Brotherly Love.

itoht nvrwised awl almost unnerved him . To meet kindness where le ™ Xn y harsh treatment , vibrated a soft chord m Ms bosom , and tear » to Ms eyes as he complied with the lady smviation , SdM vefheAito the parlour , and , at her request , seated « Mrs St Claire was pleased at having an opportunity of conveismg her da ^ ei

wit 7 Mm alone - As sli attributed interested »^ ^ it is not to be wondered at , that a suspicion of the myf ^ i » motives should flash across her mind . It ~^ ^ 'XC ^ S he was not acquainted with her pecuniary position , and that ^ en he was fullinformed of the extent and precanousness of

y ^^ ^ ' ^ T iffection for her daughter would be diminished . There was ceitainiy fS^inlkminted in his feelings towards Ida , but her sufferings and vicissitudes £ 5 midered Mil St . Claire familiar with much that was sordid and SKkin nature , and had gradually infused , into her mind a dishuman actions

trust in the purity of the springs of . % «^ ^ £ j to sound the depths of his feelings as early as possible , and to ] penetrate the reserve which he exhibited in her Pyesence which are e from h « da inclination to give utterance to his genmne sentiment before > one , who he had every reason to believe , regarded Mm and his affection with an SLui eye . The extent of Mrs . St . Claire's tact in ehcdmg information she required , and her success , will be understood from the

following conversation . ., „ R , « Have you noticed any alteration in Ida , lately , Simon ? said Mis . St . "No ; she appears to me to be in excellent health ; " he replied . » I don't allude to her personal appearance , I mean her spirits . ^ « They were never high , but I have not perceived that they are depressed ,

¦ or that they have undergone any change of late . " , " My maternal anxiety , perhaps , has suggested an apprehension . _ JJut i have heard her sigh frequently , audit occurred to me that there might be something on her mind , though why she should conceal it from me , I cannot

understand . " . , -, The young man made no reply , and Mrs . St . Claire proceeded . f "Do you know , Simon , that it has often surprised me , with Idas beauty and amiability , she has not succeeded in making an impression on some of the comfortable young men in the neig hbourhood , late is ¦ uncertainand it would be a sad thing , if at my death , she was thrown

, upon the world—that world of whose worthlessness I have had bitter experience . You are not aware , perhaps , that I am depending lor subsistence on the benevolence of some unknown and mysterious peison , which may be immediately suspended , or terminate with my death . _ "I have not heard this before , " said Simon , at a loss to comprehend the drift of the lady's conversation , though deeply interested in the subject

Here Mrs . St . Claire scrutinized the countenance of Simon , with the view of ascertaining the effect which her communication produced . It only betrayed sensibility which the name of Ida invariably produced on