The $30,000 Bequest, Mark Twain [best book club books for discussion TXT] 📗

here he stood. The rippling

stream rolled on at his feet. Twilight had already begun to draw

her sable mantle over the earth, and now and then the fiery smoke

would ascend from the little town which lay spread out before him.

The citizens seemed to be full of life and good-humor; but poor Elfonzo

saw not a brilliant scene. No; his future life stood before him,

stripped of the hopes that once adorned all his sanguine desires.

“Alas!” said he, “am I now Grief’s disappointed son at last.”

Ambulinia’s image rose before his fancy. A mixture of ambition

and greatness of soul moved upon his young heart, and encouraged

him to bear all his crosses with the patience of a Job,

notwithstanding he had to encounter with so many obstacles.

He still endeavored to prosecute his studies, and reasonable

progressed in his education. Still, he was not content; there was

something yet to be done before his happiness was complete.

He would visit his friends and acquaintances. They would invite him

to social parties, insisting that he should partake of the amusements

that were going on. This he enjoyed tolerably well. The ladies

and gentlemen were generally well pleased with the Major; as he

delighted all with his violin, which seemed to have a thousand chords—

more symphonious than the Muses of Apollo and more enchanting

than the ghost of the Hills. He passed some days in the country.

During that time Leos had made many calls upon Ambulinia, who was

generally received with a great deal of courtesy by the family.

They thought him to be a young man worthy of attention, though he

had but little in his soul to attract the attention or even win

the affections of her whose graceful manners had almost made

him a slave to every bewitching look that fell from her eyes.

Leos made several attempts to tell her of his fair prospects—

how much he loved her, and how much it would add to his bliss if he

could but think she would be willing to share these blessings

with him; but, choked by his undertaking, he made himself more like an

inactive drone than he did like one who bowed at beauty’s shrine.

 

Elfonzo again wends his way to the stately walls and new-built village.

He now determines to see the end of the prophesy which had been

foretold to him. The clouds burst from his sight; he believes

if he can but see his Ambulinia, he can open to her view the bloody

altars that have been misrepresented to stigmatize his name.

He knows that her breast is transfixed with the sword of reason,

and ready at all times to detect the hidden villainy of her enemies.

He resolves to see her in her own home, with the consoling theme:

“‘I can but perish if I go.’ Let the consequences be what they may,”

said he, “if I die, it shall be contending and struggling for my

own rights.”

 

Night had almost overtaken him when he arrived in town. Colonel Elder,

a noble-hearted, high-minded, and independent man, met him at

his door as usual, and seized him by the hand. “Well, Elfonzo,”

said the Colonel, “how does the world use you in your efforts?”

“I have no objection to the world,” said Elfonzo, “but the people

are rather singular in some of their opinions.” “Aye, well,”

said the Colonel, “you must remember that creation is made up of

many mysteries; just take things by the right handle; be always sure

you know which is the smooth side before you attempt your polish;

be reconciled to your fate, be it what it may; and never find fault

with your condition, unless your complaining will benefit it.

Perseverance is a principle that should be commendable in those who have

judgment to govern it. I should never had been so successful in my

hunting excursions had I waited till the deer, by some magic dream,

had been drawn to the muzzle of the gun before I made an attempt to fire

at the game that dared my boldness in the wild forest. The great

mystery in hunting seems to be—a good marksman, a resolute mind,

a fixed determination, and my world for it, you will never return

home without sounding your horn with the breath of a new victory.

And so with every other undertaking. Be confident that your ammunition

is of the right kind—always pull your trigger with a steady hand,

and so soon as you perceive a calm, touch her off, and the spoils

are yours.”

 

This filled him with redoubled vigor, and he set out with a stronger

anxiety than ever to the home of Ambulinia. A few short steps soon

brought him to the door, half out of breath. He rapped gently.

Ambulinia, who sat in the parlor alone, suspecting Elfonzo was near,

ventured to the door, opened it, and beheld the hero, who stood

in an humble attitude, bowed gracefully, and as they caught each

other’s looks the light of peace beamed from the eyes of Ambulinia.

Elfonzo caught the expression; a halloo of smothered shouts ran

through every vein, and for the first time he dared to impress a kiss

upon her cheek. The scene was overwhelming; had the temptation

been less animating, he would not have ventured to have acted

so contrary to the desired wish of his Ambulinia; but who could

have withstood the irrestistable temptation! What society condemns

the practice but a cold, heartless, uncivilized people that know

nothing of the warm attachments of refined society? Here the dead

was raised to his long-cherished hopes, and the lost was found.

Here all doubt and danger were buried in the vortex of oblivion;

sectional differences no longer disunited their opinions; like the freed

bird from the cage, sportive claps its rustling wings, wheels about

to heaven in a joyful strain, and raises its notes to the upper sky.

Ambulinia insisted upon Elfonzo to be seated, and give her a history

of his unnecessary absence; assuring him the family had retired,

consequently they would ever remain ignorant of his visit.

Advancing toward him, she gave a bright display of her rosy neck,

and from her head the ambrosial locks breathed divine fragrance;

her robe hung waving to his view, while she stood like a goddess

confessed before him.

 

“It does seem to me, my dear sir,” said Ambulinia, “that you have

been gone an age. Oh, the restless hours I have spent since I last

saw you, in yon beautiful grove. There is where I trifled with your

feelings for the express purpose of trying your attachment for me.

I now find you are devoted; but ah! I trust you live not unguarded

by the powers of Heaven. Though oft did I refuse to join my hand

with thine, and as oft did I cruelly mock thy entreaties with

borrowed shapes: yes, I feared to answer thee by terms, in words

sincere and undissembled. O! could I pursue, and you have leisure

to hear the annals of my woes, the evening star would shut Heaven’s

gates upon the impending day before my tale would be finished,

and this night would find me soliciting your forgiveness.”

 

“Dismiss thy fears and thy doubts,” replied Elfonzo.

 

“Look, O! look: that angelic look of thine—bathe not thy visage

in tears; banish those floods that are gathering; let my confession

and my presence bring thee some relief.” “Then, indeed, I will

be cheerful,” said Ambulinia, “and I think if we will go to the

exhibition this evening, we certainly will see something worthy

of our attention. One of the most tragical scenes is to be acted

that has ever been witnessed, and one that every jealous-hearted person

should learn a lesson from. It cannot fail to have a good effect,

as it will be performed by those who are young and vigorous,

and learned as well as enticing. You are aware, Major Elfonzo, who are

to appear on the stage, and what the characters are to represent.”

“I am acquainted with the circumstances,” replied Elfonzo, “and as I

am to be one of the musicians upon that interesting occasion,

I should be much gratified if you would favor me with your company

during the hours of the exercises.”

 

“What strange notions are in your mind?” inquired Ambulinia.

“Now I know you have something in view, and I desire you to tell

me why it is that you are so anxious that I should continue

with you while the exercises are going on; though if you think I

can add to your happiness and predilections, I have no particular

objection to acquiesce in your request. Oh, I think I foresee,

now, what you anticipate.” “And will you have the goodness to tell

me what you think it will be?” inquired Elfonzo. “By all means,”

answered Ambulinia; “a rival, sir, you would fancy in your own mind;

but let me say for you, fear not! fear not! I will be one of the

last persons to disgrace my sex by thus encouraging every one who

may feel disposed to visit me, who may honor me with their graceful

bows and their choicest compliments. It is true that young men too

often mistake civil politeness for the finer emotions of the heart,

which is tantamount to courtship; but, ah! how often are they deceived,

when they come to test the weight of sunbeams with those on whose

strength hangs the future happiness of an untried life.”

 

The people were now rushing to the Academy with impatient anxiety;

the band of music was closely followed by the students; then the parents

and guardians; nothing interrupted the glow of spirits which ran

through every bosom, tinged with the songs of a Virgil and the tide

of a Homer. Elfonzo and Ambulinia soon repaired to the scene,

and fortunately for them both the house was so crowded that they took

their seats together in the music department, which was not in view

of the auditory. This fortuitous circumstances added more the bliss

of the Major than a thousand such exhibitions would have done.

He forgot that he was man; music had lost its charms for him;

whenever he attempted to carry his part, the string of the instrument

would break, the bow became stubborn, and refused to obey the loud

calls of the audience. Here, he said, was the paradise of his home,

the long-sought-for opportunity; he felt as though he could

send a million supplications to the throne of Heaven for such

an exalted privilege. Poor Leos, who was somewhere in the crowd,

looking as attentively as if he was searching for a needle in a haystack;

here is stood, wondering to himself why Ambulinia was not there.

“Where can she be? Oh! if she was only here, how I could relish

the scene! Elfonzo is certainly not in town; but what if he is?

I have got the wealth, if I have not the dignity, and I am sure that

the squire and his lady have always been particular friends of mine,

and I think with this assurance I shall be able to get upon the blind

side of the rest of the family and make the heaven-born Ambulinia

the mistress of all I possess.” Then, again, he would drop his head,

as if attempting to solve the most difficult problem in Euclid.

While he was thus conjecturing in his own mind, a very interesting

part of the exhibition was going on, which called the attention

of all present. The curtains of the stage waved continually

by the repelled forces that were given to them, which caused

Leos to behold Ambulinia leaning upon the chair of Elfonzo.

Her lofty beauty, seen by the glimmering of the chandelier,

filled his heart with rapture, he knew not how to contain himself;

to go where they were would