Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 5, Number 9, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 29 August 1874 — Page 2

A PAPER FO

'ii-'^A^i."! H. »T JOB* HAT.

A sentinel aajwLslUlng high tnflory, Heard thl* *£riu walling oat from tory "Have men?, mighty angel, hear my story. -I loved, end blind wttH jwMfcniat* love, frit. Love -wight saedowoto death, ndiMii

U, i^U

For God UJotA, and death Mrita ti *««. "I do not rage scat hi* Nor for myself do JitUl e. But for my low on earth, who mount* lor

MQ|fa« nll) m» M* IJlV lnf#

AH* .-'Mi!'..:..'.I.- HI., 1«. I. »..ll» To JJW^ oil »wtfi L*iwi» .w -»U4l T—1 said tho pltjr1***•*»*** "J**". w»*Bt 1 Wild VOW. IXJ-i. 'I!.- 1«-"| tothelast tu/—. u: pau.-iau^ul-Bat still she watted "1 pray thee, let me I eaonot rtoe to peace and leave Mm so I Oh,' lft nip soothe htm in his bitter *»f

I hi^&n^foKndlbolUhrf^ me l5 To expiate uiy sorrow and my sin. The sngei answered, "Kay, sad soul, go holier: Tob ceived in your true heart's desire Wss bitterer than a thousand years of fire!"

Captain Malison's Box.

BY CLABA

QUKKSSKY.

[CONCLUDKD FROM fcAST WEKK.] CHAPTER

IV.

Endless, of course, was the gossip and the wonder—endless the surmises but, perhaps, through Mrs. Marvin's means, the idea that the Captain was liable to sudden and violent fits of insanity grew up in the village, and this theory neither he nor Cecilytnought It worth while to contradict.

There were other and darker conjectures—hints that Captain Malison had another wife, who had appeared on the bridal evening, and vanished suddenly, no one knew where. In preparation to bride, Captain Malison had apta mole colored women

©y

and

the

\r*Ufirm

fw'h#r

osity no Cumber ^oraiaiion.

Rebecca Reid was the only dared

"1M eeca," she said, almost sternly If you ev iddreas me on this su aoain. I sh conclude that you wi elwe to be my fi nd, and shall never mjoak tc rnu mor\ ^IfCai -'in Mali-mi had tak«a ijy little property and $ otf to parts unknown, Savin* he* pendenTon her frinwh theg& people wouM have undersi that the poor r?H i«*d married hi «lor, and wouhi ive pitied her Soor.t.1 ^\f\ but, on -ntrary, it vu aviivnt that the provided alnKst lavishly for his A large room ^'hepa^ge, wb»chMr.» vin had never been able to furnish, fitted for Cecily's uss, with such ear-

eup

,: rtains and furniture si bad ww en in B—Mrs. Malison

always reap-

i«- *•»ttir. ii'Tethey occupied

the same pew. Ur. .od Mrs. Marvin, ald nrv* H*lpo:^rvlnffthnrnim .-'iv foi 'bat It was "niy during the 8u»'i. v-rx i.-, a'^^xUai i'-uk "1 :'n\ '-iy(ta»n )Wlii Wll" irr:.\«. it!— bnl.i-u.il l-'MT face, and u**'\

It was .•••••. -l. *-.i,d.Tf %u.i- noakrr:n. n- sev. ','fceptUtt Cajitaii-. ai*d 3MU^ Mai.-n fr. a church.

If r-.eih t.,.l r.rtwTf ttf tbdfc-.v,if *5 Ji. 1 r.-v. 14 ill.- or? .1 Mi •*. «*«l*iiaava «'!n

even 1. _«n

—r. ..,,

lorgiven Cecily tor her reftt«al of his hand mdin the jttpre," tho central goal dfcrafor the men, h§ vent ed tfj^bint that tboCap" *y had good .reason tending hia wilf $«*8itt© her friends, and thfl, for all their piety and denfureute*, seme folks were not^l t*ey

*eSSf*Elani* words were carried no one knew, bat thai very evening, accompanied bv the Captain, or mtfier wing him like a

9 pr._

bumble recantation, declaring that all be had said or insinuated was utterly false, and that there was no one for whom he entertained more respect then for Mm. Malison. The meaaa which had brought about this change of opinion were never distinctly known, but it waa reported that the Csptain had threatened to kill Kl&m outright if he did not uiake ample apology.

Everv one on this occasion justified the Captain and even Rebecca bad no wore favorable verdict for her huehand than "served you right."

But soon adown the dying sanaet sailing. a wounded bird her pinion* tmll-*-'"ed baek with b*©kei»«b«arted wall! She sobbed, "1 found him by the summer sea* Reellaed his head upon a maiden's knee She curled his hair and kissed him. Woe Is saction of absolutely neoesrae!" sary business. Sejanus attended his master, and on all his attain preserved an

There was no little wonder as to what sort of life the Captain led in that great, lonely old house. He reely ceived no company—he saw no one unless for the tran-

Impenetrable ulenoo. Hepzibah Long had been re-en-

Long to do such work as not fall within the province of a man-servant but, to her own great disgust, she was never allowed to remain in the house after nightfidl. Moreover, though she had free aooeee to every other part of the mansion, she was never allowed to penetrate into the Captain's own chamber, Sejanusassuming to himself the whole care of the room, which, thus barred to all other approach, became, as it were, the source of all the mysterv and gloom which hung over the house. Perhaps it was to get amends of her perplexing employer that Ilepzibah set afloat the stories which were whispered about the countrysidestrange, vague rumors that some evil thing, whether in tho b*dy or out, no one could say, had gained possession of the Captain's body and soul, and bound him to its hated companionship. In what shape it appeared, or whence it came, no one pretended to tell, but all agreed that it held him in a strong boud. and that the soul of the man, enslaved by some strange compact to this hauntiug fiend, was fighting for its salvation between the powers of light and darkness. Certain it was that a lamp always burned through the night in the Captain's room, and it was averred that seme one passing late at night had more than once beheld two shadows passing to and fro across the blind with lifted arms and wild gestures, as though some tragic scene were being enacted within.

art

receive his brought two respectal from Boston. These women bad been sent bade the very morning that Cecily had returned to the parsonage but it WSA reported that on© of thew had said thy* something strange had happened in the bridal-chamber, and that there was a guest in the house who had never been Invited. This rumor, however, was altogether vague and unsubstantial, and had hardly more foundation than still wilder and altogether impossible stories. One report ran that Cecily bad found out from Selanus that her bridegroom had been a pirate, and had refused to live with him, while others added that the ghosts of those he had murdered on the high seas had rushed, in visible presence, into the bridal-chamber on the wings of a great blast of wind, which on the wedding-night had burst open the front door of the mansion. There wore also whispers that the key to the mystery would be found in the chest of black oak, which, it was popularly believed, always stood under the Captains bed, but no one was even prepared to affirm, from personal observation, that such a blade chest existed, and co^eeture was all in vain. ... |ent In a clerical household, as visitors

It was also said that at such times Mrs. Malison could never rest, but that she would spend the whole night in prayor and supplication. iWe it was that her aunt had more than once found her in a sort of trance, as if, while present in the body, she were absent in the spirit. When she came to herself, after these seizures, though self-controlled and gentle as ever, she was always worn, exhausted and trembling, as might have been some martyr who had endured the rack, and the sight and touch of the executioner. Hie

Captain

-though, for reasons known only to go with her aunt themselves, they had agreed upon sepa- generally bringing her husband with her. v*. *s *t_. Qod and

ration, yet that oy the the State they were man and wife, and that no living person oould have had a right to forbid their union.

visited his wife fre

quently, and spent most of bis evenings in her parlor at the parsonage but the two were neve* alone, either Mr. or Mrs. Marvin being always in an arrangement sometimes I

A. t_ JSIAMAAI

To Mr. Marvin, who thought it right to wished to see both the minister and ask his-wife if any deceit had been prac- .. tised upon her in the matter of her marriage, both Cecily and the Captain deojared in the most solemn manner that

r"n

"ht to forbid their union. pair, so careful were tneyio ren %(r

Mrs. Marvin loyally making all singularity of rfiaractor, an ,e best of matters, said that Mr. ana feet appeared their l/allaAfi m*a«a nrnTMP fndflFM of cttch Other 8 IWOOdft ftfld WiilhCS* [». Mallson were the P^f juag^ or ™«p

the room— inconven-

kmiaAki^ln

Ivis wife. If sach were the case, Cecily would either retire to her own room, or would

imn manner that either retire toner own room. «uum

,wvAl^AnB no nne not in the

On these occasions, no one not in tbe teased the extraordluu existed between the pair, so careful were tbev to refrain from of character, and so perunderstandlng of

nder nQ dmimgtftnoe8,

•harfr A«m allkirs: that." "under the cir- under no rareumswwiww, «»««», their friends approyod of would they ever remain alone together, their course, and could give public curl- and Mr. Mid Mrs. Marvin

informanon. none of the innocent fainiliarity or little

caressing

r»-*.

sed with Quaker plainn^ but her oowns were of t*w» lieavlert Mlla, and her ruffles and biefii of In3l*n muslin and

^mT

rose, and that of Mrs

dre her «re*a." The Captain,

bowv w*Y waa i.-.ver aera to aeeompany hit wife in her drives and walk^1^ ther.plv pit- *i

•»w Into

vent, when the testy toy

t*n«W

me, but !h !1 Ji Mle time, pa* tOfttftjl, ready tees of tMdgh

i.' -••A\ t!}. !bv «*r» in

a a 1 1 1 Sw *v j-v knew-not h«re

vwr to

111.

BnrnlU^l.io i*t*m -»*.i lb* ly 5- r»o« who ki.it-wA i" any on JT: H' 'i^nanV ^juI bit.

Ilrlr|.(jf.|T1-,mriniir,.,,

Pif to

jhnrmi

however,

touches, such as might seem

person who careswing ioucnw», wiun 'K

"firisMKassiafci-

III vv UU« Ivl vw^u vniv»» The minister and his wife had from the u, beginning refrained from question* sci which they felt to be useless, and had to accepted the mvsteiy as inevitable, rer Their first natural anger at the Captain had died away, and had been replaced by pity, and a very sincere friendship.

In spite of his singular ways, and the sadness and shadow in which he lived, there was an attraction and lovableness about the man which It was not easy to an! while Cedly honored him and looked up to him, she yet seejmed to feel for him a sort of protecting affection, like a mother's toward an afflicted son.

Tbe Cfeptain read aloud when the

Mire: and there were books in the pi onage library which the pastor's ineenld never have procured.

It was a singular Ufe which the pair 1hI—a poor, pale ghost of that domestic

«»d tnat or mh. i"V am! i.ifbit to which therjr bad .1 invariably Uk*!doubtless twked forward. Yot't seem-

"^"Twent !rt oompa-

strange at

seemed to l»unt their days was a grow in* peace, which anchored more aha more firmly lo some foundation beneath those waves of anguish by which their souls were too often tossed.

natll with weepii» and

tr.-mblina the s]

ni soiih UMield* where all :., i, the .ur-of darkness it had f.u-ht simflr-haniMd.wWl «WW8 «*ll

^''ivhad aunt never to row. =V f- ••••n Skmo se»*ur««, and Mrs. Mar hi iu i! 1 !i. hir-Mfl ,-- _• wmt.. wdways worn and '••it laehewas suffleieat u,a rer she endured, it a no*" in h«r quiet oath of -md sweet good sense r'from ftdung,seem•a ir ::fch and «wa*»iaF 'le. it Ma)"«n'« iirhad teeo»ieM ... .r-st !,i« f)T»*Wnold, iik.. :i ii u. i»» tndui«s

iww

TW'W swl -1 .inr: ns

made

::"W -Off

txxpe se»*ur«s, and Mrs. ii tyi that where she knew to do nothing, left Mutt these fits, if such

S jfi'*#bH S

K*.

This life had gone on for two years. Time had somewhat lessoned the marvel, and the village—except when there was a stranger to near tiic tale—liad almost ceased to talk of tho Captain and Mrs. Malison. -V :Iu *t,

S CHAPTER V, One evening Mr. Marvin and his niece were sitting together in the room known as Cecily's parlor. This apartment had an outer door which opened upon a piazza, and it was by this door that the Captain generally entered the house. Mr. Marvin had been occupied with a lecture, which he was preparing to deliver before the recently-organized literary society of the village. He had chosen for his subject "The Domestic Life of Christianity and Paganism," a theme growing naturally out of his studies. Captain Malison had helpedhim In his researches, and for more material had been accumulated than could be used. The minister was greatly perplexed what to choose and what to leave out without danger of being superficial —a thing so hateful to his soul that he was In fact quite unfit for a popular lecturer.

It is my own conjecture," said the clergyman, "which yet I would not wish to assert without more absolute proof than the obscurity of the subject allows, that only that part of the human creature which was nearest allied to the evil powers of Hades, sometimes sacrificed to as the Diia Manibus, lingered on earth as inimical to their race, and that these strangely-Imagined demons, not exactly as wo say, spirits, and yet not living twdies, had power to ii\jure. proportioned to the malignity and wickedness ot their natural lives."

So that the more a man had given himself up to evil while living, the greater was his power while dead," said Cecily, without looking up from her work. "And what were the offerings made to those spectres

In earlier times It is thought human victims were offered, and afterwards images of wax, animals, or even more Innocent fruit and flowers. The day known in tho Roman Church as the "Day of All Souls" is doubtless derived from tbe Pagan ideas on this subject, and tho practices sometimes Indulged In on Hallow Eve are relics of tho old ceremonies." .. «it is strange how prone humanity has been to worship the malevolent" Mtri Cecily, "I suppose cowardice Is at the bottom of tt, but it is a pitiful su-

^TtSe world would leave off worshipping evil," said tho minister, smiling a little sadly, "evil would lose half its force. Thero were hundreds of tem-

les

to Jove who had wished to destroy he human race, but just now I can remember only one temple to Prometheus, who saved them from the gift of lire from heaven."

Mr. Marvin returned to his papers, bat the warmth of the room, and the measured click of Cecily's knitting* needles, gradually lulled him loto state that might not have been exactly sleep snd yet oould not possibly have been waking, or else he would not have dreamed what followed, and be certainly must have dreamed, the scene being loo manifestly Improbable to have taken

w?4

TERRE HAUTE SATURDAY EVENING MAIL.

ON OKS CLENCH BP PISOBB WAS CECILY'S WKDDINU HI.NU."

patiently and bravely the anguish Of some incurable disease. The Captain's purse was always open

to relievo distress, or promote any good cause and whero there was sickness or suffering his wife was always to be found, as helpful and as sympathetic as Cecily Meadowes in her maiden days. There were threads of gray in her hair, and she was thin and worn but for all the sad change, there grew upon her a singular beautv, and at times a light like that of heaven itself shone on her face.

fbe

ki.

He had just been discoursing to Cecily about the names, and tho ghastly superstition which converted the dead into malignant powers, who, if not placated with altar and sacrifice, were hostile to the living and he spoke of the traces of this belief, which, however driven into holes and corners, lingers even yet ia a land of Bibles and common schools.*

howling

sound the house like a pack of wolves around a sheep-fold. The rain drove fiercely against thepaae.. It seemed to Mr. Marvin that on a sudden the outer door flew open before a blast, and that with the wind there entered a woman.

It oSumS to the minister in hls vision that some wayfkrer driven by the storm had Mmjrht belter, and that Uiis was Uso the idea in Cecily a mind, for as she |thenism,

Oelly, aa soon as ahe looked at her visitor: eeetned to be struck with something like indignation and loathing tather than terror, and, standing up, die confronted her strange jmat with a *«of aninstanoe wti«we» the death pf a nei*hbor,

«?b« writer* vbole ftunlly. rare thrown li sot ataT voant of »i»yj _t «nal ei I# hot uiDixi thftl the SnaepMple«Swa9- n,i

WnMm.

rose to shut the door, she turned courte- pastor's brail*., ously to the stranger, as if to invite her had passed and

to net till the h«n) Mr. Marv— tniis,we does In a nightmare, that some teri 'Hi necessity existed for his Immediate ttoti, and that yet he was unable to move hand or foot

Marvin became dimly eon-

gn«t ao#wia«s for fear '«U iJtaraaad p^r^waUB

,,,

™w

£•*$¥*$ or f-

singularly lofty air of command. The stranger was a little woman, slight and gra ofhl as a eat. Her dress was singularly unfitted for a walk on such an evening, being of rich pale blue silk, made in tho fashion of the last century, and leaving the neck and arms bare.

The figure and face of this unknown

ucat were frightftilly emaciated, but on skeleton neck and arms, and long fingers, and her tblu, faded hair, glittered and sparkled superb ornaments of jewels and gold. The face was colorless, wan and sunken, but intense life shone in the light blue eyes, where lurked an actual red spark. shcIi as you may seo In the eyes of a cat about to in

It is a superstition Is it said this creature, nooding her head at Mrs. Malison, and speaking in li curious shrill half whlsier. "Perhaps it is, but here I am, you see, in the body, such as it is. This is All Souls Eve, mind you—All Souls!—the time when not only good, pious, respectable spirits may wander where they will, but when others—they that loved" the world too well to leave it. though they were safely dead and buried —can walk and do mischi too."

The thing spoke with an indescribable, fierce, mocking malice, and as the minister heard it, he tried in vain to speak, or even think of a prayer.

You needn't look at your respectable uncle, ma'am continued the dream. He won't Wake—not yet. This is my hour, look you 1 and 1 mean to use it, Mi&s Cecily'Meadowes." "My name is Cecily Malison," returned the other, with calm courage "You can work your wretched will only so far as is permitted you. For me, I do not fear you." "Oh no!" said the woman, with a mocking laugh. "But what would you give to break tbe bond that holds him, and set him free to bury his treasurechest, yonder, a fathom deep, or sink it in the "sea

I would do anything lawful," said the other, though upon her face (as the pastor saw it in his sleep) thero grew a look—half dread half hope. "Lawful!" cried the stranger, with piercing shrillness. "Lawful! We are outside tho realm cf law—you and he, and I. Will yoa give up your life to the powers that are me, and I of them? Is life so sweet to you that you dare not your own creed, dio for him?

a doed and, crouching like a wild animal, she sCeined ready to fly at Cecily's throat.

I would die to serve him," answered Cocily, in her steady, sweet voice, rather lowot than before, "if it were possible that my death could serve him. But to you, and your world, I will never give ono hair of my head as an offering, even ired that such a sacrifice could were I assui end our long endurance of pain. I will worship the Lord my 0 dnly will I serve. You and your crucl-

and Him

ty are only for time, and time is short, but our love Is for eternity." A wild gust of wind rushed through the open door, driving before It tho rain and a few dead leaves that eddied through the room.

With a start, Mr. Marvin eameto himself, and found no ono in the room but Ceellv, who was trying to close the door against the raging wind. Her uncle came to her help, and succeeded in closing the door and dmwlng the bolt. There was a wet spot en tho carpet, and Cecily brought a towsl and basin, and began quietly to wipe off tho water, but she soon left the task to her aunt, who entered from the kitchen, and sinking into the corner of the sofa, shaded her foee with her hand. Aa she parted from her uncle that night, after prayers, she leaned for a moment upon his shoulder.

Unole Josaah," she arid, "It is my

chiuf!—my poor child!" said the

miuister, pitying ller. Evil Is very strong In this world," said Cecily, with a heavy steh "pmy that I may endure to the end!" and then she lit her candle, and went quietly to her own.room—to that strange watch which no one was allowed to share. "It was a most uncomfortable nightmare," said the minister, when he told Ida dream to ids wife, "I can easily understand how the superstitious can persuade themselves that such visions are realities." And indeed, if we were all to tell the tilings we have seen between sleeping and waking, who o! us could not mention a ghost as vividly real as that very disagmsable creature which, producing itself from the study of heahad flayed such a scene in the

CHAPTER Vl

Sttil more thsn a year had by, when Cedly seived a tetter from an old sdiool-fri- 1, who had married very young, awl gone with her husband lo Boston, Cecily had lost sight of her for some years, but now ahe wrote to«*y that she wml widow, with one child, that ahe bad fallen into a consumption,

This man, who maintained toward all other an impenetrable reserve and coldness, always appeared to feel for bis mistress a very sincere respect and affection. It was said that he alone knew the clue to the riddle, and it was certain that before Sejanus Cecily seemed to be less under the influence of that "shadow of a fear," which, as it were, shut her away partly from her nearest and dearest friends, into some cold and lonely world of myBtery beyond the reach of help and sympathy.

It had been pleasant weather when Cecily left home, although it was the first of December.

The anniversary of her wedding-day, which always seemed to bring with it a certain nameless dread and anxiety, had passed without anything- remarkable, unless it were that Hepzibah Long had

At-_4

Cecily had left on Wednesday, and on the two following days the Captain paid his usual visit to the parsonage, but Sunday having passed without his making his appearance at church, or sending word, Mr. and Mrs. Marvin became anxious, and, In spite of the cold, tho minister made his way through the deep drifts to the lonesome house that stood, with close-shut blinds, behind its sighing poplars and dark evergreens. lie was admitted by old Hepzibah, who seemed much pleased to see him

upon It was the

*4*.'**

»'-S.r 'i•••:•'*:• '":'.{1t'

to her and take «f the child, JouJfWou like to Imve

4tds ilttk* One, gi7 deer?" mid the Qiptain, to whom Irahofed |^cj£tt«r||^

WM raSber not ta|

her into the house lust now, said Cecily, gently but, if you do not object, I should like to go to poor Rboda, and take care of the little "can find her aome

I# houie near by, Wn look after her,

aud lum ber with me »t times." Can you go asked the Captain, turning from the light, and shading bis face.

I need not oe absent more than a week. The distance need make no differenoe a loving. a duly. Probably, with my help, Rboda may be equal to the journey here, and my aunt, (who was very fond of her) wishea her to come to this house, where we can make her last days, at least, more comfortable."

It sliall be as you wish," said the Captain, with a sigh. "You shall take the carriage, and Selanus shall go with you." Though Cedly rather demurred to this arrangement, it waa finally settled that sue should leave the next day, and return as soon as possible the Captain willingly, and even eagerly, undertaking all the expense attendant on caring for Rboda and her child.

That night, as they parted, for on oe Cecily's courage aremed to fail ner, and, for

getting her usual studied reserve, she broke into a sudden flood of tears, and clung, sobbing, to her husband's neck, while he, haniiy leas moved, hung over her aa if their parting were about to be final.

They said good-bye, however, the next viornlng, with their usual calmness, and Cecily drove away in tbe well-appointed carriage, with Sejanus on tbe box.

Imiio a n/m*

ma'de her. eminent in literature. She said that, having lingered at her household work rather later than usual,she had beard tbe front door fly wide open, though the air was still, and, going into the hall, she had seen two shadowy female figures, one of which (she was ready to swear) was in the likeness of Mrs. Malison, flit up tbe broad staircase, and disappear in the echoing-room, where the Captain sat alone with whatever evil treasure was concealed in the black box.

Hepzibah's lively imagination, however, was well known, and as she added to this narrative various circumstances —such as clanking chains, screams, red and blue fires, ana other common-place ghostly concomitants—no one paid much attention to her legend.

Cecily had been gone .but two days when "a great snew-storm set in, and raged so fiercely that the roads were blocked up, and all travel was stayed, for, beside the storm, the thermometer ranged from five to ten below zero, and there was a wind which it soemed impossible that any one should face and live.

Cecily's friends had every reason to think that she had been safely housed before the storm began but nevertheless they waited anxiously for the mails to get through, that they might know how she had sped on her errand.

He was

"for the Captain's down sick. on the sofa, "in the settln'-room, all day yesterday, but he wouldn't hardly let me come nish hand of him, and this morning he hasn't got up. and he won't let me into his room, (he best knows why:) but I dare say he'll see you."

Iu his heart, Mr Marvin was not quite sure of his reception but when he had ascended the stairs, and announced himself at the closed door, Captain Malison's voice, in a tone of welcome, bade him come in.

The Captain waa lying on the bed, though not undressed, lie seemed to be suffering under a severe cold but he greeted his friend aa though such a visit had been an ordinary thing, though the pastor had never been In the house ssnoe before his niece's marriage.

Mr. Marvin, as he sat by the bed, looked around tho room with some interest. It was handsomely though plainly ftimished, and shadowed with crimson curtains. A lady's toilet-table stood In one corner of the

room,

and hung

lace

lew

other

5*e knew that sf«f could live bii a days longer, end that, having|^o friend to tor: -die Imploded C* f\.r wh'-in -he bad named be?

Utttogirf)

veil Cecily had worn

ather wedding, and,thrown downcarelesaly before the glass, a white ribbon, a pair of white gloves, a and a withered spray of oraBae-biwwMn. tiMrt ached aa he no-

whidi had, apparently, been kept with jealous care. Mr. Marvin thought that the exclusion of Hepsdbah from the rmmmTghtewrtly b® explained without accusing the Captain of unlawful prao-

It was very natural that be

should not care to have tbe eyes of such a prying, tattling person aa the housekeeper rest upon these poor treasures. Aa to the mysterious Mack box, it nowhere visible, unless it were to be identified with a small sea-cheat of dark oak, bound with twees, which stood near the head of tbe bed—such a box as a retired sailor might keep aa a remembrance of his old Ufe at sea.

Tbe Captain insisted on eomfng down Malm, and appeared to take pleasure in seeing that everything was done for the comfort of his guest. They spoke of

-v.»-w

Cecily, and, for a time, it almost seemed to Mr. Marvin as if Captain Malison wished to bre& thmggh Ms long reserve, and that he haftulnioet resolved to give his confidence to erne in whoso friendship and devotidi| he .had cert

every reason W tnofk But the

t*.

„rined resolution, if such there were, -passed away, and the secret remained untold.

Mr. Marvin wished to call the doctor, but the Captain would not consent, and tbe pastor spent most of the afternoon with his friend. According to the comfortable Cliristlaa fash? ion of pastoral visitation, bfetire he went ama he read and prayed with the Invalid, who seemed to find eomfoij iu his ministrations. 'Hie next morning, howevef, he found the patient much worse, and Waa shock* ed to learn from Hepsibali that he had, as usual, passed tbe night alone in the house.

The Captain's symptoms became so alarming, that Mr. Marvin sent at once for the doctor and for his wife. Mrs.

Marvin, putting aside a certain reluctance which she felt to that threshold, came immediately, together with the physician, but, in spite of all that coula be done, it soon became evident that the Captain was sinking fast.

He seemed to be sensible of bis own condition, and asked that a messenger might be dispatched for his wife. This had already been done but the blocked state of the roads made it almost impossible that, even if the messenger succeeded in reaching her, Mrs. Malison could return in time,

Tbe Captain had at flnft shown almost feverish eagerness and anxiety for his wife's arrival, but seeing, at last, that it could not be, he appeared to resign himself to tbe inevitable with that resolute patience which had always been a leading trait in his singular character. He

Ksinces

ve Mr. Marvin directions about his with great clearness and precision, and directed that nothing belonging to him should be touched until Cecily's return, saying that his wife and Sejanus knew beat what were his wishes.

It wss between midnight and cockcrow when, having finished what he had to say, he fell into a troubled sleep. Mr. Marvin remained sitting beside the bed, and his wife (whose anxiety would not allow her to rest in the chamber provided by Hepziball's care) soon stole noiselessly into the room, and took her place in a great arm-chair near tbe fire, where, however, she soon fell asleep. To tell the truth, the clergyman was not sorry that she should be a companion of his watch.'

He was rather a nervous person—that is to say, his senses were acute and his brain sensitive—and he began, much to his own annoyance, to fancy that ho heard in tho room various rustlings and whisperings, like the light sweep of invisible drapery, or hall-articulate voices in some unknown tongue. The pastor was vexed at himself for being disturbed bv these sounds, which, his reason told him, were only the breathings of the wind in the great, empty mansion, or the light motion of the curtains.

Suddenly a blast rose, and flew round tho house with a long, moaning cry, and, as the shadows flickered on the wall, it seemed to Mr. Marvin that some shapeless blackness gathered in the room, and the sleeper moaned and tossed, as though in an evil dream. Tho pastor felt a nameless sensation of chill and loathing, as the shadow foil, darker and darker, and began, as it were, to draw itself Into some dim outline—indistinct only where two red gleams suggested the eyes of some wild oeast. The next moment it grimaced, cowered, shook and vanished, and before a gust, which seemed to originate rather within than without, the door swung wide, and with a scream the wind flea away and died, sobbing, in tbe distance.

There was a long, low sigh of intense relief, and (rather felt than seen) some presence either passed from the room or receded into that region behind the barriers into which human senses cannot penetrate.

Mrs. Marvin woke with a sudden start. "I dreamed Cecily was here," she said "I wish she were."

The Captain roused himself, and, to Mr. Marvin's surprise, (for he had become very weak,) he sat upright on the bed, wrapped in a robe de ohntnbre for he had rerased during his illness to be undressed.

It is the end," he said, with a bright, soft smile. "It is over. Only one thing more let me be buried as 1 am, without changing the clothes I wear. Thank you, both, tor all your kindness and patience. At last! at last! God has delivered me, by the hand of his angel, from the power of death and hell!" and, leaning his head on the minister's shoulder, he breathed hia last without a sigh..

Mr. Marvin was too much overcome to remain in the room, while the doctor and a young divinity-student (his brother) undertook to prepare tho body for the grave.

Perhaps the pastor, in his own and his wife'a agitation, did not remember the Captain's last, singular request, and, if ho had, tho wish expressed was so abhorrent to all the ideas of tho place and time, that tbe minister would not havo felt himself bound where, indeed, he had made no promise.

Mr. and Mrs. Marvin were sitting in the room below tho chamber of death when they were startled by a sudden crsah, and an exclamation abovo, and in a few moments the divinity-student entered, pale and startled, and bogged Mr. Marvin to come up stairs. He was gono some time, while his wife sat below, half-fearing that some new calamity was to close the long tragedy of the Captain's life. She heard steps to and fro, and then a sound of hammering—a singular noise to break tho silence in a chamber of death.

In about balf-an-hour, her husband re-entered, and, sinking in a seat, begged her, in a faint voice, to get him a glass of wine—a moat unusual circumstance in itself, for the minister was an enthusiastic water-drinker. As be seemed to recover In aome degree, his wife begged him to tell her what was the matter—was there bad news of Cedly?

No, my dear she is well, as far as I know, poor girl!" and then he told her, in a tew words, what he had been called to see*

Tho renson of the Captain's dying request had been made plain when the attendants had laid out the body. It bore many sears marks of bullets

and

sword-

cuta, and also, it seemed, of cruel scouiv giag, (who could guess when or how endured?) and round the

wrists

and an*

kles were deep traces, as of galling fetter* long worn. ., ,, However astonished at this discovery, the two gentlemen had continued their office, during which it became necessary to move out tho bedstead from the wall. For that purpose thedoctor had dragged aside the oaken chest. In so doing, it struck sharply against the bedstead, and whether it was that the hinges were rnatv or the lock worn, certain it Is that the lid cracked sharply from its place, and falling, revealed a scull and a heap of bones, which the doctor on examination, declared to be a partly disjointed female skeleton. These wretched remains Jay as if wrapped hastily in the torn fragments of a pale*bluo sukou [COKGLtJDKP o* THIRD PAOK.]

"i""'

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