, 1864-03-12


"Unlike other men, you have never an.
noyed me by seeking to inquire of me, who
or what am; and believe me feel grateful
fOrit. would not wish that you should ever
know the history of the being who stands
before you. When the earth closes over my
coffin, think of him no more"
Although the captain had done ME the
honor Of calling me unlike other men-a
distinction most folks are SO exceedingly de-
sirous of obtaining-I must own that | had
hitherto felt no common degree of curiosity
concerning him; and now that there was no
prospect of its being gratified, its desire in
creased tenfold, and would now have given
worlds, II I had had them, to have learned
something Of the birth, parentage, and ed
ucation Of the captain.
"And now," he added, al beseech you,
leave me for a short time-I would be
alone"
In silence l complied, sauntcring outside
the ruins, and seeking to find, in my old avo-
cation Of pcrusingthe tombstoncs, the where
withal to kill the time during which the cap
tain held communion with the dead; for
could not help thinking that it was for such
cause he had desired to be left to himself.
Ten, twenty minutes passed, and the captain
did not appear. retraced my steps, and
again entered the ruins, by the farther end.
The gloom which prevailed around-the
monuments which intervencd, and, above
all, the distance at which then was from
the grave Of Clara DOuglas-prevented me
from deserving the captain. Ihad advanced
few PAGES when heard voices in high
alteration. I stopped, and, us did so, one
Of the speakers, in whose clear intonation !
could recognize the captain, said
"On my word, | returned here the instant
my wounds were healcd-I returned to
marry her; and my grief could not be cqualed
by yours when heard Of her melancholy
fate"
"Liar" exclaimed the other; g you never
intended such. My sisters wrongs call out
aloud for vengeance; and here-here, be-
tween her grave and that Of our sainted mo-
ther-yOur blood shall be offered upin atone
ment"
This was instantly followed by the report
Of pistol. rushed forward, and bcheld,
. horror! the captain stretched upon the
ground. and the blood streaming from
wound in his breast Icaught glimpse of
his assassin as he fed from the church; it
was the stranger whom had seen, on for
mer visit, at the grave Of Clara Douglas,
and beside the fir tree where her remains
had been found. Imadc motion to follow
him, but the captain waved me back. Let
him CO." said he; /" | forgive him. have
no wish that he should die upon the scat
fold" So saying, he fell back exhausted; ;
aud in my haste to procure assistance for
him, quite forgot the assassin, until it was
too late. .- .-.
The captain was conveyed to the Black
Swan, where, with Mary to attend his every
want, he was, no doubt, Us comfortable as if
he had had home to go to, aud beloved
wife to smooth his dying pillow. Mary be-
slowed more than ordinary care and atten-
tion upon him, which, although she had
declared to me that she could never love the
captain SO well as to marry him, should he
ever condescend to make the offer, brought
back occasionally pang Of jealousy to my
heart. ! could not exactly understand the
extent of her regard for the captain.
Having business to transact at n neighbOr-
ing town, left Altonby the next day, with
determination to return, ere the lapse Of
week, to sec the captain, | feared for the
last time. had been but two days gone
when received note from Mary, inform
ing me that he was daily becoming worse,
and that il was the fear Of his medical ut
tendant that he could not live four aud
twenty hours. With the utmost speed |
therefore hastencd back to the Black Swan,
where, indeed, | saw that the surgeon had
had quite sufficient reason for his prediction
the captain was greatly altered since l
last saw him. Wan and emaciated, he lay
in resignation upon his couch, calmly waiting
the approach Of death. He seemed quite
composed.
Taking my hand in his, he reminded me
Of his wish regarding his burial-placc. !
assured him that it should strictly be COM
piled with. A smile lighted up his pale
cOuhtenance for an instant, as l pledged
myself to this. He then drew from under
his pillow parcel Of letters, tied together
with a faded ribbon, and desired me to con-
sign them one by one to the flames. With
an eager eye, and cOuntenance full OF ex-
citement, did he watch them as they con-