rew her arms around his neck, in an affectionate embrace, exclaiming:

'Oh! Mr. McDonogh, is it you? I have not forgotten you during our long
separation.' And after a pause, her emotions checking her utterance, she
continued: 'We were once betrothed; it would have been better for both
if we had married. Is it too late to repair that fatal error?'

For the first time for forty years, the old man was deeply affected by a
tender and human feeling. The ancient love was aroused from the deep
recess of his heart, where it had kin dormant and forgotten, and for a
moment triumphed over the passion which had been growing and expanding
for the half of his lifetime, until it had gained the entire mastery of
his soul. Greatly moved by this penitence of his once-loved betrothed,
Mr. McDonogh begged to be permitted to consult his better judgment, and
tearing himself from the bewitchments of the Countess, he repaired
instantly to the office of his lawyer. Walking in with the appearance of
great excitement, he paced the office of the lawyer in an anxious and
excited manner for some time, to the profound astonishment of his
ancient counselor. At last the cause of this emotion was explained,
when, turning to his lawyer, Mr. McDonogh confessed that he was under a
great excitement, produced by meeting his old love, the Countess. 'And
what would you think now, R----, if I were to marry her?'

'I should think,' replied the unsentimental counselor, 'that you had
become crazy.'

'Ah?' replied the millionaire interrogatively, and then pausing
thoughtfully, he continued: 'And you would think right--you would think
right; so let us to business.'

HELTER-SKELTER PAPERS.

In choosing a caption for the heterogeneous collection of reflections
that are likely to be the result of the 'present writing,' the
superscriber makes no apology for his title not being also a topic to
any further extent than its consideration in this paragraph. The object
held in view in giving _any_ name to the succeeding lucubrations was
merely to obtain a starting-point; it being conceded that the
commencement of a _tas_ of papers need have no greater influence on
their course than the point of departure of a railroad-train exercises
on its terminus and intermediate stopping-places. To resort then to my
heading or its derivations for any indication of my purpose in what may
follow, would be futile, and I am free to disclaim any premeditate
purpose of governing m