ALONZO AND MELISSA, (continued 4)

The men, who were placed around the house, were stationed behind trees, stumps or rocks, and where no object presented, they lay flat on the ground, with orders not to stir, or to discover themselves, let what would ensue, unless some alarm should be given from the house.

Alonzo and Edgar were armed with pistols and side arms, and posted themselves with the five men in the chamber, taking care that the lights should not shine against the window shutters, so that nothing could be discovered from without. Things thus arranged, they observed almost an implicit silence, no one being allowed to speak, except in a low whisper.

For a long time no sound was heard except the hollow roar of the winds in the neighbouring forest, their whistling around the angles of the mansion, or the hoarse murmers of the distant surge. The night was dark, and only illuminated by the feeble twinkling of half clouded stars.

They had watched until about midnight, when they were alarmed by noises in the rooms below, among which they could distinguish footsteps and human voices. Alonzo and Edgar, then taking each a pistol in one hand, and a drawn sword in the other, ordered their men to follow them, prepared for action. Coming to the head of the stairs, they saw a brilliant light streaming into the hall; they therefore concluded to take no candles, and to prevent discovery they took off their shoes. When they came into the hall opposite the door of the room from whence the light and noises proceeded, they discovered ten men genteelly dressed, sitting around a table, on which was placed a considerable quantity of gold and silver coin, a number of glasses and several decanters of wine. Alonzo and his party stood a few minutes, listening to the following discourse, which took place among this ghostly gentry.

“Well, boys, we have made a fine haul this trip.”——“Yes, but poor Bob, though, was plump’d over by the d——d skulkers!”——“Aye, and had we not tugged bravely at the oars, they would have hook’d us.”——“Rascally cow-boys detained us too long.”——“Well, well, never mind it; let us knock around the wine, and then divide the spoil.”

At this moment, Alonzo and Edgar, followed by the five men, rushed into the room, crying. “Surrender, or you are all dead men!” In an instant the room was involved in pitchy darkness; a loud crash was heard, then a scampering about the floor, and a noise as if several doors shut to, with violence. They however gave the alarm to the men without, by loudly shouting “Look out;” and immediately the discharge of several guns was heard around the mansion. One of the men flew up stairs and brought a light; but, to their utter amazement, no person was to be discovered in the room except their own party. The table, with its apparatus, and the chairs on which these now invisible beings had sat, had all disappeared, not a single trace of them being left.

While they stood petrified with astonishment, the men from without called for admittance. The door being unlocked, they led in a stranger wounded, whom they immediately discovered to be one of those they had seen at the table.

The men who had been stationed around the mansion informed, that some time before the alarm was made, they saw a number of persons crossing the yard from the western part of the enclosure, towards the house; that immediately after the shout was given, they discovered several people running back in the same direction: they hailed them, which being disregarded, they fired upon them, one of whom they brought down, which was the wounded man they had brought in. The others, though they pursued them, got off.

The prisoner’s wound was not dangerous, the ball had shattered his arm, and glanced upon his breast. They dressed his wound as well as they could, and then requested him to unfold the circumstances of the suspicious appearance in which he was involved.

“First promise me, on your honour, said the stranger, that you will use your influence to prevent my being punished or imprisoned.”

This they readily agreed to, on condition that he would conceal nothing from them—and he gave them the following relation:

That they were a part of a gang of illicit traders; men who had combined for the purpose of carrying on a secret and illegal commerce with the British army on Long Island, whom, contrary to the existing laws, they supplied with provisions, and brought off English goods, which they sold at very extortionate prices. But this was not all; they also brought over large quantities of counterfeit continental money, which they put off among the Americans for live stock, poultry, produce, &c. which they carried to the Island. The counterfeit money they purchased by merely paying for the printing; the British having obtained copies of the American emission, struck immense quantities of it in New-York, and insidiously sent it out into the country, in order to sink our currency.

This gang was likewise connected with the cow-boys, who made it their business to steal, not only milch cows, and other cattle, but also hogs and sheep, which they drove by night to some convenient place on the shores of the Sound, where these thief-partners received them, and conveyed them to the British.

“In our excursions across the Sound, continued the wounded man, we had frequently observed this mansion, which, from every appearance, we were convinced was uninhabited:—we therefore selected it as a suitable place for our future rendezvous, which had therefore been only in the open woods. To cross the moat, we dragged up an old canoe from the sea shore, which we concealed in the bushes as soon as we recrossed from the old mansion. To get over the wall we used ladders of ropes, placing a flat piece of thick board on the top of the spikes driven into the wall. We found more difficulty in getting into the house:—we however at length succeeded, by tearing away a part of the back wall, where we fitted in a door so exactly, and so nicely painted it, that it could not be distinguished from the wall itself. This door was so constructed, that on touching a spring, it would suddenly fly open, and when unrestrained, would shut to with violence. Finding the apartment so eligible for our purpose, and fearing that at some future time we might be disturbed either by the owner of the building or some tenant, we cut similar doors into every room of the house, so that on an emergency we could traverse every apartment without access to the known doors. Trap-doors on a similar construction, communicated with the cellar:—the table, which you saw us sitting around, stood on one of those, which, on your abrupt appearance, as soon as the candles were extinguished, was with its contents, precipitated below, and we made our escape by those secret doors, judging, that although you had seen us, if we could get off, you would be unable to find out any thing which might lead to our discovery.

“A circumstance soon occurred, which tended to embarrass our plans, and at first seemed to menace their overthrow. Our assembling at the mansion was irregular, as occasion and circumstances required; often not more than once a week, but sometimes more frequent, and always in the night.—Late one night, as we were proceeding to the mansion, and had arrived near it, suddenly one of the chamber windows was opened and a light issued from within. We entered the house with caution, and soon discovered that some person was in the chamber from whence we had seen the light. We remained until all was silent, and then entered the chamber by one of our secret doors, and to our inexpressible surprise, beheld a beautiful young lady asleep on the only bed in the room. We cautiously retired, and reconnoitering all parts of the mansion, found that she was the only inhabitant except ourselves. The singularity of her being there alone, is a circumstance we have never been able to discover, but it gave us fair hopes of easily procuring her ejectment. We then immediately withdrew, and made preparations to dispossess the fair tenant of the premises to which we considered ourselves more properly entitled, as possessing a prior incumbency.

“We did not effect the completion of our apparatus under three or four days. As soon as we were prepared, we returned to the mansion. As we approached the house, it appears the lady heard us, for again she suddenly flung up a window and held out a candle: we skulked from the light, but feared she had a glimpse of us.—After we had got into the house we were still until we supposed her to be asleep, which we found to be the case on going to her chamber.

“We then stationed one near her bed, who, by a loud rap on the floor with a cane, appeared to arouse her in a fright. Loud noises were then made below, and some of them ran heavily up the stairs which led to her chamber; the person stationed in the room whispering near her bed—she raised herself up, and he fled behind the curtains. Soon after she again lay down; he approached nearer the bed with a design to lay his hand, on which he had drawn a thin sheet-lead glove, across her face; but discovering her arm on the out side of the bedclothes, he grasped it—she screamed and sprang up in the bed; the man then left the room.

“As it was not our intention to injure the lady, but only to drive her from the house, we concluded we had sufficiently alarmed her, and having extinguished the lights, were about to depart, when we heard her descending the stairs. She came down and examined the doors, when one of our party, in a loud whisper, crying ”away! away;” she darted up stairs, and we left the house.

“We did not return the next night, in order to give her time to get off; but the night after we again repaired to the mansion, expecting that she had gone, but we were disappointed. As it was late when we arrived, she was wrapped in sleep, and we found that more forcible measures must be resorted to before we could remove her, and for such measures we were amply prepared.”

The stranger then unfolded the mysteries of that awful night, when Melissa was so terrified by horrible appearances. One of the tallest and most robust of the gang, was attired, as has been described, when he appeared by her bed side. The white robe was an old sheet, stained in some parts with a liquid red mixture; the wound in his breast was artificial, and the blood issuing therefrom was only some of this mixture, pressed from a small bladder, concealed under his robe. On his head and face he wore a mask, with glass eyes——the mask was painted to suit their purposes. The bloody dagger was of wood, and painted.

Thus accoutred, he took his stand near Melissa’s bed, having first blown out the candles she had left burning, and discharged a small pistol. Perceiving this had awakened her, a train of powder was fired in the adjoining room opposite the secret door, which was left open, in order that the flash might illuminate her apartment; then several large cannon balls were rolled through the rooms over her head, imitative of thunder. The person in her room then uttered a horrible groan, and gliding along by her bed, took his stand behind the curtains, near the foot. The noises below, the cry of murder, the firing of the second pistol, and the running up stairs, were all corresponding scenes to impress terror on her imagination. The pretended ghost then advanced in front of her bed, while lights were slowly introduced, which first shone faintly, until they were ushered into the room by the private door, exhibiting the person before her in all his horrific appearances. On her shrieking, and shrinking into the bed, the lights were suddenly extinguished, and the person, after commanding her to be gone in a hoarse voice, passed again to the foot of the bed, shook it violently, and made a seeming attempt to get upon it, when, perceiving her to be springing up, he fled out of the room by the secret door, cautiously shut it, and joined his companions.

The operators had not yet completed their farce, or rather, to Melissa, tragedy. They had framed an image of paste-board, in human shape, arrayed it in black, its eyes being formed of large pieces of what is vulgarly called

fox-fire

,

*

made into the likeness of human eyes, some

of the same

material being placed in its mouth, around which was a piece of the

thinnest

scarlet tiffany, in order to make it appear of a flame colour. They had also constructed a large combustible ball, of several thicknesses of paste-board, to which a match was placed. The image was to be conveyed into her room, and placed, in the dark, before her bed;—

&

while in that position, the ball was to be rubbed over with phosphorus, the match set on fire, and rolled across her chamber, and when it burst, the image was to vanish, by being suddenly conveyed out of the private door, which was to close the scene for that night. But as Melissa had now arisen and

lighted

candles, the plan was defeated.

While they were consulting how to proceed, they heard her unlock her chamber door, and slowly descend the stairs. Fearing a discovery, they retired with their lights, and the person who had been in her chamber, not having yet stripped off his ghostly habiliments, laid himself down on one side of the hall. The man who had the image, crowded himself with it under the stairs she was descending. On her dropping the candle, when she turned to flee to her chamber, from the sight of the same object which had appeared at her bed-side, the person under the stairs presented the image at their foot, and at the same instant the combustible ball was prepared, and rolled through the hall; and when on its bursting she fainted, they began to grow alarmed; but on finding that she recovered and regained her chamber, they departed, for that time, from the house.

“Our scheme, continued the wounded man, had the desired effect. On returning a few evenings after, we found the lady gone and the furniture removed. Several attempts were afterwards made to occupy the house, but we always succeeded in soon frightening the inhabitants away.”

Edgar and Alonzo then requested their prisoner to show them the springs of the secret doors, and how they were opened. The springs were sunk in the wood, which being touched by entering a gimblet hole with a piece of pointed steel, which each of the gang always had about him, the door would fly open, and fasten again in shutting to. On opening the trap-door over which the gang had sat when they first discovered them, they found the table and chairs, with the decanters broken, and the money, which they secured. In one part of the cellar they were shown a kind of cave, its mouth covered with boards and earth—here the company kept their furniture, and to this place would they have removed it, had they not been so suddenly frightened away. The canoe they found secreted in the bushes beyond the canal.

It was then agreed that the man should go before the proper authorities in a neighbouring town, and there, as state’s evidence, make affidavit of what he had recited, and as complete a developement of the characters concerned in the business as possible, when he was to be released. The man enquired to what town they were to go, which, when they had informed him, “Then, said he, it will be in my power to perform one deed of justice before I leave the country, as leave it I must, immediately after I have given in my testimony, or I shall be assassinated by some of those who will be implicated in the transaction I have related.”

He then informed them, that while he, with the gang, was prosecuting the illicit trade, a British ship came and anchored in the Sound, which they supplied with provisions, but that having at one time a considerable quantity on hand, the ship sent its boat on shore, with an officer and five men, to fetch it; the officer came with them on shore, leaving the men in the boat: “As we were about to carry the provisions on board the boat, continued the man, a party of Americans fired upon us, and wounded the officer in the thigh, who fell: “I shall be made prisoner, said he, taking out his purse; keep this, and if I live and regain my liberty, perhaps you may have an opportunity of restoring it:—alarm the boat’s crew, and shift for yourselves.” The boat was alarmed, returned to the ship, and we saved ourselves by flight.

“This happened about four months ago; the ship soon after sailed for New York, and the officer was imprisoned in the gaol of the town to which we are to go; I can therefore restore him his purse.”

The man farther informed them, that they had several times come near being taken, and the last trip they were fired upon, and one of their party killed.

They immediately set out for the aforesaid town, after having dismissed their fifteen men; and when they arrived there, Alonzo and Edgar accompanied their prisoner to the gaol. On making the proper enquiries, they were conducted into a dark and dirty apartment of the gaol, where were several prisoners in irons. The British officer was soon distinguished among them by his regimentals. Though enveloped in filth and dust, his countenance appeared familiar to Alonzo; and on a few moments recollection, he recognized in the manacled officer, the generous midshipman, Jack Brown, who had so disinterestedly relieved him, when he escaped from the prison in London!

In the fervency of his feelings, Alonzo flew to him and clasped him in his arms. “What do I behold! he cried. My friend, my brave deliverer, in chains in my own country!”

“The fortune of war, boy! said Jack—it might have been worse. But my lad, I am heartily glad to see you; how has it fared with you since you left Old England?”—“We will talk of that by and by,” said Alonzo.

There were then some American officers of distinction in town, with whom Edgar was acquainted, to whom he applied for the relief of the noble sailor;——and as there were several other British prisoners in the gaol it was agreed that a cartel should be immediately sent to New York to exchange them. Alonzo had, therefore, the satisfaction to see the irons knocked off of his liberal hearted benefactor, and his prison doors opened.

The man they had taken at the mansion, returned him his purse, containing only twenty-five guineas, of which Jack gave him ten. “There, boy, said he, you have been honest, so I will divide with you.”

They then repaired to an inn. Jack, whose wound was healed, was put under the hands of a barber, cleaned, furnished with a change of clothes, and soon appeared in a new attitude.

He informed Alonzo, that soon after he left England, his ship was ordered for America: that the price of provisions growing high, it had taken almost all his wages to support his family; that he had sent home his last remittance just before he was taken, reserving only the twenty-five guineas which had been restored him that day.—“But I have never despaired, said he; the great Commodore of life orders all for the best. My tour of duty is to serve my king and country, and provide for my dear Poll and her chicks, which, if I faithfully perform, I shall gain the applause of the Commander.”

When the cartel was ready to depart, Alonzo, taking Jack apart from the company, presented him with a draught of five hundred pounds sterling, on a merchant in New York, who privately transacted business with the Americans. “Take this, my friend, said he; you can ensure it by converting it into bills of exchange on London. Though you once saw me naked, I can now conveniently spare this sum, and it may assist you in buffeting the billows of life.”—The generous tar shed tears of gratitude, and Alonzo enjoyed the pleasure of seeing him depart, calling down blessings on the head of his reciprocal benefactor.

The man who came with Alonzo and Edgar from the mansion, then went before the magistrates of the town, and gave his testimony and affidavit, by which it appeared that several eminent characters of Connecticut were concerned in this illicit trade. They then released him, gave him the money they had found in the cellar at the mansion, and he immediately left the town. Precepts were soon after issued for a number of those traders; several were taken, among whom were some of the gang, and others who were only concerned—but most of them absconded, so that the company and their plans were broken up.

When Alonzo and Edgar returned home and related their adventure, they were all surprised at the fortitude of Melissa in being enabled to support her spirits in a solitary mansion, amidst such great, and so many terrors.

It was now that Alonzo turned his attention to future prospects. It was time to select a place for domestic residence. He consulted Melissa, and she expressively mentioned the little secluded village, where

they

projected scenes of connubial bliss, and planned the structure of their family edifice

*

.

This intimation

accorded Alonzo. The

site formerly marked out, with an adjoining farm, was immediately purchased, and suitable buildings erected, to which Alonzo and Melissa removed the ensuing summer.

The clergyman of the village having recently died in a good old age, Edgar was called to the pastoral charge of this unsophisticated people. Here did Melissa and Alonzo repose after the storms of adversity were past. Here did they realize all the happiness which the sublunary hand of time apportions to mortals. The varying seasons diversified their joys, except when Alonzo was called with the militia of his country, wherein he bore an eminent commission, to oppose the enemy; and this was not unfrequent, as in his country’s defence he took a very conspicuous part. Then would anxiety, incertitude, and disconsolation possess the bosom of Melissa, until dissipated by his safe return. But the happy termination of the war soon removed all cause of these disquietudes.

Soon after the close of the war, Alonzo received a letter from his friend, Jack Brown, dated at an interior parish in England,—in which, after pouring forth abundance of gratitude, he informed, that on returning to England he procured his discharge from the navy, sold his house, and removed into the country, where he had set up an inn with the sign of The Grateful American. “You have made us all happy, said he; my dear Poll blubbered like a fresh water sailor in a hurricane, when I told her of your goodness. My wife, my children, all hands upon deck are yours. We have a good run of business, and are now under full sail, for the land of prosperity.”

Edgar married to one of the Miss Simpsons, whose father’s seat was in the vicinity of the village. The parents of Alonzo and Melissa were their frequent visitors, as were also Vincent and his lady, with many others of their acquaintance, who all rejoiced in their happy situation, after such a diversity of troubles. Alfred was generally once a year their guest, until at length he married and settled in the mercantile business in Charleston, South Carolina.

To our hero and heroine, the rural charms of their secluded village were a source of ever pleasing variety. Spring, with its verdured fields, flowery meads, and vocal groves: its vernal gales, purling rills, and its evening whippoorwill: summer, with its embowering shades, reflected in the glassy lake, and the long, pensive, yet sprightly notes of the solitary strawberry-bird;* its lightning and its thunder; autumn with its mellow fruit, its yellow foliage and decaying verdure; winter, with its hoarse, rough blasts, its icy beard and snowy mantle, all tended to thrill with sensations of pleasing transition, the feeling bosoms of Alonzo and Melissa.

Interview between Alonzo and Melissa’s Father.

Frontispiece from 1870? New York edition of Alonzo and Melissa.

1804 1811 1851/64 1870?

In the time of the late American revolution ... the late revolution

at the day appointed on the day appointed

her aspect was attempered with a pensive mildness her aspect was tempered ...

For far beyond the pride and pomp of power . . . The heaven embosom’d sun; the rainbow’s die For far beyond the pride and pomp of power . . . The heaven embosom’d sun; the rainbow’s dye For far beyond the pride or pomp of power . . . The heaven embosom’d sun; the rainbow’s die

a few days, during which time they passed in visiting select friends and in social parties ... and social parties a few days, which time they passed in was visiting select friends and in social parties

the sound of various instrumental music ... of instrumental music

mortgages on lands and houses for security ... securities

attracted him hither. If he had admired the manly virtues of the brother, could he fail to adore the sublimer graces attracted him thither. If he had admired the manly virtues of the brother, could he fail to adore the sublime graces

the milder and more refined excellencies of the other ... of the latter

He came regularly, about once in two or three months He came regularly, once in ...

It was not probable, therefore, that he would be objectionable to Melissa’s friends—Nor to Melissa herself——said Alonzo, with an involuntary sigh. “It is not probable therefore that he will be objectionable to Melissa’s friends or to Melissa herself,” said Alonzo, with an involuntary sigh.

Was it not then highly probable that he had secured her affections? Was it not highly probable then that ...

the foliage glittering to the western ray ... glittering the western ray ... glittering in the western ray

the extremest verge of the horizon. “This is a most beautiful scene,” said Melissa. the extreme verge of the horizon. “This is a most beautiful scene,” said Melissa. the extreme verge of the horizon. “This is a most delightful scene,” said Melissa.

he was not always my beau-man he was not always my Beauman

He formally addresses you. He formerly. same as 1804

Al. Melissa. [A pause ensued.] .... [A pause.]

but his fears declared otherways ... otherwise

friendship must yield its pretensions to a superior claim friendship must yield to a superior claim

Were Beauman here, my position might be demonstrated Was Beauman here ...

She was still silent. She was silent.

Mel. (confused.) If it be a proper one. You are entitled to candour. ... If it be a proper one you are ...

her voice tremulous, her eyes still cast down.) My parents have informed me that it is improper to receive the particular addresses of more than one. ... the particular address of more than one. same as 1804 her voice trembles ...

But— (she hesitated.) But (she blushed.)

Darted her silvery intercepted ray Darted his silvery ... same as 1804

nor had they attempted to influence or forestal her choice ... to influence or direct her choice

We must pour a liberal libation upon the mystic altar We must pour out a liberal libation to the mystic altar

And why have I ever doubted this event“ said Alonzo. ”What infatuation hath thus led me on the pursuit of fantastic and unreal bliss? And why have I doubted this event“ said Alonzo. ”What infatuation hath thus led me on to the pursuit ...

and will convince both Melissa and Beauman and I will convince Melissa and Beauman

she has treated me as a friend to her brother. She was the unsuspecting object of my passion. She was unconscious of the flame she has treated me as a friend to her brother. She was unconscious of the flame

said that business had prevented him; he esteemed him as his most valued friend said that business prevented him; he esteemed him as his most valuable friend

to which you attended me when you was last here ... when you last was here

The solemn herds lowed in monotonous symphony. The autumnal insects in sympathetic wailings plaintively predicted ... insects in sympathetic waftings ... ... insects in sympathetic wafting ... ... lowed in solemn symphony. The autumnal insects in sympathetic wafting ...

the rude despoiling hand of winter the despoiling hand of winter

She was still silent She was silent.

The “stilly sound” of the low murmuring brook The “slitty sound” ... The distant sound ...

the frequent lights darted their paly lustre thro’ the gloom ... their palely lustre ... ... their pale lustre ...

but other subjects engaged the mental attention of Alonzo but the other subject ...

Alonzo and Beauman pledged their honour to abide explicitly by these injunctions ... abide implicitly by these injunctions ... abide implicitly to these injunctions

That time has now arrived That time has arrived

the deep and solemn silence of night the deep and sullen silence of night

bowed to the minutia of female volatility bowed to the minutiae of female volatility

Note that “minutiae” is the correct form. All earlier versions, including the 1804 original, have the incorrect word “minutia”.

finally appointed a day to give both him and Alonzo a determinate answer ... to give him and Alonzo a determinate answer

to make a journey into a different part of the country to make a journey to a distant part ...

thither he hasted to gain shelter from the approaching storm thither he hastened ...

In a moment he discovered that it was Melissa. In a moment, however, he discovered that it was Melissa.

Alonzo felt all the force of the remark Alonzo felt the force ...

remaining beauties of Summer remaining beauties of the summer

the battle at Lexington, followed soon after by the battle at Bunker’s Hill the battle at Lexington, followed soon after by the battle at Bunker Hill the battle of Lexington, followed soon after by the battle of Bunker Hill

Alonzo and she frequently discoursed upon the subject, and they agreed Alonzo and she frequently discoursed, and they agreed

orchards, arbours, and cultured fields ... cultivated fields

The inhabitants of this modern Avernum ... Auvernum [sic]

Such was the place chosen for the future residence of Alonzo and Melissa Such was the place for the residence ...

the confused noise of the warrior, and garments rolled in blood ... of the warriors ...

this modern Vacluse [sic] this modern Vaucluse

the walks, the meads, the fountains the walks, the mead, the fountains

Around the horizon electric clouds raised their brazen summits, based in the black vapor of approaching night Around the horizon clouds raised their brazen summits, based on the ...

and the adjacent towns and villages, presented to the eye, on a single view, perhaps one of the most picturesque draperies and the adjacent towns and villages, perhaps one of the most picturesque draperies

she had an uncle who lived near Charleston, in South Carolina she had an uncle near Charleston, South Carolina

was expected to arrive before the appointed marriage day ... before the appointed day

He would frequently start up in the bed ... in bed

He scarcely spoke a word, and after the table was removed ... after the cloth was removed

that the reputation of my latter days was stained with acts of baseness and meanness. ... with acts of baseness.

I had some hopes that your happiness, Alonzo, might yet be secured ... might be secured

We would not stop the reader to moralize on this disastrous event We will not ...

I know the old gentleman too well I know that old gentleman too well

fringed with the gold of even fringed with the gold of evening

Her countenance appeared dejected, which on her seeing Alonzo ... which on seeing Alonzo ... appeared to be dejected, which on her seeing Alonzo

Thus spake my father, and immediately withdrew Thus spoke my father, and immediately withdrew

Mr. and Mrs. Vincent are now my only confidents ... confidants

but the sound, late so cheerful and sprightly but the sound, so cheerful and sprightly

a deep dejection was depicted upon her features ... in her features

Alonzo was received with a cool reserve ... a cold reserve

Melissa’s father soon entered Melissa’s father entered

if you marry in your present situation? I know you have talents and have had an education. But what are they without means? You have friends if you marry in your present situation? You have friends

the hand of Melissa.” Thus spake the father of Melissa, and immediately left the room. the hand of Melissa”—and immediately left the room.

it was a shock their fortitude could scarcely sustain ... scarcely contain

Disappointment seldom finds its votaries prepared to receive her ... her votaries ...

but could not counteract the will of her father but could not contradict the will of her father

after Alonzo had related the manner of his reception after Alonzo had related his reception

of little consequence. But their united situation tortured his soul.—What was to become of Melissa, what of himself of little consequence. But what was to become of Melissa, what of himself

With part of this I have purchased a small, but well cultivated farm With this I have ...

a ray of joy illumined his troubled bosom a ray of joy illuminated his troubled bosom

Like morn’s gay hues, the fading splendors fled Like morn’s gray hues ...

He thought on Melissa, from whom he had heard nothing since he last saw her.—He thought on the difficulties which surrounded him. He thought on the barriers which were opposed to his happiness He thought of ... thought of ... thought of

The day after you left here, her father received a letter The day after you were here ...

“Where is your fortitude and your firmness,” said he “Where,” said he, "is your fortitude and your firmness “Where is your fortitude and firmness,” said he

war ends in peace wars end in peace

transports them to another and a better world transports them to another and better world same as 1804

but where, alas were the means of alleviation? but alas! where were ...

ordered her to prepare to become the wife of Beauman ordered her to become the wife of Beauman

You suffer the Jack-a-lantern fancy to lead you ... Jack-with-a-lantern ...

Marry Beauman, and you roll in your coach ... you will roll in your coach

I give you now two days to consider the matter ... to consider of the matter

bordered with the odor-flowering lilac bordered with the odour-flowing lilac

He turned, and saw Edgar approaching: in a moment they were in each other’s arms, and mingled tears He turned round and saw Edgar approaching: in a moment they were in each other’s arms, and mingling tears

You, Alonzo, must exert your fortitude You, Alonzo, must ever exert your fortitude

It must, I think, ere long, be determined ... be terminated

it is in your power to remove them; and if you are a man of honour you will remove them. You cannot wish it is in your power to remove them. You cannot wish

half squeaking through her nose, which was well charged with rappee, “did’nt I tell you so? I knew the fellow would come to no terms ... I knew the fellow would not come to terms half speaking through her nose, which was well charged with rappee, “did’nt I tell you so? I knew the fellow would not come to terms

And I should not wonder if you should soon find that the girl had eloped, and your desk robbed into the bargain.” ... find the girl had eloped, and your desk robbed in the bargain I should not wonder if you should soon find the girl had eloped, and your desk robbed in the bargain

his eyes flashed resentment his eyes flashed in resentment his eyes flashed with resentment

unless she was already apprised of it unless she was apprised of it unless she was appraised of it

the feeble glimmer of the twinkling stars the feeble glimmering of the twinkling stars

“Thou still knowest me, Curlow,” said Alonzo ... Carlow ...

Here all was solemn, dark and silent as in front Here all was solemn and silent as in front

Be calm, Alonzo, said she, I think it will not long last ... not last long

I believe they will trust me to see her I believe they will let me see her

“Unfeeling and impertinent intruder (retorted Alonzo) ... intruder, [retorted Alonzo] ... intruder? retorted Alonzo ... intruder? retorted Alonzo

and were it on no other account, must ever continue to despise and hate you and were it not on one other account ... and were it not on one other account, must ever continue to hate and despise you

From a coincidence of consequences From coincidence of circumstances

the family had retired to rest the family had gone to rest

Alonzo’s feelings were on the wrack until she returned ... on the wreck until she returned ... on the rack until she returned

Melissa’s aunt (the old maid) had invited her to ride out with her Melissa’s aunt had ...

he had sent their daughter to a different part of the country ... a distant part of the country

living with the different relatives of the family living with the relatives of the family

He sat silent a few moments; then suddenly started up ... suddenly starting up

Melissa had not, indeed, the most distant suspicion of the designs of her father and aunt. The latter informed her that she was going to take a morning’s ride, to which she consented. She did not even perceive the trunk which was fastened on behind the carriage Melissa had not the most distant suspicion of the designs of her father and aunt. The latter informed her that she was going to take a morning ride, to which she consented. She did not even perceive the trunk that was fastend [sic] on behind the carriage

Melissa had frequently attended her father or mother ... her father and mother

her aunt ordered the driver to proceed a different way her aunt had ordered ...

They arrived at another small village They arrived at another village

Melissa’s aunt, handing the driver a large bunch of keys Melissa’s aunt handed the driver ...

“La me!” she cried “La me!” cried she

the opposite side of the house from whence she alighted ... from where she alighted

This was done, while John and his wife went out, and Melissa’s aunt This done, while John and his wife went out, Melissa’s aunt

hoping to see the return of the carriage hoping to see the carriage return

surrounded by high, thick walls surrounded by a high, thick wall

They unlocked the door, which creaked heavily on its hinges ... the door, which screaked ... same as 1804

as I have took care to lock all the doors and gates after me as I have taken care ...

circumstances have hitherto hindered my carrying the scheme into effect circumstances have hitherto hindered me from carrying my scheme into effect

She started up, stared around her with a wild and agonizing countenance ... a wild agonizing countenance

She remained seemingly insensible throughout the night: just at morning, she fell into a slumber, interrupted by incoherent moanings, convulsive startings, long sighs She remained seemingly insensible through the night: just at morning, she fell into a slumber, interrupted by incoherent moanings, convulsive startings, long drawn sighs

taking the key of that with her. She generally returned before sunset. When Melissa was so far recovered taking the key of that with her. When Melissa was so far recovered

A few medical and odoriferous herbs A few medinical [sic] and odoriferous herbs A few medicinal and odoriferous herbs

The out buildings were generally in a ruinous situation ... in a ruinous condition

through several upper rooms to the chamber she inhabited ... the chamber they inhabited

West, all was wilderness, from a brook which wound along at a little distance from the garden wall. North, were the uneven grounds she had crossed when she came there ... from which a brook wound along ... ... from which a brook wound along a little distance from the garden wall.... ... from which a brook wound along a little distance from the garden wall. North, were the uneven grounds which she had crossed when she came there

South, was the Sound and Long Island South, was the Sound of Long Island

Melissa passed much of her time in tracing the ruins Melissa passed much time in tracing the ruins

She could have been contented here to have buried all her afflictions ... buried her afflictions

while the disconsolate tear of reflection glittered in her eye while the disconsolate tear glittered in her eye

more solicitous and importunate. A subject so hateful to Melissa sometimes provoked her to tears; at others her keen resentment more solicitous and impertinent.... more solicitous and impertinent. A subject so hateful to Melissa sometimes provoked her to tears; at other her keen resentment same as 1811

Melissa sat up until a late hour, expecting her; she then went to the gate ... a late hour in the night, expecting her; she went to the gate ... a late hour of the night, expecting her; she went to the gate

“I had forgotten,” said her aunt, “that my rents became due this week ... that my rents become due this week

she heard a noise as of several people trampling in the yard below she heard a noise of several people ...

It was extremely dark, she could discern nothing. All was still and she thought she might have been deceived It was extremely dark; she thought she might have been discovered

to collect some debts of those to whom she had rented lands ... rented some lands

and in the day time, in walking around the yard and garden and in the day, in walking ...

She stepped softly to the window, suddenly raised it, and held out the candle. She fancied she saw the glimpse of two or three dark forms pass swiftly along, but so indistinctly that it was impossible to determine whether they were real, or only shadows produced by objects intervening the light of the candle. She listened and gazed She stepped softly to the window, suddenly raised it, and held out the candle. She listened and gazed

All was still; she shut the window, and in a short time went to bed All was silent ...

she heard loud noises in the rooms below she heard noises in the rooms below

a cold chilly sweat ran down her face ... run down her face

grasped her arm which lay on the outside of the bed clothes grasped her arm which lay outside of the bed clothes

no visible being was in the room except herself. She sat down, pondering these strange events. Was it not possible that she was right .... Was it not probable that she was right no visible being was in the room except herself; how then could she account for these events? Was it not probable that she was right

Might not this be the effect of a terrified and heated imagination? Or if false keys had been made use of to enter the rooms below, might they not be also used to enter her chamber? But could her room Might not this be the effect of a terrified and heated imagination? But could her room

She knew she could not sleep She knew she could not go to sleep

The moon had arisen and cast a pale, imperfect lustre over the landscape. She recollected the opening and shutting of the doors—perhaps they were still open The moon had arisen and cast a pale lustre over the landscape. She recollected the opening and shutting of the door—perhaps they were still open

She examined the others; they were in the same situation ... they were all in the same situation

As soon as her scattered senses collected, she concluded that whoever had been in the house were there still ... whatever had been in the house was there still As soon as her senses were collected, she concluded that whatever had been in the house was there still

ascended in pyramidal columns to the zenith ascended in pyramidial columns to the zenith ascended in pyramidical columns the zenith

A small spot of ineffable brightness succeeded A spot of ...

both sides of it were smoothe [sic] as glass ... as smooth as glass

The events of the past night, therefore, remained inscrutable The events of the last night ...

the gate opened and the house entered by the means of false keys. Her father would as soon do this as to confine her ... by means of false keys. Her father would as soon do this as to confine her ... by false keys. Her father would as soon do this as confine her

Innumerous stars glittered in the firmament, intermingling their quivering lustre with the pale splendours of the milkyway [sic] Innumerable stars glittered in the firmament, intermingling their quivering lustre with the pale splendours of the milk way Innumerable stars glittered in the firmament, intermingling their quivering lustre with the pale splendours of the milky way

But why should she fear? She knew of no one she had injured. She knew of none she had displeased But why should she fear? She knew of none she had displeased

the horizon was overclouded, and it had begun to rain ... and it began to rain

convinced that she was safe and secure, she concluded to go to bed convinced that she was safe and secure, she went to bed

leaving, however, two candles burning in the room. As she for two nights had been deprived of her usual rest leaving, however, candles burning in the room. As she for two nights had been deprived of her rest

a broad flash like that of lightning, transiently illuminated her chamber a broad flash like lightning, transiently illuminated the chamber

the sounds seemed to be in the rooms directly over her head the sound seemed to be in the room ...

filled the house with the electric effluvium. She listened for a repetition of the thunder—but a very different sound soon grated filled the house with electric effluvium. She listened for a repetition of the thunder—but a very different sound grated

the doors below alternately open and shut, flapping furiously the doors below alternately open and shut, slapping furiously

The 1804 text uses long “s". The reading ”flapping" is the transcriber’s best guess, but the condition of the text does not allow certainty.

she perceived some person crawling on to its foot ... on its foot

instantaneously she sprang from the bed to the floor—with convulsive grasp, seized the candle ... with convulsed grasp, seized the candle instantly she sprang from the bed to the floor—with convulsed grasp, seized the candle

she was alarmed by a deep, hollow sigh she heard a deep, hollow sigh

Not the least noise had been heard since she last returned ... since she returned

Towards evening Melissa took her usual walk around the enclosure ... took a walk around the enclosure

the light gales bore revigorating coolness the light gales bore invigorating coolness

the flowery verdure of the fields were changing to a russet hue ... was changed to a russet hue the flowery verdure of the field was changed to a russet hue

hammering on the hollow trunk of some dry and blasted tree, filled the woods with reverberant echoes hammering on some dry and blasted trees ... hammering on some dry and blasted trees, filled the woods with reverberating echoes

the images of departed joys the images of departing joys

in this house of gloom rest, in undisturbed silence in this house of gloom rests ...

throughout these now solitary demesnes throughout these solitary demesnes

yonder halls and apartments shone with brilliant illumination. Now all is sad, solitary and dreary, the haunt of sprites and spectres of nameless terror yonder halls and apartments shone in brilliant illumination. Now all is sad, solitary and dreary, the haunt of spirits and spectres of nameless terror

All that now remains of the head that formed, the hand that executed ... the head that formed and the hand that executed

the rising shower, which slowly ascended in gloomy pomp the rising shower, which ascended in gloomy pomp

The lightning more broader and brighter flashed The lightning broader and brighter flashed The lightning broader and brighter flashes

Convolving clouds pouring smoky volumes Convolving clouds poured smoky volumes

Slantways, the large heavy drops of rain began to descend Slant-wise ...

It seemed nothing less than the crush of worlds ... the crash of worlds

pass another night in the lonely mansion ... the lone mansion

a voice behind her exclaimed, “Gracious heaven! Melissa!” a voice exclaimed ...

“No one except myself, Alonzo,” she answered “No one except myself,” she answered

He followed her up to her apartment and seated himself by the fire He followed her to her apartment ...

separated from society, and no one present to interrupt them separated from society, and no one to interrupt them

Alonzo and Melissa heard little of it ... heard a little of it ... heard but little of it

what course her aunt and she had taken what course her aunt had taken

where he accidentally found Melissa on a visit, as mentioned before [Footnote] See page 26. [no footnote]

desiring Alonzo to remain at his house until he returned desiring Alonzo to remain until he returned

they were deeply interested in his favour and the welfare of Melissa ... in his affairs and in the welfare of Melissa

It is possible that Melissa is It is not possible but that Melissa is

At length a large, tall tree, which stood near him, on the verge of the moat, or rather, in that place, river, was hurled from its foundation At length a large tree, which stood near him, on the verge of the moat, or rather in that place, was hurled from its foundation

He scrambled up on the trunk, and made his way on to the wall ... made his way on the wall

found the door open, which Melissa had left so in her fright ... had left in her fright

they could not endure the idea of another and an immediate separation ... another and immediate separation

It would not be safe for Alonzo to stay there It would not be safe for Alonzo to stay

I would not wish unjustly to censure your father I would not censure your father

Melissa sighed, wiping a tear which fell from her eye. “Unqualified obedience to my parents,” said she, “I have ever considered the first of duties Melissa sighed, wiped a tear which fell from her eye. “Unqualified obedience to my parents,” said she, “I have ever considered one of the first duties

for reasons which Alonzo knew nothing of. But should she leave it in the way she had proposed, she was not sure but she would be immediately remanded back, more strictly guarded, and more severely treated. To continue there for reasons which Alonzo knew nothing of. To continue there

Melissa was to leave the draw-bridge down Melissa was to have the draw-bridge down

he passed over, and she slowly withdrew he passed over and slowly withdrew

The fire-fly* sunk feebly twinkling amidst the herbage of the fields The fire-fly sunk feebly twinkling amongst the herbage of the fields [No footnote]

and assisted him in obtaining a carriage and assisted him to obtain a carriage

and another burning on the table and another was burning on the table

By what means she had thus suddenly disappeared By what means had she thus suddenly disappeare

John’s hut was situate about one mile north from the mansion where she had been confined. When he came out near the road John’s hut was situated about one mile north ... John’s hut was situated about one mile north from the mansion where she had been confined. When he came near the road

John stared in amazement John started in amazement

her aunt is gone into the country and has not returned her aunt has gone ...

John informed him that she was there about sunset ... he was there about sunset

He returned in about half an hour He returned in half an hour

the latter had taxed the former of improperly endeavoring ... with improperly endeavoring

He told them all that had happened since he was there, of which, before, they had heard nothing. At the houses of Mr. Simpson and Vincent He told him all that had happened since he was there, of which, before, they had heard nothing. At the house of Mr. Simpson and Vincent

and she wished to marry somebody else and she wishes to marry somebody else

Alonzo did not long hesitate what course to pursue Alonzo did not hesitate long ...

the idea could not pluck the thorn from his bosom ... from his own bosom

I have got considerable money at command ... at my command

He answered, that perhaps all might yet come right ... come to right

his resources had not yet failed him his resources had not failed him

he reached Killingsworth ... Killingworth

through the night was wrecked with severe pain ... racked with severe pain

it might prove an injury to her if she was there, and could answer no valuable purpose if she was not ... if she were ... if she were not

he could not distinguish her features he did not distinguish her features

he now had a side view of her face, and was more than ever convinced that it was Melissa he had a side view of her face, was more ...

he found it was Melissa’s cousin he found it to be Melissa’s cousin

Do you not think, said Mrs. Wyllis, “that she resembles their cousin Melissa, who resided there some time ago?” ... her cousin Melissa ...

what course to pursue, he was at a loss to determine upon. what course to pursue, he was at a loss to determine.

Alonzo felt no strong curiosity farther to examine her features Alonzo felt no curiosity ...

An incident tended to confirm his resolution ... this resolution

her fine eyes were closed for ever her fine eyes had closed for ever

and shook the trembling frame of Alonzo and shocked the trembling frame of Alonzo

the sun of peace may yet dispel the glooms of these distressful hours ... dispel these distressful hours

the death list arrested his attention the death list attracted his attention

“Died, of a consumption...” [See below]

The fanciful part of our readers may be ready to cast it aside ... may cast it aside

the geni which animated and enlivened it the genius which animated and enlivened it

Arouse your hero. Call to his aid Arouse your hero: call to his aid Arouse your hero? call to his aid

to what pathos of grief and wretchedness to what paths of grief and wretchedness

regions where my guardian angel is gone regions where my guardian is gone same as 1804

nature triumphed over disease of body, he slowly recovered nature triumphed over disease of body—he slowly recovered nature triumphed over disease of body, and he slowly recovered

an uncle who resided near Charleston in South Carolina (See Barometer No. 110.) an uncle who resided near Charleston in South Carolina* [Footnote] See page 39. [No footnote]

roved, he knew not whether [sic] roved, he knew not where

the dircle sung mournfully in the grass ... on the grass

through which they had passed, were recalled to his mind ... were called to his mind

His fancy saw her—felt her gently leaning on his arm His fancy saw her—he felt ...

Again was he enraptured by the melody of her voice Again he was enraptured ...

the first time he saw her at her cousin’s (See Barometer No. 105. See also allusions to this scene in several subsequent parts of the story.) [Footnote] See page 7. See also ... [Footnote] See page 8. See also ... [No footnote]

his former bliss and anxiety, where every countenance would tend to renew his mourning, where every door would be inscribed with a memento mori his former bliss and anxiety, where every door would be inscribed with a memento mori

the breezes rustled from their woody coverts the breezes rushed from their woody coverts

the willderness [sic] of its waters its wilderness of waters

A new scene now opened to Alonzo A new scene was now opened to Alonzo

Blue tumbling billows, topp’d with foam Blue trembling billows ...

The dingy scud first flew swiftly along the sky The dirgy scud ...

It appeared to be of about equal force and dimensions It appeared to be of equal force and dimensions

the ship went down and was for ever buried the ship went down and was buried

as there existed no parental or other impediments to our union as there were no ...

the friend and intimate of my angel in my absence. They were now almost every day together, so that I had frequently opportunities the friend and inmate of my angel in my absence. They were ... the friend and inmate of my angel in my absence. They were now almost every day together, so that I had frequent opportunities

promised to obey her injunctions proceeded to obey her injunctions proceeded to obey her injunction

No, it was not this that caused you to perjure your plighted vows No, it was not that which ...

I had worked up my feelings almost to the frenzy of distraction I worked up my feelings ...

gently pressed in the hand of the stranger ... in the hands of the stranger

a little arbour, at a few yards distant from where I was a little arbour, a few yards distant from where I was a little arbour, a few yards distant from where I sat

“I forgive you, Henry,” she said, “I forgive your mistake “I forgive you,” Henry, she said, “forgive your mistake same as 1804

I made no defence; was condemned to death I made no defence; and was condemned to death

frequently enter the prison to console and comfort him [Here alone, the 1804 form is “console” rather than “consolate”.]

But the grief that preyed at his heart had wasted him to a skeleton ... to a mere skeleton

trusting in the mercy of his Creator through the merits of a Redeemer ... the sufferings of a Redeemer

were loose and could easily be removed were loose and could be easily removed

every article of which he cut into narrow strips ... narrow slips same as 1804

a piece of long timber a long piece of timber

as useless encumbrances without his clothes as a useless encumbrance ...

You must have experienced a severe gale indeed You have experienced ...

The sailor mused a few minutes The sailor mused for a few minutes

Alonzo entered it to see how the sick and disabled American prisoners were treated ... and disabled prisoners were treated

[Note] were treated with much more humanity than those who were imprisoned in America [Footnote] [same text as 1804] [Footnote] ... imprisoned at Halifax and other places in America

he now found that he had lost his leg he now discovered ...

it is possible I have been undesigningly accessory ... undesignedly accessory

to render him more comfortable. Beauman replied that he was not: “For the comforts of life,” said he ... “For the comforts of this life,” replied he ... “For the comforts of this life,” said he to make him more comfortable. Beauman replied that he was not: “For the comforts of this life,” said he

he would fall into incoherent mutterings ... muttering

a natural stone was placed at its head ... at his head

bearing a large trunk on his shoulder, and directing Alonzo ... and directed Alonzo

not with a view to returning to America; he had yet no relish for revisiting not with a view of returning ... not with a view of returning to America; he had no relish for revisiting

Of this Alonzo gave a minute account Of this Alonzo gave him a minute account

Alonzo enquired for the name to whom the note was addressed ... the man to whom ...

Alonzo gave his employer no room to complain ... no reason to complain

Alonzo dressed himself in deep mourning Alonzo dressed in deep mourning

he took it up and found it to be a curiously wrought purse ... a curious wrought purse

what he esteemed most invaluable what he esteemed most valuable

Lost, between the hours of 9 and 10 last evening, in the Rue de Loire Lost, between the hours of nine and ten last evening, in the Rue de Loir [sic]

had hitherto taken no notice of what had passed ... of what passed

a letter from his father, while he was at the army ... while at the army ... while with the army

Last evening I lost the miniature which I suppose you have found ... which I suppose you to have found

which I probably dropped on replacing in my pocket ... on replacing it in my pocket

it has become a most precious and invaluable relique ... and valuable relique

The next morning as they were about to part ... about to depart

and sighed as ardently for some other trifle and sighed as earnestly ...

turns to some other source to supply the vacuum ... to supply vacuum

Stripped of all but their intrinsic value Stripped of all their intrinsic value

inordinate passion, or what you would call pure affection ... what some would call ...

pining for a hopeless object ... a hapless object

which will sail for any part of America in some time ... for some time

Ah! had this but have happened in time to save a life Ah! had this but happened ...

consecrated piles, and funereal monuments of the sacred dead sacred piles, and funeral monuments ...

October 26, 1776 Oct. 26, 1776 same as 1804

how tenderly pensive does she beam her lovely eyes upon me! how tenderly does she beam her lovely eye upon me!

There [pointing to the grave] there behold how my dearest wishes Then ...

the first holy whisper of her consecrated lips the first holy whispers ...

determining to proceed on early in the morning ... proceed early in the morning ... proceed on early the next morning

which before sunrise encreased to a violent storm which before sunrise had encreased to a violent storm

was to be opened for that night only was to be opened that night only

To the general enquiry of “what’s the matter?” To the general enquiry, “what’s the matter?”

forbade that he should re-pierce the ten thousand wounds forbade that he re-pierce ...

Song, beauty, youth, love, virtue, joy: this group . . . As yet unforfeit! in one blaze we bind. Song, beauty, love, virtue, joy: this group . . . As yet a forfeit! in one blaze we bind.

They immediately retired to a separate room, where the stranger ... when the stranger

private concerns; more extraordinary may you esteem it private concerns, and more extraordinary you may esteem it

“Are you unmarried, sir?” “I am now, and have ever been single.” “Are you married, sir?” “I am now, and have ever been single.” “Are you married, sir?” “I am not, and have ever been single.”

numberless suitors have sighed for her hand numberless suitors sighed ...

It seemed that if she could but speak with him ... speak to him

This extraordinary dream she has communicated ... she had communicated

Her father, who has but two children besides herself, being dotingly fond of her Her father, who has but two children, one besides herself, being doting fond of her Her father, who has but two children, one beside herself, being dotingly fond of her

in a railing way told her I had seen her invisible beau in a rallying way ... in a rallying way told her that I had seen ...

she thought but little of it she thought little of it

my leaving you so abruptly, and of my not returning ... and not returning

Now, sir, it is necessary for me farther to explain Now, sir, it is necessary farther to explain

on reviewing the incidents which led to on reviewing the incidents which to

I have experienced a sufficient change of objects and of country ... and country

a silk girdle, with diamond clasps a silken girdle ...

Did not Alonzo see her death announced in the public prints? ... her death in ...

And is not all this sufficient to prove And is not this ...

However the author may succeed in description ... in his description

the bower on her favorite hill the bower of ...

Have we not, according to the advice of the moralist (See Barometer, No. 118.) [No footnote]

their tears fell in one immingling shower ... one intermingling shower

you were proof against the whole arcana of beauty ... the whole arena of beauty

Indeed, sir, I cannot but applaud your discrimination ... your determination

the true novel style the novel style

“There I confess,” said he, looking at Alonzo Then I confess ...

He is the son of a deceased uncle ... my deceased uncle

a servant took charge of Alonzo’s carriage ... took care ...

the eldest, a son about ten years of age the eldest son, about ten years of age

to its members and its guests. [See below] It was agreed that Alonzo

I told her that as I had been placed there by my father, I should not consent to a removal unless by his express orders I told her that I had been placed there by my father, and should not consent

I hardly know what I did wish I hardly knew ...

As we passed out of the gate, I looked back at the mansion ... back to the mansion

which put him in a terrible fluster ... a terrible flutter

we have little peace in the house we have but little peace in the house

the servant delivered a packet of letters ... a package of letters

my uncle found it impossible to submit to these stern injunctions ... these firm injunctions

soon after the birth of their first child ... the first child

Inconsolable and comfortless, my uncle put the child out to nurse ... the child to nurse

He finally married to an amiable and respectable woman He finally married to an amiable woman

yet soon greatly alleviated the pangs of early sorrow yet greatly ...

he considers you to have formed an improper connection he considers you have ...

I have seen some troubles in this way myself, in my early days; perhaps my counsel may be of some service I have seen some troubles in that way myself, in my early days; perhaps my council may be of some service

I immediately gave him a correct account I immediately gave a correct account

write to your father, advising him not to proceed too rashly ... desiring him ...

her health evidently decreasing after she came to this place ... decreasing. After ...

and was thereafter retained in the family and was therefore ...

In Charleston it was also generally supposed In Charleston it was generally supposed

he was not only deprived of you he was not only deprived of me

except that you had gone in search of me. Vincent conjectured that you had gone to New London except that you had gone to New London

He then confidentially unfolded to your father He then confidently ...

from whence you then came, to where you went from whence you then came, or where you went

she had undoubtedly given him his lesson ... given him instructions

he finally initiated himself so far in my aunt’s favor he initiated himself ...

he had left a wife and family in Virginia in indigent circumstances he had a wife and family in Virginia in indigent circumstances

yesterday morning at my uncle’s house in town, which Alfred had proposed for the scene of action ... my uncle’s house, which ...

I trust that difficulty will soon be removed I trust that that difficulty ...

if he had ever known Doctor Franklin if he ever knew Dr. Franklin

I have inflicted a wound still deeper on my own bosom ... in my own bosom

your daughter was the subject of my earliest affection ... the object of ...

I shall in some measure realize former happy anticipations ... former anticipations

bowed his gratitude and after appointing that day week, departed bowed his head in gratitude; and after appointing ...

when a person rapped to the door below ... at the door below

to intervene their happiness, no determined rival, no obdurate father to intervene their happiness, no obdurate father

The sun blended its mild lustre with the landscape’s lovely green ... the landscapes’ ... same as 1804

encircled by a wreath of flowers ... a wreath of artificial flowers

Edgar then rising, motioned to the intended bride and bridegroom ... mentioned to ...

“Where tides of heavy sorrows swell’d,” ... sorrow ...

“And do I receive thee from the dead!” he said. “I am anxious to hear the mystery unfolded And I receive thee as from ... the mighty mystery unfolded

But wearied with the bustles of life But wearied with the business of life

who all soon left it under the foolish pretence or impression of hearing strange noises and seeing frightful objects, and such is the superstition of people who all left it under the foolish pretence or impression of hearing noises ... who all left it under the foolish pretence or impression of hearing noises and seeing frightful objects, and such is the superstition of the people who all left it under foolish pretence or impression of hearing noises and seeing frightful objects, and such is the superstition of the people

which might lead to the elucidation which might tend to the elucidation

they struck a fire and lit candles, which they had brought with them ... and lighted candles ... ... and lighted candles, which they brought with them

where no objects presented, they lay flat on the ground, with orders not to stir, or to discover themselves where no object presented, lay flat on the ground, with orders not to stir, or discover themselves

so that nothing should be discovered from without. Things thus arranged, they observed almost an implicit silence so that nothing could be discovered from without. Things thus arranged, they observed almost an implicit silence so that nothing could be discovered from without. Things thus arranged, they observed almost implicit silence

For a long time no sounds were heard ... no sound was heard

to prevent discovery took off their shoes to prevent discovery they took off their shoes

“Those rascally cow-boys detained us too long.”—— “Well, well, never mind it “Rascally cow-boys ... “Rascally cow-boys detained us too long.”—— “Well, never mind it

a noise as if several doors shut to ... shut too [this spelling is used several times]

gave the signal to the men without gave the alarm ...

the chairs on which these now invisible beings had sat, had all disappeared ... had disappeared

That they were part of a gang That they were a part of a gang

sold at a very extortionate price sold at very extortionate prices

struck immense sums of it struck immense quantities of it

which had heretofore been only in the open woods which had therefore ... same as 1804

we recrossed from the mansion. To get over the wall we used ladders of ropes, placing a flat piece of thick board we recrossed from the old mansion.... placing a flat of thick board

on touching a spring, it would suddenly fly open ... it would fly open

so that on emergency we could traverse every apartment so that on an emergency ...

a beautiful young lady asleep in the only bed in the room ... on the only bed in the room

to dispossess the fair tenant of premises to which ... of the premises to which

As soon as we were prepared, we returned to the mansion As soon as they were ...

exhibiting the person before her in all his horrific appearances exhibited ...

some of the same material being placed in its mouth some material being placed in its mouth

not having yet stripped off his ghostly habiliments not having stripped off ...

which in the night appears like coals of fire ... looks like coals ...

the generous midshipman, John Brown ... Jack Brown

as there were several other British prisoners in the jail ... in jail

put under the hands of a barber, cleaned, furnished with a change of clothes ... cleansed ...

his ship was ordered for America ... to America

went before the magistrates of the town ... the magistrate of the town

planned the structure of their family edifice. (See Barometer No. 109-110.) [Footnote] See pages 34 and 38. [No footnote]

This intimation according with the ardent wishes of Alonzo, the site This intimation accorded with the ardent wishes of Alonzo. The site

Spring, with its verdured fields 1864 only Spring, with its verdurous fields This difference is on the last page of the book: see above. same as 1804

commencing sprightly, but ending plaintive and melancholy ... plaintively and melancholy

Death Notice: 1804/1811: 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 daughter of J**** D——, Esq. of *******, Connecticut, in the 18th year of her age. 1851/64: 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 daughter of J—— D——, Esq. of *******, Connecticut, in the eighteenth year of her age. 1870: 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 daughter of J. D——, Esq. of ———, Connecticut, in the eighteenth year of her age. Table Main text

1804 Additional Paragraph: And here, were we to adopt the method of some novel writers, we might close our history, and leave it for imagination to paint the sequel. But there are some mysteries, which if not elucidated, will render our story incomplete, and besides were we to stop here, the real finishing stroke would still be wanting; we shall therefore pass with as much rapidity as possible over the remaining incidents of our story, rendered already too lengthy for a weekly paper. what happened after they parted at the old mansion. Table Main text