After All;

AFTER ALL ;

OR , THRICE AVON .

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

CHAPTER XIX . Guide , philosopher , and friend . —POPE . A RTHUR HUMBERTON sat in Ins room thinking , and he had much to - £ ~ A- occupy his thoughts . Stern events had filled up the last few years , making a solid framework on which to build his active imagination ; a

suggestive support for the flowers of his fancy , which twined hither and thither , in ancl out of the trellis-work of his past life . He sat warming his feet before the cosy bars of his bachelor ' s fire , ancl musing- as he gazed on the bright red coals , blazing ancl crackling as if for joy . Cold ancl crisp Avas the weather without , while the biting wind blew in a rattling gust against the shaky window , ancl set everything in its neighbourhood vibrating . Warm and

cheerful was the rudely glow within , and Arthur thought of those less comfortable than himself as the fleeting ideas chased themselves through his mind . His thoughts reverted back to the time AA'hen he had first seen the beautiful Olivia at Mr . Phane ' s office , and he traced their successive meetings from that happy one at the evening party to their last , after her mother's death . What strange vicissitudes had troubled his existence since their acquaintance ; how

he had known a heaven of love , a hell of separation . Their meetings , only too few ancl short , when he had lived in a romantic Aidenn Avith his beloved one ; hoAV he had counted the heavy hours when absent from her side ; how he had struggled to win a reputation and position for her sake ; and hoiv all his hopes had been rudely clashed to the ground . His career of successes had been chequered with despair . He had always been true to his first love

, notwithstanding the attraction of others , and almost thrice had he won Olivia for his own . But was she indeed inclined towards him now ; he who had a , stain on his character ? Had she forgotten her attachment to poor Merrisslope , and returned to her old love ? Who coulcl tell ?

Ihns he ruminated over his position . Now he was rich b y his own exertions , success having attended his musical efforts . Was it money that made him friends , or was it purely for himself that they flocked round him in his prosperity ? Or were they attracted to this slave of thousands , this dirty god , this vile idol—money ? Yea , this yellow slave , the root of all evil , is indeed a wonder-worker , making and unmaking friends as with the touch of a wand . "lis a good soldier that gilds the knave ancl troubles the brave

. "Yes , " soliloquised Arthur , " Shakespeare was not wrong when he said 'Put money in thy purse ! ' The man who cannot wield the numismatical power of : a financier must fail in this world . A man with a lack of rouleaux is shunned like the plague , but a veritable god is he who possesses a lac of rupees . Ha ! ha 1 I ' m growing- humorous . But hist , Avho comes now ?" It was a trippingcheerful step at the doorand a rat-tat-tat at the

, , merry grotesque knocker , and in walked Dr . Chirrup , seemingly brimming over with fun . A portly little man , stout and comfortable-looking , who mig ht almost Jhwe been culled " podgy , " but that it AVOUM have been insulting his good nature . Jovial to a degree , he Avas at the same time a kind , warm-hearted man , whose genial manner betrayed his soul within . Not that he possessed