Year: 1870

gone, when received note from Mary


informing that he was becoming verse


and that it was the fear Of bis medical at


tcndant that he could not live four and


twenty hours With the utmost speed,


threfOre FASTENED back to the Black Swan,


where, indeed, I saw that the surgeon had


had quite sufficient reason for his predic-
tion-tbe captain was greatly altered since


last saw him. Wan and emacated, be
lay in resignation upon his couch, calmly


waiting the approach Of death. He seemed
quite composed.


Taking my hand in his, be reminded me
Of his wish regarding bis burial-placc. ]
assured him shat it should strictly be com
piled with. A smile lighted up his pale
countenanoe for an instant, as | pledged
myself to this He then drew from undor
bis pillow parcel Of letters, tied together
with a faded ribbon, and desired me to
consign them, one by ono to the flames.
With an eager eye, and countenance full
Of excitement, did be watch them as they
consumed away. ! did not dare to examine
rninutely the address on the letters, but,
from the glance had Of them, | could see
they were all written in an elegant female
hand. When all were goue--" And this, /"
said he, =" is like to human life, blaze but
for an instant, and then al is ashes" lie
paused, and then continued, as he held a
small packet in his hand, more in soliloquy
than if be were addressing me. Here is
the sad relic | possess-shall I? Yes,
yes, il shall 60 as the others have gone
How soon may | follow it 2" lie stretched
forth bis band towards me- | took the
pac ct. Instantly, as il tho last tic which
bound him to the earth had been hastily
snapped asunder, the captain fell backwards
upon his couch. thrust the packet into
my bosom, and ran to afford him assist
ancc. lie was beyond human help, he was
dead


The grief Of Mary knew no bounds when
the dismal tidings were conveyed to her !;
she was like one distracted. Mine was more
chastcned and subdued


The remains Of the captain we're duly
consigned to that spot Of earth be had
pointed out to me. After bis death, there
was found a conveyance Of all bis property,
which was pretty considerable, to Mary,
accompanied with a wish that / would
marry her. To this arrangement Mary was
quite agreeable and accordingly our nuptials
were solemnized in about six months after
the death Of the captain. 1t was then that
Mary con6ded to me that she was the sister
Of Clara Douglas but when | made
inquiry at her concerning the nature Of her
attachment to the captain, she always avoided
answering, and seemed not TO wish that his
name should be mentioned in her hearing.


Several years passed, and lad forgotten
all about the packet which the captain on
bis death bed had placed in my hand, till
one day, in looking for something else, which
of course, could not 6ud-(no one ever
finds what be wants)-I accidentally
stumbled upon the packet Curiosity in
duced me to open it, A lcGk of black hair,
tied with piece Of light blue ribbon, and
letter, were its contents. Part Of the letter
ran thus; Enclosed is some of my hair,
| don't expect you to keep it, for have
heard you say you did not ike to have any
such things in your possession. did not
ask you, lest | might be refused but if
you give me some, III get il put into one
Of my rings, and shall never, never part
with it." The letter bore the signature of
Clara. Douglas.


Here, then, was a solution Of all the
mystery. The captain was the lover of
Clara, and this had been the cause Of Mary's |
intimacy with him.


Of the fate Of the brother | afterwards
heard lie was killed in street brawl one
night in Paris, and Mary never knew that
he was the assassin of the captain.