After All.

nearly mad . He wandered listlessly along the streets , not caring for life ' wishing for death , anything . What was there worth living for now ? Nothing . He walked along recklessly through the busy thoroughfares , across the tracks of cabs and other vehicles , without the slightest care Ai'hether he was run over or not . In short , he rather wished it . Drivers shouted and stopped , but he took no warning , ancl it was a thousand wonders he arrived safely , at last , before his own dwelling . All who saw him thought him mad . Not knowing

or caring what he did next or how he acted , he entered the house , and going into his sitting-room , flung himself into a chair and wished he might die there . Suddenly his eyes fell upon his last piece of music on the piano—his successful march . " Ha ! I ' m known to fame , am I ? By this I achieved a grand success , did I ? and all for her ! Doubtless they would like it to be published , hut

what care I ? It is nothing to me now ! I hate fame , ancl it shall die ! Never more shall the genius they fondly credited me with sparkle for them ; uo , I will become a drudge . The higher arts shall become a dead letter to me ! I care not now if am forgotten ; all , all is gone ! and this may

Ianthe.

IANTHE .

IN TWO CHAPTERS . CHAPTEE I . " T WONDER if Mr . Compton will come to-day , " said a bright and graceful - * - girl of eighteen to her kind old auntMiss Daltonsome few years ago

, , , as she was arranging some beautiful flowers in a large basket in the hay window of a little cottage near the New Forest . " Why , my dear Ianthe ? " replied a kind voice , and which came from a most placid-looking , gentle , kindly , elderly woman , as she was knitting in an easy chair . "Because—because" slowly replied Ianthe"he is so niceand he and I

, , , are such fast friends . But I suppose he has found some attraction at the Wimberton hall ! " This she said almost bitterly , as far , really , as she could be bitter . " My dear Ianthe , " her relative rejoined , in words which expressed both tenderness and anxiety , " I do hope you are not allowing yourself to think too much of Mr . Compton . You are yourself so impulsive , and so unlearned

at the same time in this world ' s ways , that I fear you often mistake the idle effusion of the moment for the sincerity of the heart . I , who , you know , have deeply suffered , ancl yet have , thank God , recovered , sometimes look on you with trembling . You positively appear to believe that all which foolish young men say , either selfishly or systematically , carelessly or half contemptuouslyin the fervour of folly or the fullness of self-conceithas anything in it

, , , either of what is enduring , or real , or good in itself ; any meaning , or any value , beyond the childish amusement of the passing hour . " "Ah , aunt , " said Ianthe , slowly moving round and facing her , "Mr . Compton knows what he is talking about , ancl means all he tells me . He has , in fact , half proposed to me , and I know intends to do so completely on the next occasion . Can you wonder , therefore , that I am , as I confess , a little