When Love Rules The Heart.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9541, 13 July 1909, Page 2

When Love Rules The Heart.

CHAPTER V.—Continued. After this the conversation flowed merrily enough, but Duncan could not escape Helen's half-reproachful gaze. Had he really been unkind? He felt angry with himself. Immediately after dinner he asked ; Miss Howard to stroll with him down to the river. The moon was rising. The sky was perfectly clear. The air was soft and odorous. Armitage pressed Helen's hand tenderly when they were alone. "I am filled with remorse," he whispered. "Why, my darling?" She looked up -ct him brightly, happily. The words of endearment, the intense passion in her voice and eyes startled him. •'I have been so thoughtless to-day, Helen! I have hardly said a dozen words to you. The others have noticed it, too. I wish that I could throw off this sense of depression. I suppose that it will be all right when the air is cleared—after next Saturday." He hesitated, then added, "I have told Cecil." A bright colour flooded Helen Howard's face, and she clung more tightly to his arm. "I ain very happy, Duncan," she softly whispered. "I know that we belong to each other now. I hope that Lady Amiandale will be pleased." "If wo are satisfied, sweetheart, the whole world may turn aside. But we will wait until after next Saturday." tie stooped and kissed her upturned hps, and she put her arms j about his neck. "Oh, Duncan, my darling--my darling, if anything came between us now, I should die I" The clocks were striking the hour of eight, and a punt, illuminated by gaily coloured lights, was floating toward the river-bank. "The minstrel troupe!" Armitage exclaimed. His heart leaped almost joyously. "The man at the piano is named Seton —the girl is his daughter. Can you imagine it, Helen? Come—we must prepare Florence and Miss Casson. Then I will speak to Seton, and tell him the sort of entertainment we require I don't think that we shali care much for the singing of the men. Miss Seton's voice is simply divine!"

Helen shivered. , Within a lew minutes Armitage had chosen a spot tor the singers, and caused Beats to be placed close by for Laay Annandale and her guests. Then the concert began, the leader ot the troupe playing a violin solo. It was a very poor performance and Armitage chafed with impatience when he saw his sister's lips curling. "I have heard better musicians in the London streets," she said quietly. "My dear Duncan, I am so glad that Sir John is not at home, and hope that ha Wi!l nevey hear of this mad eswpaJeof yaursr' •She signalled to a footman, and said to him in an Undertone: no account permit any of these people to enter the house. If I they require refreshments—and, of course, they always do—let them be served here after the performance." Tfee footman retired, looking deeply disgusted.. The violin solo was followed by a "comic" song, and Lady Annandale shuddered as she listened to it. "I really cannot endure it, Duncan!" she plaintively whispered. "The horrid creature is smirking at us!" "Hang it!" the young man muttered. "I had not bargained for thip. One moment, and I will put a stop to it! I have only heard the young lady sing, and—l'll be back in a minute." / Mr Seton was not well pleased to have his programme interfered with, but he consented to allow his daughter to sing two songs, after which the troupe would retirs. He spoke With dignity. Flushed find annoyed, Armitage returned to the ladies. Miss Casson smiled mockingly at him. Lady Anjiflridalq W? 8 % aziD f£ thejslim figure before her.' "So that is your embryo Patti!"j she observed a little contemptuously. a bad-looking girl! Take warnihg, Mr Duncan Armitage. It the young lady begins to squall, I shall depart instanter. I have endured sufficient torture already." "She really has a lovely voice," said Helen Howard. "What can one expect from such people!"j| Lady Annandale laughed disdainfully. "After this, mon frere, I quite endorse Lady Rainhill's opinion. Every yuung man requires a practical guardian!" and she laughed a ringing, tantalising laugh. "Hush!" Miss Casson whimpered. "The nightingale is preparing to warble." Her eyes were fixed upon the flushed face of Armitage. He was angry, annoyed, expectant. "Let us hope tha: we shall hear something passable from your Patti," said his sister. "And the sooner there is an end tc it the better. I tremble to think what Sir John will say. And it is sure to get to his ears now that I have offended Mr Gus Etberington." Duncan muttered something which the others did not catch. Then the ) sweet song rippled from the lios of

V BY OWEN MASTERS. 1 1 Author of "Captain Emlyn's Daughter," "The Woman 5 Wins," ''The Heir of Avisford," "One Impas- 5 f sioned Hour," Etc., Etc. /

the girl minstrel. Her eyes seemed to be fixed upon Armitage, and she trembled from emotion. When the song was finished Duncan glanced triumphantly at his companions. "The girl sings well," Lorna Casson said. "Her voice lacks training," Lady Annandale murmured. I heard ihe same song yesterday," Helen Howard coldly remarked. She could not understand her lover's infatuation, and the girl appeared to be singing to him alone. "Oh, people of that class usually have a very limited repertory! The same old songs are eternally dinned into the ears of those who are silly enough to listen to them." Lady An* uandale laughed a little scornfully; then she added, "Good gracious, Duncan is talking to the —er—man Seton!" Duncan returned to his seat, saying: "I have asked Mr Seton to conclude his concert with a modern song. Miss Seton will sing one from the "Geisha.' Have the goodness to bear with it politely. Even traveling minstrels have their feelings." Lady Annandale did not reply. The song was tha "Amorous Goldfish," and the girl sang it with a power and pathos that enthralled her hearers. , "A godfish swam in a big glass bowl, As dear little goldfish do. But she loved with the whole of her heart and soul. An officer brave from the ocean wave, And she thought that he loved her, too! Her throbbing mouth he daily fed With crumbs of the best digestive bread, "This kind attention proves," said she, "How exceedingly fond he is of me I" And she thought, It's fit-fit, fitter, He should love my glit-glit, gliter, Than his heart gave way . To the butterfles gay, Or the birds that twit-twit, twitter." | TO BE CONTINUED.!