After All;

AFTER ALL ;

OR , THRICE WON . BY HENRY CALVERT APPLEBY , Hon . Librarian of the Hull Literary Club , and Author of "A Queer Courtship " " The Fatal Picture , " etc .,

CHAPTER XIV . Base men being in love , have then a nobility . —OTHELLO . CAN we doubt the inspiring , elevating , transforming power of love ? Is it not all ? If music sooth the breastwhat not the

powerful can savage , may syren Love do ? When man-is led by this master passion he is no longer himself , but he emulates the object upon which he has set his affection , which stimulates his good qualities ancl represses his evil ones . He is no longer human , but angelic . But to the point . In this mood was Mervyn Merrisslope . Whatever vices

he may have had , he made an assiduous and attentive lover , and few could have fought successfully against his attractive manner . Perhaps there was not the perfect gentleman there ( and how is he defined ?) , but there was an excellent impersonation of one , an art that covered a multitude of sins . Ever

since Arthur Humberton ' s misfortune , or misdemeanour as some chose to call it , Merrisslope had again been welcome at Manville Villa ; and though it was long before Miss Phane had encouraged his advances still he steadily gained her favour and she was gradually overcoming her scruples and drawing towards him . Humberton ' s disgrace had been a heavy blow to her , and she thought it was impossible then for him ever to be anything more to her than a crushed memory—a broken dream . She , toowould have liked to have left the

, world and its follies and troubles , to have buried herself anywhere out of sight . But gradually this sentiment wore off , and she became more rational , though never forgetting her cherished love for Humberton . Of course , she could never marry him , but she would care for no one else like him ; and could she conscientiously marry another ? Hacl Merrisslope not been so earnest in his love for hershe would have been strong against the temptation ; but was it

, not folly—was she not wrong to weep for a mere fancy ? Argument , however , was useless ; it always failed to convince her ; it was the ardent sincerity of Merrisslope's love for her to win her , in spite of her determination and the memory of Humberton . Not quickly or suddenly did she y ield , but very slowly ancl surely .

She thought Humberton was too ashamed to write to her ; she dare not write to him . How could it have happened ; he , so noble , so true , so good ? She could have forgiven him even then , but he had never asked her ; and what about their future , and her poor father and mother whose hearts it would almost break . No , she must sacrifice herself . It was a most reluctant yielding on her part to Merrisslope , but what could she do ? Merrisslope was very attentive and escorted her everywhere . He had

whispered his love on every auspicious occasion in the modern Babylon , than which " earth has not anything to show more fair , " according to the simple Wordsworth . A sight " touching in its majesty " is the city when it wears 'the beauty of the morning " like a garment