After All.

her feet , completely conquered , and have sued for her love ; he would have told her of his pent-up love for her , have yielded up his whole soul , and she would have been mistress of all his wealth of love . Two worlds' of love would have blended and become one . But on the eve of her triumph had all her glorious vistas of happiness been blighted by the fragile spectre of Miss Phane , ancl her wild earnestness had been more powerful than all her charmsand—Humberton

, had forgotten her I Oh , cruel fate ! Why was she thus unfortunate , unhappy ? Were there not thousands of eli gible young men eager to ask her hand ? Yes , but not of the calibre of Humberton—not to be chosen , like him , above all others ; ancl now she would wed none other . Wh y did she not commit suicide ? It would show Humberton what he had lost , and she was tired of life . But a felo de se was always branded as a coward . No , she would immure herself away

from the world in a nunnery . Love and the world were no longer for her . Perhaps , too , she had acted foolishly ; but , ; there , she would no longer be the victim of her own passions . So she resolved to take the veil without reserve , and she would steal away unknown to anyone , where she could forget and be forgotten , for life was no longer worth living . Poor Violet ! Surely such a course was impetuous weakness , ancl mistrust of self .

Exhausted , she slept in her operatic costume , as she had flung herself down , until late the next morning , though she felt little refreshed for her rest , and her purpose was as determined as ever . To others , she appeared to have sullenly ancl resignedly accepted the facts as they were , but meantime she was making active preparations for a sudden departure . They fondly imagined she had given up her idea of becoming a nun ; but one morning before daybreak a

carriage silentl y drew up a short distance from her home , and in a few minutes she was being rapidly whirled away towards her destination , and she felt like a martyr leaving the vain world ancl its follies . But who was that madman tearing after the carriage thus early ? It could not be Redtaper ! But it seemed like him . It was him ! with his hat lost ancl his coat flying , while his hair seemed tearing from his head . He was

running after the vehicle at break-neck speed , with his teeth clenched ancl his eyes starting from his head , and , straining every nerve to catch up to the now galloping horses . The driver , too , had seen him , and he whipped his cattle into their hi ghest speed , ancl urged them with loud whoops . Still Redtaper , though evidentl y physically distressed , was gaining on the carriage . On , on , the horses spedwhile Redtaper struggled franticalland breathlesslbehindancl

, y y , Violet watched him tremulously through the window . She pitied him in his determined but fruitless devotion , and she could almost have had another feeling for him had not Humberton absorbed all her passion . Redtaper reall y had some spirit in him , but his tout ensemble could not compare with Humberton ' s . Now he was steadily gaining on the rapidly-flying vehicle , and Violet began to be afraid lest all her lans miht be frustrated through his inter

p g - ference . Her compassion for him almost made her check the driver ; but dreading the consequences she drew her hand away , and flinging herself back in the carriage she tried to bury her thoughts , while she devoutly wished the journey was at an end .

Meanwhile , poor Redtaper came panting along almost exhausted . His presence there was accounted for by being up early walking in the neighbourhood of the lady whom he so madly and hopelessly adored . Every morning since that catastrophal night he had risen from his sleepless couch in spite of the physician ' s injunctions , ancl , his arm in a sling , had meditatively walked near the house which contained all ho held dearhoping to catch sight of her at

, some time . He had just come that morning in time to see her jump into the carriage ancl be rapidly driven off . Immediately he gave chase , for he guessed her object in a moment . Although he was still weak from pain ancl loss of blood , the excitement lent him strength , and he steadil y kept up the chase