After All, Or Thrice Won.

tisecl , ancl bis grand idea was to be able to abandon business and become a musician , a composer . Nothing could be more in harmony with his tastes , ancl he determined to strive to attain his object . He obtained a music master , a long , Jean , sallow-faced man , AY ith one glaring eye , AVIIO taught him very strictly . No humbug Avith him ; he'd roughed it , be bad , and he know what a young man should do if be intended to get on in the world . He vouched that

Humberton had a splendid ear for music , and would soon be a regular steady player if he only stuck at it . In fact , if he would attend to bis teaching he would soon be perfect . This Avas all very flattering to Humberton , but somehoAV be hardly liked to have that glaring eye always feeding on him , and it did not exactly inspire confidence . But then be thought that be wi \ s maligning tho poor fellowwhose

, misfortune it was to have lost an eye ; but it certainly did seem to have a very malignant expression . Be that as it may , his character towards Humberton belied this , for he was abvays agreeable and friendly in tbe extreme . When he had been three . years under his tuition , he Ai'as fortunate enough ( partly through tbe influence of Mr . Cribton ancl Mr . Phane ) to obtain a situation as

organist at one of the best churches , where the Phane fami ly attended . For this service he received thirty pounds per annum . Six months after this he hacl another misfortune ; the stocks iu which his father ' s money Avas invested turned out to be unsound , and he lost nearly the whole of it . This , however , he bore without a murmur , and considered that for his age he was not so badly off after all . Besides his salary from Messrs . Phane & Co . ( that mystic " com" ) and bis emolument from tbe churchho made some little sums bbis

pany , , y musical compositions , of which , he hacl already published several by the good services of Mr . Cribton . But in comparison Avith the fame they brought him , the notice they received , and the sale effected , bis profits were not adequate . This , he imagined , Avas the difficulty at the commencement of such a profession , only to be OA'ercome by time and perseverance . He patiently continued on ; Cribton brought all his pieces out for himthe publishers buying the

, copyright of him , ancl taking all risks . When Humberton took the situation as organist he left Mr . Cribton , as far as lessons on the organ were concerned , but that gentleman still continued his friendship towards him , and was more friendly than OA'er . Indeed ho took quite a patronizing interest in bis clever pupil , and encouraged him by all means in his power to continue in his present work . He promised him a golden future , and helped him in all his

enterprizes . . This AA as Arthur Humberton ' s present position . His had not been a bed of roses , but fortune had been his friend through adversity , and his perseverance hacl brought him success . His name ivas not altogether unknown in musical society , and he felt that be had a standing of which many might envy him .

After this digression Ave will turn to where we left him in tbe conservatory with , the lovely Miss Phane . Near them nestled the little tortoiseshell cat that hacl furnished such amusement to the icy company a few hours ago . It was purring pleasantly , and seemed to partake of tbe happiness they Avere enjoying . A young retriever clog was lying at their feet in happy contentment at beingnear bis mistress . The dog and cat were perfect friends , ancl fed ancl played together notwithstanding their difference in size and nature .

By this time Humberton had been saying a great deal to Miss Phane on many subjects . Their conversation had at ' first been of cats and clogs , ancl they exchanged their little theories as to what would become of them when they died . Then they talked about tbe flowers that surrounded them , and the origin of their symbolic meaning , and how beautiful it all was . "If you were to be a flower now , Miss Phane , what would you choose to be ? " "Well , that is difficult to say ; there are so many beautiful ones Avith different qualities . "