and tears streamed down her cheeks.--Alonzo started--his whole
frame shook--he gasped for breath!----"Melissa! he convulsively
exclaimed,--God of infinite wonders, it is Melissa!"

* * * * *

Again will the incidents of our history produce a pause. Our sentimental
readers will experience a recurrence of sympathetic sensibilities, and
will attend more eagerly to the final scene of our drama.----"Melissa
alive!" may they say--"impossible! Did not Alonzo see her death in the
public prints? Did not her cousin at New-London inform him of the
circumstances, and was he not in mourning? Did not the dying Beauman
confirm the melancholy fact? And was not the unquestionable testimony of
her brother Edgar sufficient to seal the truth of all this? Did not the
sexton's wife who knew not Alonzo, corroborate it? And did not Alonzo
finally read her name, her age, and the time of her death, on her
tomb-stone, which exactly accorded with the publication of her death in
the papers, and his own knowledge of her age? And is not this sufficient
to prove, clear