When Love Rules The Heart.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9535, 6 July 1909, Page 2

When Love Rules The Heart.

BY OWEN MASTERS. Author of "Captain Emlyn's Daughter," "Tlie Woman Wins," "The Heir of Avisford," "One Impassioned Hour," Etc., Etc.

CHAPTER ll.—Continued. "Helen Howard i 3 a lovely gnV' remarked Miss Casson, "as beautiful as the dream of a Greek poet! You laugh, and you t h ink that I am fanciful, Florence! Yju would xiofc do so had you seen the fire and passion in her eyes as I saw them. They were children together. Thpy are children now!" Lady Annandale was startled. "I will write to papa to-night," she decided. At that moment Duncan Armitage and Helen Howard reappeared. "Miss Howard and I have engaged a boat for ourselves," Dun J can called to his sister. "Make my excuses to the others. Cecil will look after you all." He took off his cap and waved it to the ladies. There was a charming blush on Helen's face, a sparkle in the soft blue eyes. Her hair shone like burnished gold in the sunlight. "What did I tell you?" asked Miss Casson. "Is she not charming? I fear that the heir of RainhiH is not for me." There was a touch of banter in her tone, but the brilliant eyes darkened, and the white teeth gleamed. "Helen Howard has been my triend; I do not want to hate her." She laughed lightly.

"You are wrong, Lorna," snid Lady Annandale. "I know my brother too well." Still her eyes sparkled with annoyance. "Come — I must not neglect my guests. It is rather inconsiderate of Duncan to leave us in this way." In the meantime Armitage had helped Miss Howard into a light boat. Skilfully Duncan guided it through the craft that crowded the river, and now and again some familiar voice cried: "Armitage, by Jove!" "Hello, Duncan!" He nodded and smiled carelessly, while the light boat shot forward like an arrow. Numerous glasses were levelled at Helen Howard's beautiful flushed face— scoi-ns of men declared that she was one of the loveliest girls in England. Soon they glided into clearer water, and Armitage rested on his skulls. "Helen," he said, "I have brought you here so that we may talk to each other without fear of interruption. Your brother Cecil is a good chap, but he has the bad habit of eternally getting in the way,"

Miss Howard turned her radiant blue eyes to hie. "What have you to say to me, Duncan?" she softly asked. "I always made you my confidante, Helen, even when I was short of pocket-money in the old happy days! Do you remember?" "Do you think I can ever forget?" A richer bloom ro3e to her face, a soften light shone in her eyes "You were always my good angel, Helen," Armitage murmured. He dropped the sculls and stretched out his hand for one of hers. The boat rocked dangerously. "Don't, Duncan —people will see you!" Helen said. "I don't care!" he passionately answered. "Oh, I suppose that I must not risk upsetting you into the water, and spoiling ail your fintry ! You are li«e all the rest, and don't care what becomes of me. I've a great mind to go broad, and stay there! There is plenty of room for nerve and muscle in South Africa." "What are you talking about, Duncan?"

"You heard me, didn't you?" he crossly asked. "To speak plainly, Helen, everybody is leagued against me, and I am utterly miserable—or obstinate! lam to leave England at once, under the .tutelage—the espionage of a foxy little gentleman who plays catspaw for Lord Rainhill. lam to be a good little boy. as my doing will be regularly, reported to my father. I must not speak unless lam spoken to, and I am to be led about by the hand like a youngster in socks and pinafore. Then lamto be brought home and married." "Oh!" interrupted Helen, with a little gasp. "Yes —I am not romancing. ' The olcj boy has chosen a wife for me, and Florence is his ally —Florence, above all women! They have not told me all this in plain English, but I can see a hole through a ladder, and I Ivant you to advise me, Helen." His fane was flushed and angry; there was sullen frown on his brow. "A wife?" the girl faltered, dabbling one of her hands over the side of the boat. "Who—who is it, Duncan?" "Can't you guess? Who else but Miss Casson? She is enormously wealthy, and the Rainhill estates are not quite unencumbered'! There have been several bad seasons, and my father is not a clever man at finance. You understand, Helen?" "Oh, yes—l think that I do!" Sha was pale to the lips, and spoke faintly. "You have amazed me, Duncan; and yet I ought not to ba amazed. It is all slipping away from us—the dear, dreamy, happy past." "I know it. What am Ito do, Helen?" "You are a man-you should know better than J. You must do your cu'y." "Confound it! Is that the best advice you can give me?" Armitage gsowled. ! "You know your own heart best,"

Helen replied tremulously. Her lips quivered. This handsome young fellow was so much to her! He had been her saint, her hero for long years. And now "You know your own heart best," she repeated.

"Yes. I should if I were a man; but I am not, lam a mere nonentity—because 1 shall one day be Lord Rainhill. As tor Miss Casson, I hate dark women—they are not my style at all. She is very handsome, very ambitious, and very unromantic. Pshaw ! I would rather make a bolt of it, and take you with me, Helen, if you would come as my wife! There is always work for willing nands; and indepedence is sweet. Of course I should be disinherited—the entail was cut off generations since—but the life iri Africa would be delightful." "Duncan—Duncan?" Helen cried. Her fae was aflame, her eyes were moist. "It cannot be! Remember vour duty. Much as I love you, dear, much as I " Her voice faltered, arfd a sob broke from her lips. "Be careful with the lines, little woman, or we shall run into that house-boat," Duncan answered. He glanced at tthe sweet, blushing face ot the girl and was startled. She loved him as only as true-hearted woman can love. "That's better. Now look at me, Helen. lam bound to iebi'l; my first duty is to myself and my future happiness. My father thinks of neither. He is wholly wrapped up in himself and the traditions of the Rainhills. Unfortunately for him—unfortunately for myself, perhaps—l am an impulsive, sensitive human being, not an insensible block. I live tor freedom, pleasure, love, and all the unfettered delights that constitute happiness in this dreary world. Duty? Am I a man or an automaton? Miss Lorna Casson indeed!" He laughed upleasantly. "And it maddens me to think that the sister whose cause I have ever championed should be arrayed against me! What a pleasure it will be to have it out t"ith my father, and through all to know that I have your sweet love and sympathy, Helen!" The girl's half-frightened eyes were turned upon him. "Do you really love me, Duncan?" she murmured. "I mean—l cannot quite explain mysdlf." She blushed painfully. "Not merely as the girl fr end of your boyhood, but " % He interrupted her with a joyous laugh. | TO FE CONTINUED.!