THE DYING DECLARATION.

IT was after a hard fever-season in the city, and I had been overworked, and needed rest; so, some of my friends of the faculty advising me to try sea-air, I concluded to take a run down to "Malden Beach" for a week or two, where I knew I could find good bathing and fishing, and, what was most necessary, perfect quiet.

      The "Beach" was only about forty miles down the coast; and by rail to the last station, and by an old-fashioned country rockaway for ten miles, I arrived just at dusk, in front of the only tavern in the place, with the long sandy line dashed and fretted by the ocean just in front of it. That evening I sat on the piazza after tea, and, smoking my cigar and listening to the long, heavy roar of the sea, as it crept up and broke on the sand, I planned out my visit. I would boat, I would bathe, I would fish, I would drink in the salt air for my lungs' sake, and eat phosphate of lime in clams and oysters for my brains' sake; and so I would gain steady nerves, and a vigorous digestion to help me through my autumn and winter work; and at least for two, perhaps three weeks, I would know nothing of disease and pain; would forget the pharmacopœia, and be reminded that I was a doctor only by the M. D. on my traveling-bag; and, hugging these reflections to my heart, I turned in early, and dreamed my first night away "by the sad sea-wave."

      But a "man proposes, and God disposes," and the events of the next day knocked all my schemings to "nowt," leaving behind memories and results to tinge the whole color of my future life.

      "Malden Beach" was a little fishing-village, on a side-hill, that rose gently from the bed of the ocean; and, not being sufficiently in the way to attract "fashionable society," had been spared that infliction, and was not yet spoiled by being counted a "watering-place."

      Northward, a little cove made up into the land, and, there protected from the fury of the winds and waves, the fishermen kept their tiny sail-boats, that every bright day might be seen for miles out, dotting the blue water like sea gulls.

      They were a wild, original race of men, these fishers; calm and sturdy in their temper; quiet in their speech, as becomes those always in the presence of God's loudest voice; and, uninterested in the great busy world that lay behind them, they thought only, talked only, lived only, in the behalf of the mighty servant that gave them food when in good humor, or lashed them and slew them when angered.

      When I arose, early the morning after my arrival, I went down to the beach to obtain my first taste of salt-water, and was coming up, enlivened and refreshed after my bath, when I was met by a group of these fishermen, four or five in number, who came straight toward me. "Jim Salters says as you be a doctor, sir," said one of them as they reached me.

      Jim Salters was mine host of the tavern, and had doubtless derived his information from my confounded bag, which I wished was where I had just come from, at that moment. However, I replied that I was a doctor, and remarked that they didn't any of them look as if they much needed one. At that they laughed and shook their gray manes at me, and the same one who had just spoken, said, "It's not for us, sir; it's some trouble up at the cove house."

      "And where is the 'cove house' my friend?" said I.

      "A couple of miles to the north'rd, sir, just where you see that brown cupola over the trees." I looked in the direction indicated by his great brown finger, and could see the architectural ornament hinted at peering out from a clump of trees, at the head of the cove before mentioned. "If you please to go up to the tavern, sir, there's an old servant from the house will tell you about it." So the group nodded their heads and heaved along down to their boats, while I walked up the hill, abusing my luck that should send a "case" to find me out in my hoped-for seclusion. However, there was no help for it, so I stepped briskly up to the door of the tavern, where I saw Mr. Salters, in conversation with the party indicated. As I reached the piazza, the man whom I rightly conjectured to be the servant stepped forward, and said respectfully, "I am sorry to trouble you, sir, but Mr. Medford has had a bad attack this morning, and the ladies told me to come down to the village for the doctor; but he is away, and Mr. Salters says you're a doctor; so, if you please, I wish you would be so good as to go back with me; I've got a chaise here."

      "What is the matter with the gentleman?" said I.

      "He was taken with a fit about half an hour ago, and has been lying breathing hard ever since," was the answer. "Very well," said I, "I'll go with you. Is there any apothecary's shop in the village?" The servant replied that there was, a small one, which we would pass on the road, so I jumped into the chaise, and, the man taking the reins, we rattled off in a hurry. Stopping at the shop, I selected a few drugs I expected to need, and, having my case of lancets in my pocket, felt quite prepared.

      My companion was a man near fifty years of age — an Englishman, I judged; and very reserved in his conversation, and repelling in his manners.

      I had no special curiosity to satisfy, except to save time by obtaining answers to a few professional questions; but I found the man so reticent that it was even difficult to prosecute these necessary inquiries. However, I managed to worm out of him that his master was a Southerner of good family, about forty years of age, a high liver, and had had one similar seizure about two years before: the servant had been in the family his whole life, and I surmised was treated as a confidant. He mentioned "the ladies" several times, but did not state whether they were wife and daughter, or what relationship they bore to Mr. Medford. A drive of about two miles took us to the head of the cove, and a sharp turn brought us to the house, which set back from the road some distance, and was almost hidden by large trees. We drove through the gate and round the lawn up to the door of the building, which was a large square mansion painted brown. As I sprang from the, chaise on the piazza, the door was opened hurriedly, and a young girl, who had evidently been weeping, stepped forward to meet me. She was under great excitement, and clasped her hands together as she said, "Oh! I am so glad you have come, doctor; please step this way at once!"

      I bowed, and followed her through a wide hall, up a broad staircase, and into a front room. The scene was certainly a painful one. Stretched at his full length, on the floor, lay a tall, large-framed man, evidently in the prime of life, whose suffused face and stertorous breathing showed plainly that apoplexy had marked him for its prey, and that the walls of death were fast closing in upon him. He was partially dressed, his throat bare, and a pillow had been placed under his head; while camphor and brandy stood on the table near him, showing that his attendants had tried to do all in their power to revive him. By his side, also on the floor, chafing his outstretched hand, sat a lady, whose face, seamed with lines of sorrow, showed that her grief was profound and unaffected. She was a magnificent brunette, and, as she rose to meet me, I could see was a lady of culture and refinement. Her voice trembled as she greeted me, and in order to spare her as much as possible, I said, "I see, madam, what is the trouble, and if you will leave me with your servant, we will try to relieve him." She looked at me steadily for a moment, and then saying, "Thank you, sir," motioned to the young lady and left the room; the servant had followed me into it. I at once bled the sick man, and after applying the customary restoratives, had, in about half an hour's time, the satisfaction of seeing that he was apparently coming out of the fit, though his circulation was in such a condition, that I had very little hopes of ultimately saving him; all I could reasonably anticipate was a lucid interval, which might be important, and would certainly be gratifying to himself and his family. As I hoped, he was soon in a condition to be removed, and with the assistance of the servant I placed him on a bed. His brain was relieved from the pressure, and his mind was evidently clear, as he recognized his servant, and asked him where his mistress was. I inquired of him if he would like to see the ladies, and, on his signifying his desire to do so, I left him with the servant, and proceeded to find them.

      They met me at the foot of the stairs, and, requesting the elder lady to follow me into the library, which was open, I informed her of his condition, and as gently as possible told her that his moments were numbered, and if there was anything of importance in his business or social relations that required completion, it must be attended to at once.

      Her grief at this was terrible to witness. She wrung her hands, and paced the room in agony, crying aloud in her despair, "Oh! my poor husband! Oh! my poor Kate!"

      Just then the door opened, and the young lady entered, and begged her mother to go up, as her father was asking for her. She motioned me to a seat, and they both left the room.

      I sat thinking of the case for some minutes, when I heard foot-steps in the hall, and the servant entered, and requested me to go up stairs at once. I hurried up, and, entering the room, found Mr. Medford sitting up in bed, his face very much flushed, and his whole appearance denoting great excitement. I went to him at once and begged him to calm himself, saying I would not answer a moment for his life, if he did not do so.

      His only answer was to wave me off; then he called for writing materials, and, seizing me by the wrist, said, "Write!" I sat down by the table at once, for I saw no time must be wasted, and as he spoke the words in a hoarse voice, I wrote as follows:

      "I, Charles Medford, being at the point of death, but of sound mind, do declare Clara Marston, now present, to be my lawful wife, and Kate Medford to be my legitimate and only child; and I will and bequeath to them jointly all property, real and personal, of which I die possessed."

      As he uttered the last word, he screamed, "The pen! give me the pen!" and taking it from my hand, leaned over the table, and with a firm hand, and in clear, distinct characters, signed the paper "Charles Medford."

      Then he fell forward on his face, and as I sprung to his side and lifted him back to the pillow, I saw he was dead. At the same instant the young girl, who, while this strange scene was being enacted, had stood gazing wildly, first at the dead man and then at her mother, who sat with her face buried in the bed-clothes, threw up her hands, and with a scream that rang through the room, fell on the floor senseless. The unhappy mother rose as her daughter fell, and, looking pitifully at me, tottered to her side, and bending down over her, caressed and covered her with endearments. Sending for some of the female servants, I had the unfortunate lady conveyed to another apartment, and proceeded to restore her daughter to consciousness, which was a labor of no little difficulty; the shock had been too much for her, and when she revived she was delirious. Having seen her taken care of, I again descended to the library, and sent for the man-servant, for I felt the need of enlightenment on the extraordinary and painful complication into which I had thus unexpectedly been brought.

      However, on consideration, I concluded to postpone any questions I might desire to ask him, and on his entering, I simply said that I would now return to the tavern, leaving some directions for the care of the two ladies, and promising to return in the afternoon with some medicines, which I saw would be required for the younger one. He appeared to me to be relieved when I announced that I was going, and saying that his mistress was now quiet, and attending on her daughter, accompanied me to the door, where I found a groom waiting in the chaise to drive me back.

      As we drove along, I could not help thinking that there was some deep mystery at the bottom of all I had seen and heard; and I began to feel a determination to fathom it. I was strongly prepossessed in favor of the two ladies thus so sadly bereft, and made up my mind to assist them as far as lay in my power.

      Suddenly I remembered the paper which Mr. Medford had been so anxious to sign, and regretted that I had not secured it; but that was no business of mine, and I presumed that those most interested would not neglect its preservation. Arrived at the tavern, and feeling the need of food, for it was now noon, and I had fasted since the night before, I sent the chaise back, and requested the landlord to procure me something to eat. This was soon done, and an appetizing meal placed before me, to which I did ample justice.

      Supposing Mr. Salters might be able to give me some information about the "Cove House" and its inmates, I took my cigar out on the piazza, where he sat smoking his pipe, and soon found that he was quite willing to impart all that he knew on the subject, particularly when I informed him of so much as I chose to tell of the events of the morning. His story, in brief, amounted to this:

      The "Cove House," after having remained vacant and "in law" for about five years, had been bought by Mr. Medford, and occupied by his family in the spring of the present year. The family had isolated themselves entirely from their neighbors, making and receiving no visits; and only rarely would the ladies, sometimes alone, sometimes accompanied by Mr. Medford, drive into the village or along the beach. The necessary shopping for the house was invariably attended to by the same servant who had summoned me, and who, to use the expression of Mr. Salters, "was as close-mouthed as an oyster." — "But," said mine host, after he had afforded me these particulars, "there's a mystery about the house, that we can't ferret out."

      "And what is that?" said I, thinking of my own suspicions.

      "Well, sir, I'll tell you;" and here Mr. Salters rose from his seat, and under pretense of going for a match, looked cautiously into the parlor and dining-room to see if there was any one near at hand who might receive the benefit of his confidence unknown to him. Satisfied that there was not, he presently returned, and, seating himself, resumed as follows: "About a month after the family had occupied the 'Cove House,' Mr. Medford and the two ladies drove by here one afternoon and went off in the direction of Bassett — that's the next town, about ten miles south of this. Well, they didn't get back that evening, and about nine o'clock I was sitting here like I am now, smoking my pipe, when I heard a carriage come tearing along, and suddenly it drove up here and stopped, and off the box jumped Mr. Medford's man — Sedley is his name, by the way. He was in a desperate hurry, and asked me for a glass of brandy for somebody who was sick in the carriage — but I didn't catch who it was. However, I gave him the brandy, and instead of opening the door of the carriage, which was a close one, he handed it into the window behind the driver. Then he brought the glass back to me, and I says to him, 'Is it Mrs. Medford who is sick, Mr. Sedley?' he looked at me in a quizzical kind of way, and says he, 'Yes,' quite short, and then he got on the carriage and they drove off. But the strangest part of it was, that the next morning, about ten o'clock, Mr. Medford's carriage, with all of them in it, came back from Bassett and drove on up to the house. So Mr. Sedley must have lied that time, and there must have been somebody else with him, for it certainly wasn't Mrs. Medford. Now, I never knew where that carriage came from, nor how it got back; it never was seen here again, and we never heard of anybody being up to the 'Cove House;' but some time after, some of the boys were up in the piece of woods there after berries, and they said they heard somebody screaming from a window in the house; they got scared and ran home. Next a farmer, who lives about three miles beyond, came in one day with some garden-stuff, and he said as how he saw Mr. Sedley at the top of a ladder barring up one of the upper windows, and that he heard loud cries, and saw a white face looking out of it. But that same day Mr. Medford and the two ladies drove down to the beach looking as well as ever, and so I rather set the whole matter down as doubtful.

      "There was one thing more though, that happened about a month ago, and though I never said anything about it, I made up my mind after that as there was a mystery in that house somewhere.

      "This was the way of it: One day when the stage came in there was a girl got out and said she came from the city, and was to wait on Mrs. Medford; and sure enough, while she stood there, Mr. Sedley came along in the chaise, jumped out, said three words to her, nodded to me, and in a minute they were both in the chaise, bag and baggage, and out of sight. Next morning, bright and early, who should come along but this same girl, walking this time, or rather running, for she was all in a heat, and wanted to know when the stage would go back. It was due here then, and so I told her, and she sat down with her bag that she had in her hand, and asked me for a cup of water. So I asked her if she wasn't going to stay up to the house, and she fired up and said, 'No! she guessed she wasn't going to wait on a mad woman.' 'Mad?' says I, 'why Mrs. Medford isn't mad.' 'Isn't she?' says she. 'She's just stark, staring, raving mad, and ought to be in a lunatic asylum, that's all.' Just then the stage drove up, and she got in and went off. That afternoon Mr. Sedley came over afoot, and was talking to me, and asking about the girl; when I told him what she said, I just up and asked him if there was anything the matter with Mrs. Medford, and he laughed, and pointing down the road, there was their carriage coming along with her and Mr. Medford and the young lady in it, and all laughing and talking together as merry as you please; and says Mr. Sedley, 'That don't look much like it, does it?' and I said, 'No!' and no more it didn't; and that is all I know about it, doctor; but I'm danged if I don't think there's a mystery there yet that'll come out some day."

      Here Mr. Salters ended his story, leaving me as much in the dark as ever, but very much inclined to agree with him as to the "mystery" of the whole matter. About two hours later, as I was preparing to start for the 'Cove House,' the groom who had driven me over made his appearance with a verbal message from his mistress that she would not trouble me to call again that day, and that Mr. Sedley would see me in the morning; further, the servant said that both the ladies were quite comfortable. I was half inclined to go over in spite of the message, but reflecting that I had no valid excuse, and would be, after all, only meddling in what did not concern me, I concluded to let the matter rest, at least until the next day. So I passed the afternoon strolling along the beach, and the evening in musing on my day's experience.

      The next morning, after break fast, I was informed that Mr. Sedley wished to see me, and, sending for him, he came to my room.

      He handed me a note which stated that Mrs. Medford presented her compliments, and, thanking me for my attention, would not further inconvenience me by occupying my time, as her family physician would arrive from town during the day; and would I have the kindness to hand Mr. Sedley a certificate of the death of her husband, and inclosed would I please find a check for $—, which she trusted would be considered a sufficient recompense for my services, etc., etc.

      I was considerably non-plussed at the receipt of such a note under the circumstances, but determined not to exhibit the slightest surprise before Mr. Sedley, who was watching me very closely. I asked him to take a seat, drew up the certificate and handed it to him with a receipt for the money, merely asking after the health of the ladies as a matter of courtesy. He drew a rather long breath, I thought, replied that the ladies were doing nicely, and remarked that he was about going to town for the family physician and the late Mr. Medford's lawyer. He then bade me "good morning," and left the room, and in a few moments I saw that he got into the stage and was driven in the direction of the station.

      So far, everything seemed right; and the servant, confidant, or whatever he might be, had corroborated Mrs. Medford's note. But there was one point on which I was not satisfied, and which I had purposely refrained from mentioning to him, as it might give me an excuse for further interference in the affair if it should seem necessary or desirable for me to so use it. This point was the witnessing of that strange avowal made and signed by the dying man.

      The more I thought this over, the more satisfied did I become that there was foul play going on somewhere; until at length I determined to make one attempt to see Mrs Medford, and at least satisfy myself that I was not being made a party to any underhand proceedings. So I started at once, and on foot, for the "Cove House."

      Arrived at the door, I rang the bell, which was answered by the groom. He started and changed countenance on seeing me, and on my asking for Mrs. Medford, stammered, looked over his shoulder, and appeared so disconcerted that I was satisfied at once that my vague suspicions were justified. While I stood there, the door of the library opened, and Mrs. Medford appeared. She, too, seemed surprised at seeing me, which I considered natural enough, but she astonished me by saying, "Good-morning, doctor; I expected you would have called yesterday as you promised." Giving a side-glance at the groom, I said, "Will you give me a few moments' private conversation, if you please?" She at once invited me into the library, and, following me, closed the door.

      I then recounted succinctly to her my interviews with her groom and Mr. Sedley, and, when I had finished, handed her the note which had been given me by the latter.

      "Why! this is a forgery, sir," said she. "I never wrote you a note, but I told Sedley this morning to see you and express my surprise that you had not returned, and to settle with you. Good Heavens! what can this all mean?" Here she burst into tears and sobbed bitterly. Begging her to calm herself and assuring her that if she would place confidence in me, I would do all in my power to befriend her, I asked if it was true that she had sent to town for the physician and lawyer. She replied that Mr. Medford had no physician or lawyer in town whom she knew of, and that she had not sent Sedley further than the tavern, and did not know that he was going to town.

      "Well, madam," said I, "it is evident to me that you are being made the victim of a conspiracy, though for what purpose I can not yet imagine. Will you answer a few confidential questions, which I will ask you?"

      "Certainly, doctor," said she, "I will answer any question you ask; and I beseech you to be my friend, for I have few anywhere, and none here, and I am sure that Sedley has concocted some scheme to ruin me."

      "Have you the paper which Mr. Medford signed yesterday?"

      "I told Sedley to get it, and in the hurry and excitement I forgot to ask him for it."

      "How long have you been married to Mr. Medford?"

      "Eighteen years."

      "Have you any evidence of your marriage?"

      "No, sir, I have none. We were privately married, and Mr. Medford kept the certificate; it may be among his papers, but I have never seen it since."

      "Were there any witnesses to the marriage, and do you know where they are at present?"

      "There were two witnesses; one was Sedley, and the other a maid-servant of my own, who got married and went abroad. I never heard of her afterward."

      "Now," said I, "one more question, and I have done. Have you in this house any one beside your own daughter and servants?"

      She hesitated a moment and then said: "It was his secret, but it can do no harm now; there is a poor, unhappy relative of my late husband, a confirmed maniac, whom he had brought here that she might have tender care and nursing; she has her own servants, lives in a wing of the house, and I have never even seen her, though sometimes in her paroxysms I have heard her screams, though very faintly, as the walls between have been purposely deadened that no sound should find its way out."

      "Still one more question," said I; "do you know what relationship this unhappy creature bore to your late husband?"

      "He always mentioned her as his cousin, but I have reason to believe she was a nearer relation — in fact, that she was his sister."

      Through all this questioning, her manner had been perfectly straightforward, and I could not for a moment doubt the veracity of her replies.

      A faint glimmering of the possible truth began to dawn upon me, and made me turn faint as I thought of the consequences that might result to this innocent woman and her young and lovely daughter. Just as these thoughts were passing through my mind, and I was hesitating as to the proper course to pursue next, I saw through the window my friend Mr. Sedley walking up the carriage-way. She saw him at the same moment, and rising, I said hastily, "Call him in here at once, before he sees your groom." She stepped to the window, and, tapping to arrest his attention, beckoned him to come in.

      A moment after, he entered the room, bowed slightly to me, and, turning to his mistress, stood awaiting her order, so calmly and impassively, that for a moment his consummate coolness staggered me. With a warning motion to Mrs. Medford I said to him: "Mrs. Medford has desired your presence that you may explain the history of this note which you gave me this morning."

      With the coolest effrontery, he turned to me, and said quietly, "I don't see Mrs. Medford here; when you bring me before her, if she desires me to do so, I will explain the history of the note with great pleasure."

      She sprang to her feet in an instant, and while her dark eyes flashed, and all her blood seemed to rush to her face, she cried, "Do you dare, sir, to insult me in this manner?"

      I begged her to be seated and leave the affair in my hands, and she dropped in her seat, and sat gazing at him with a steady look that seemed as if it would pierce to his very soul.

      "Did you not yourself see this lady married to Mr. Medford?" said I.

      "Certainly not," he answered quietly. "On the contrary, I saw him married to another lady, five years ago, on the tenth of March, eighteen hundred and fifty-nine."

      "And that lady?" said I quickly, at the same time repressing with a glance the movement of Mrs. Medford.

      "Is at present an invalid, confined by her husband's orders in the south wing of this building."

      As he said these words, Mrs. Medford, with a loud shriek, fell prostrate on the floor in strong convulsions. At the same moment the door opened and her daughter ran hurriedly in, and seeing her mother, rushed to her assistance.

      "So much for interfering with what does not concern you," said Sedley, glaring fiercely at me. I did not answer him, but, servants coming in, I had the unhappy lady removed to her bed-chamber, and, after giving her a composing medicine, left her in charge of her daughter, whose anxious inquiries I had promised to answer at a fitting opportunity.

      Sedley had kept with me while this was going on, and now telling him to follow me, I preceded him into the library.

      As soon as we were together and alone, I stepped close up to him, and said sternly, "Now, sir, I wish you to give me the paper which Mr. Medford signed and I witnessed yesterday."

      "I have not got it," said he quietly. "I went for it yesterday after you left, at the request of — that person, but it was not there, so I suppose you must have picked it up and mislaid it somewhere." I almost lost my balance at this unparalleled insolence, but, repressing my rage, I said, as quietly as I could, "I begin to see through your infernal plot, sir; but rest assured, it shall not succeed." Just as I said these words, the door burst open, and a servant-woman entered, bearing on her face the marks of extreme horror and fright. As soon as she saw Sedley, she screamed —

      "Oh! sir, the lady, the lady!"

      "What lady? what is the matter," cried he excitedly, and I saw that he changed countenance.

      "Oh! sir, she is dead, she has killed herself." Without waiting for more, he dashed out of the room, and I followed closely behind. Up the stairs and through a long corridor; then by a turn to the left, up another flight of stairs, and to the end of another hall.

      As he entered the room, he gave one yell, and with his clenched hands in the air, and staggering blindly, he fell flat on his face.

      A most ghastly and horrible sight met my eyes, as I reached the door. Dangling from a hook which was fixed in the ceiling, by a rope twisted from torn strips of the bed linen, hung by the neck, slowly oscillating to and fro, the body of a woman. Her face was black and swollen from strangulation, and her golden hair hung loosely down her back and over her face. Taking my knife from my pocket, I cut her down at once; but she had evidently been dead some time.

      The servant, who had given the alarm, now came in, and to my questions replied that she had left the room for a short time to attend to some domestic duty, and leaving her charge, as she supposed, asleep, had returned to find her in that condition.

      Turning then, though with utter loathing, to the inanimate form of Sedley, what was my surprise to find that he too was a corpse. The sudden and unexpected collapse of all his vile schemes, at the moment when success seemed certain, and the almost special act of Providence by which it had been brought about, had instantly developed the seeds of death that lay dormant in his heart, and he had followed the poor maniac to eternity.

      I had the door locked, leaving the two bodies as they lay, and sent immediately for a justice of the peace. I then went in search of the groom, who, I was satisfied, had been a confederate, at least to some extent, of Sedley. I found him in the stable, where no rumor of the horrible events of the last hour had reached him; and, charging him with complicity in the attempted fraud, at the same time informing him of the death of his confederate, I forced from him a full confession.

      His part in the scheme was to have been played later, when, having frightened Mrs. Medford into giving up her claims by threats of exposing her actual position, it was Sedley's intention to have murdered the maniac, and thus secured all of the property except such part as he should choose to allow to Mrs. Medford.

      The plan had been working in Sedley's brain for years. He had brought about the clandestine marriage of the weak Mr. Medford to the dead woman, who had been his mistress; he had destroyed the certificate of the original marriage to Mrs. Medford; and he too had obtained possession of the paper which I had witnessed, and on his person I found it, when he was searched at the inquest. The necessary judicial examinations were made as quickly and as quietly as possible, and through the recovered will, and my evidence, Mrs. Medford and her daughter were placed fully in possession of their rights. As soon as their health and spirits would permit, they sailed for Europe, and at their earnest request I sailed with them as their attendant physician; but two years later, when we returned to "Malden Beach," after an extended tour on the Continent, I made my appearance in another capacity: that of the happy husband of her who was formerly Kate Medford; and though we could not but remember with pain and horror the fearful catastrophe which darkened my former visit, we shall never, either of us, regret my connection with the "MYSTERY OF THE COVE HOUSE."