Brotherly Love.

aivarded the prize , " A faint my broke from one of thc galleries , followed by an exclamation that a woman had fainted . It was . Ida St . Claire , ivho was borne from the church in a state of insensibility .

Tins incident had the effect of curtading the ceremony , which ivas terminated by presenting to Alfred Beaufrere the prize , ivith which he retired . The crowd shortly afterwards departed , only one person remaining behind . It was Simon , who seemed unconscious of the occurrence which had taken place , and continued leaning against the wall with folded arms and statue-like appearance .

•Poor fellow ! he had sustained the severest shock it had been his late to endure in the course of " his existence , The hope he had cherished ivas shattered , that intellect on which he had . prided himself was eclipsed , and he felt that sense of humiliation which an aspiring intellect endures when brought into contact with superior intelligence . A sinking sensation crept over him , and then he became like one ivho had been stunned , heedless of

all around , but conscious of suffering . In this state he continued for some hours , without even noticing that twilight was darkening the ., church . He ivas suddenly aroused by some object rushing by him , and raising his eyes , he beheld a spectacle that rooted him to the spot in terror and amazement ,

CHAPTER III . — . THE MANIAC O _? THE MOUNT , IT ivas not until two days after the events detailed in the- preceding chapter , that Ida St . Claire ivas sufficiently recovered from the shock which her feelings had sustained bthe defeat of her loverto collect her

scaty , tered thoughts . Her mind first reverted to Simon , for ivhose situation she felt deeply distressed . She well knew with ivhat a crushing weight his defeat must have fallen on his dark spirit , and , to use a popular and expressive figure , her heart bled for the sense of humiliation and mortified vanity , under which he must be labouring .

Her love for Simon ivas deep and sincere . It greiv out of a sentiment of pity for his deformity , which rendered him an object of ridicule and aversion in the eyes of the young maidens of the neighbourhood , and , fostered by daily association and the warmth of his attachment to her , it gradually deepened into as pure and fervid a passion as ever animated the breast of young womanhood . The contempt which his uncouth appearance excited , the derision with which her companions treated her affection

lor mm , which ivas apparent to all , only tended to bind her . more strongly to Mm , and to rivet her affection more closely . But she ivas not blind to his defects . She perceived clearly that he ivas wayward and misanthropic ; but she could not bring herself to believe that one who loved her so ardently , and ivho exhibited so much sensibility in her presence , was radically bad in disposition . She ascribed his faults to the morbid

feelings which his personal misfortune engendered , and in this very circumstance she found an additional ground for commiseration . . Yanity Whispered to her ' that , she might possess sufficient influence over his