Year: 1878




Alcanor was the son of a London mer-


chant, bred up TO the business of his


father, to which he succeeded in his


early youth; and, in a little time dis


tinguished himself, not only by his


knowledge in trade, but also by his


probity of heart, and generosity Of SEN


timent. Nor was he deficient in per-


sonal accomplishments his figure was


remarkably agreeable; his address was


engaging; and no pains had been spared


in giving him the advantage Of genteel


education.


He was in a fair way of acquiring a


very large fortune, when he first be-


held, at a public assembly, the elegant


and amiable Eudosia, daughter of an


eminent trader to whom his circumstan-


ces were well known. He was deeply


struck with her external appearance;


and, having found means to insinuate


himself into her acquaintance, discov-


cred a thousand charms in her under


standing and disposition, which at once


completed the conquest of his heart. 1t


was not long before he disclosed his


passion to the dear object, and had the


pleasure to finG that he had inspired her


with very favorable sentiments.


hlDGI 6OluC lllllC DBCAlG III AlAC CAiNACeaA-
ing effusions of mutual love, he applied
to the father, and made aformal demand
of her in marriage His proposal met
with a very cordial reception; and Alca-
nor was admitted into the family, on the
footing of future son-in-law. The day
was already appointed for the marriage,
after all the articles of interest had been
settled to the satisfaction of both parties,
1ry 4bo c,,I1oT, fai l1IRo Of fOraiOT1


correspondents, at the close of the last


war, Alcanor was obliged to stop pay
ment. lie communicated his distress to
Eudosia's father, and produced his books,


by which it appeared that his effects
were more than sufficient to discharge
his debts; though they were so scattered
that he could not call them in time
enough to support his credit. The mer-
chant said that he Was sorry for his mis-
fortune, but made no offer of assistance;
on the contrary, he told him bluntly,
that he could not expect he would be-
stow his daughter on a bankrupt, and,
forbade him the house. The reader may
conceive what an effect this treatment
had on an ingenious mind, imbued with
an extraordinary share of sensibility.
He returned to his own house, bursting
with grief and Indignation. The gener-
GUS EudOsia, being apprized of what had
Tassed between her father and her lover,
seized the first opportunity of writing a
letter to Alcanor, lamenting his misfor-
tune in the most pathetic terms, assur-
ing him of her inviolable attachment,
and offering to give a convincing proof
of her love by clandestine marriage.
He made due Acknowledgement to his
amiable mistress, for this mark of her
disinterested affection, but absolutely
refused to comply with a proposal that
might ruin her fortune, endanger her
happiness, and subject him to the impu-
tatien of being sordid and selfish. He
made haste to settle his accounts, and
satisfy his creditors. Then he wrote a
letter to EudOsia, releasing her from all
engagements in his favor and exhorting
her to forget that ever such a person ex-
listed. Immediately after this address
he disappeared, and no person could tell
In what manner; people, in general
supposed that ne had made way with
himself in despair. Eudosia was over
Whelmed with sorrow, which brought !
her to the brink of the grave. Though |
nature triumphed over the disease, it |
was not IN the power of time to remove |
her grief, which settled in a fixed mel |
ancholy that clouded all her charms, |
and made deep impression on her |
fathers heart. Her only brother dying |
OF consumption, she became the sole |
helress of considerable fortune, and |
many advantageous matches were pro- |
posed, without effect. At length she |
plainly told her father that he had once |
made her miserable, and that it was not |
now IN his power to make her happy |
Tor she had made q solemn VOW to |
Heaven that she would never Join her |
fate to any other man than him on |
whom he had allowed her to bestow her
affection. The merchant was thunder
struck at this declaration. He saw him.
self deprived, by his own cruel avarice,
of that happiness which he had fiattered |
himself with the hope of enjoying, in a
rising generation of his own posteritv;
he became pensive and sullen, lost his
and in few months expired.


Eudosia purchased retired house in
the country, where she gave full scope
to her sorrow, while she lived the life of
a saint and spent the best part of her
time as well as fortune in the exercise
of charity and benevolence.


Alcanor, desperate in his fortune and
his love, took passage in Spanish shin
for Cadiz, under the name of Benson:
and, as he understood the languages, as
well as the management of accounts, he
was admitted, as an inferior factor, on
board of the Flota, bound for South
America. He settled at Vera Cruz, and
fortune so prospered his endeavors that,
in a few years, he was master of forty
thousand pistoles. But, neither pros
Derity nor the universal esteem which
he had acquired among the Spaniards
for his worth and integrity, could soothe
the anguish of his heart, or effaee the
of Eudosia, whose charms
still dwelt on his Imagination. At
ength, impatient of living so long in
ignorance of her situation, he returned