The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-10-22

Must the fond heart that Yields itself TO love
Struggle with and endurc."
Once | determined on flying from th'
sccue, and leaving my rival in undisPutec
possession Of the village beauty; but
having been resolved that no woman should
ever have it in her power to say she made
me wretchod, l screwed my courage to the
sticking place, and, on seeing Mary leave
the parlour, shortly afterwards entered
! it.
The stranger scarcely noticed my en-
trance, so intently was his attention fixed
upon the perusal of a newspaper which be
held in his hand. l sat down at the
window, and, for want Of something better
to do, gazed with a scrutinizing eye upon
the gambOls of the ducks and geese out
side.
After some time Mary came in to ask
the captain what he would have for supper.
This is the gentleman / spoke Of, " she
said, directing hor expressive glance to-
wards me.
Mr.. Aloir must pardon my inattsn-
tlon, said the stranger, laying down the
paper was not aware that my pretty
Mary's friend was in the room"
His urbane manner, his sof winning
voice, made me feel an irresistible impulse
to meet his advances. He proposed that
we should sup together, and sat down at
the table with very different feelings from
those which had been mine on entering the
parlOur that evening. | felt inclined to
encOurge an intimacy with the man whom,
but short while before, | had looked upon
with aversion.
As the night wore on, | became more aud
moro captisated with the stranger. His
conve alton was brilliant and intellectual /;
and, when we parted for the night, l began
to find fault with myself for having for a
mo" mt harboured dislike towards so per
feet gentleman. resolved to stay few
days longer at Altonby, for the purpose Of
improving our acquaintance. The stranger,
or, as be was called at the inn, the
captain" expressed delight when he was
informed Of my resolution and. although
he seldom rose before the afternoon, we
spent many pleasant hours together.
On the evening of the third day Of my
sojourn, be expressed wish that | would
accompany him 10 a short walk. Notwith-
standing his erect and easy carriage, there
was feebleness in bis gait, which he strove
in vain to contend against and it was but
too evident that a broken spirit, added to
a shattered constitution, would speedily
bring him to his grave.
Leading the way into the churchyard, to
my surprise be stopped at the resting place
Of the ill-starred lady, the story Of whose
uutimely end I had 50 patiently listened to
the last time visited Altonby.
am exceedingly fortunate" said the
captain, in having met with one so kind
as you, to cheer the last moments Of my
earthly pilgrimage. You smile-nay, |
can assure you that l feel | am not long
for this world. The object Of my visit to
his spot, to-nish', is to ask you to do me
The favour, when | am dead, Of seeing my
re mains laid here-here, beside this grave,
Der which the grass grows longer than on
those around !" and he pointed to the grave
Of Clara Douglas. After a moment, be
continued" Unlike other nen, you have
never annoyed me by seeking to inquire Of
me. who or what am I; and, believe me,
feel grateful for it. | would not wish u at
you should ever know the history Of the
being who stanls before you. When the !
earth closes over my coffin, think of him no
more"
Although the plain had done me the .
honor OF calling me unlike other men-a I
distinction most folks are 50 exceedingly
lesirous Of Obtaining must own that
had hitherto felt no common degree Of
curiosity concerning him and now that
there was no prospect Of it being gratified,
It's desire increased tenfold, and would
now have given worlds, il ! mad bal them,
10 have learned something Of the birth,
and education of the captain.
And now," be added, beseech you,
leave me for a short timc-I would be
alone"
In silence | c. oiled, sauntering outside
The ruins, and seeking to end, in my I'D
lvOcation Of perusing the tombstones, the
wherewithal TO kill the time duri0g which
the captain held communion with the dead
for | could not help thinking hat it was
for such cause he lad desired to he left
TO himself
Ien-twenty minutes passed, and the
captain dad not appear. | retraccd my
steps, and again entered the ruins, by the
farther end The gloom which prevailed
around-the monuments which interviewed
and, above all, the distance at which
then was from the grave Of Clara Douglas
prevented me from deserving the captain
| had advanced few PAGES when | heard
voices in high alteration. stopped and,
as ! did so, one of the speakers, in whose
clear intonatiOn, | could recognise the
captain, snId-" On my word, | returned
here the Instant my wounds were healed I
returned to marry her-and my grief could
not be equalled BY yours when | heard Of
her melancholy fate"
Liar" exclaimed the other; "you
ns'cr intended such. My sisters wrongs
call aloud for vengeance and here-here,
between her grave and that of our sainted
mother-your blood shall be offered up in
atonement"
This was instantly followed by the rep, IT
OF pistol. rushed forward, and beheld,
U horror! the captain stretched upon the
ground, and the blood streaming from
wound IN his breast. / caught glimpse
Of bis assassin, as he fed from the church
is was the stranger whom l bad seen. on a
former visit. at the grave of Clara Douglas,
and beside the fgtree where her remains
had been found. made motion to follow
him, but the captain waved me back
"Lct him 60" said he; Il forgive hin.
| have no wish that be should die upon the
scaffold." So saying. he fell back ex-
hausted and, in my hands 10 procure as
aistancc for him, quito forgot the assassin,