Brotherly Love.

thanksgiving that the object of her aversion was removed from the presence of her daughter , and that he had no opportunity of * fostering her " infatuated . attachment . " The subject was dropped , and Mrs . St , Claire informed Ida of all that had taken place in the neighbourhood since her departure . It appeared that several of the young men had either joined the army of

the Emperor , yvoluntarily , or been forced into it by conscription . Amongst the former was Alfred Reaufiere , AVIIO entered the service in a medical capacity , for which his studies qualified him , and AA'hich afforded him an opportunity of indulging his benevolent feelings in alleviating the sufferings of his fellow creatures . Nothing had been heard from Mm , but a rumour had reached the neighbourhood that he had been dangerously

wounded . He had been unable to procure a substitute for Andre Buffon , AVIIO Avas obliged to depart with a number of his fellow townsmen to join the army . Mrs . St . Claire described the . distress of this latter worthy at being compelled to enter on a service . of peril , as most ludicrous , and stated that he departed amid the derision of the inhabitantssome of whom had contributed to his enlistment , Avhich they

, regarded as an excellent practical joke . Ida did not omit to inquire after the Maniac of the Mount , and she heard ( Avith much regret , that since her departure he had been seldom seen . Some were of opinion that he was dead , but as his usual provisions were consumed , and funds Avhich were supposed to have been ' supplied by Mm found their Avay regularly into the civic

exchequer , it Avas generally believed that either the severity of the past season or increasing mental disease , made Mm seclude himself more than ever from public observation . Ida remembered the words of the young clergyman , which were so much in unison with her OAVU feelings , and the next morning she departed for the Mount . It may be necessary at tliis point , to furnish the reader with some

information to elucidate the causes that led to Ida ' s acquaintance with the Maniac . During the epidemic Avhich prevailed in the neighbourhood , her mother had been seized with the disease , and visited by this strange being , Avho spared no expense in procuring her the best medical attendance and other requisites . His solicitude on that occasion partook more of the character of a brother ' s than that . of a mere benovolent

stranger , and the gratitude of Ida A \ as excessive ; for Avhen her mother Avas restored to convalesence , she attributed that result chiefly to his timely assistance . He also appeared to take the deepest interest in Ida herself ! , and though he had been traced out in other cases of charity , it Avas to her alone that he revealed himself . From the moment of her mother ' s recovery , she never failed to visit him at

periods when she knew that he was free from the influence of his mental malady , and lie treated her ivith the greatest kindness , and with the affection of a parent . He inquired minutely after all the circumstances connected with her father ' s last days , and Avould make her repeat the same over and over again to the most trivial detail . There appeared to be a strange fascination in that subject , though it