When Love Rules The Heart.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9543, 15 July 1909, Page 2

When Love Rules The Heart.

v BY OWEN- MASTERS. 1 Author of "Captain Emlyn's Daughter," "The Woman Wins," "The Heir of Avisford," "One Impasf sioned Hour," Etc., Etc.

CHAPTER VI. "I AM DETERMINED TO END YOUR GAME." Duncan Armitage never forgot that July evening at the Royal." Mr Seton drank champagne, while Zilla sang—and it was such singing ! Ar- : mitage sat at the open window and | watched the lights on the river. He | could almost have imagined he was in paradise. He had admired Zilla's delicate beauty in the sunlight; jt was wonderfully intensified now in the palu light of the moon. The lamps had been turned down, SO that the view of the passing flotilla, with their colored lights, should not be marred. Zilla played, and the men talked in undertones. "We may not meet for some time, Mr AiHi ita S e »" Seton said, sipping his wine. Duncan stared. Not meet again? "Why should we not, Mr Seton"? he asked. "I heartily hope that W<? may, sir! but I wished to thank you for your kindnnss to my daughter. I can see that it is for her sake and not for mina y°u have championed our cause.'* Duncan's face rtiduefied. "You are right',' he answered. "Her beauty and her childishness appeal strongly to me. She looks very young." "Zilla is twenty, sir." "And the life!" "You have already alluded to that. It is my life-it is ours—and we are satisfied." Seton spoke with no show of impatienca. "And if cannot be mended until Zilla is married," he added with a sigh. "Until Zilla marries?" repeated Arirnitage half to himself. A jealous pang shot through his j heart. How absurd it was. He rose and stretched himself. Seton did not move. Until Zilla married? Who could she marry? Some travelling mountebank —a negro minstrel! He shivered, glancing at tne slender girlish figure, and his eyes became moist. It was not mere emotion. His heart was touched to its very depths. Poor little Zilla! It was a shame, an abominable shame, that she should be tied to such a life, to such a father! He looked at the man's squat figure, the heavy fa:e, the dim eyes. And ha was the father of the fairy! "No. Zilla's life cannot be mended until she marries," Seton went on. "And then I know that my life will be marred! She is of considerable commercial value to me, Mr Armitage." " j "Don't—don't! It is bondage—elavery of the worst kind! Her life should be an idyl. Exaggerated Jan- , guage, you think? Surely not to you, whose lives are so unreal!" He turned,swiftly. "May I see you, and Zilla * to-morrow *— here—anywhere you like?" Seton did not reply for a while; then he said: "We have our engagements, sir. 1 have to pay mv troupe whether we work or not." "To-morrow night—will that suit you?" "I am sorry, but the Honourable Mr Etherington as engaged us." An imprecation rose to Duncan's lips, and Seton smiled. "That man? And you profess to care for your child?" "There are scores of men equally as objectionable. It is business with ÜB." "Cancel the engagement," Duncan said impetuously, imperiously. "I will pay you double the amount. I desire you to reserve the day for me; I hive a great deal to say to you. I have influence, and may perhaps be able to introduce your daughter into first-class opera. It is this life which I object to. And she is so beautiful, so innocent!" He broke of£, Zilla had closed the piano, and was looking toward him. "Did you hear that Zilla?" Seton asked. "Mr Armtage talks of paradise! Your beautiful voice has made you a new friend, a new patron. Ha will take you to London and you will succeed! That means Paris, Vienna —the whole world, my nightingale! Mr Armitage, your words have opened up vague possibilities you i have the tongue of a charmer. We place ourselves unreservedly in your hands. What do you say, Zilla?" The girl hesitated, and her pale face flushed.

"I am afraid!" shs murmured. "If I failed?" "You shall not fail!" her father cried. Then he turned to Duncan. "We are street minstrels no longer, Mr Armitage. That is the lowest term of reproach to which we are subjected. I take you at your word. You will see us to-morrow —me and Zilla. You may want to talk with my daughter Ido not object. You are a gentleman, and your word is as good as your bond." He held out his hand with a dramatic air, and Duncan clasped it. He would have done anything for the sake of seeing Zilla again. "We will meet here, Mr Seton," he said, "tomorrow morning. I shall not be later than eleven o'clock." The man nodded and turned up the lights, Duncan rose and walked oyer to Zilla, his hand outstretched his heart beating fast. "Good night, Miss Seton," he whispered. He felt her finger 3 within his own. Her eyp.s were misty, her sweet face was raised to his.

t "Good night, sir!" she murmured. "You have been kind to us—to me. Some day I will try to thank you. I have had my dreams, but I have never believed in their realisation until now. This life is comparatively new to me, and I know that I must flee from it scon, or it would kill me!" Her lips quivered, and there were tears in her voice. "You must tell me more about yourself to-morrow," he said He turned away. Seton was at his elbow. There was an inscrutable smile on the man's face. 1 hey walked out of the hotel together, and parted in the street. Armtage did not go home at once. The soft moonlight, the stillness Buothed him. <**■■

"Am I bewitched?" he thought, "Am I mad? What have I promised to do? I have no influence with any theatrical people. I would not introduce that child to them if I had. I want to take her out of the life altogether, I believe that lam in love with her; my reason is unbalanced! And she a gipsy girl! A gipsy! The father is nothing else." He shivered. "The man is low —cunning; the child is angelic! What will they say—my father, Florence, and Helen 9 Dear Heaven—no man is master of his fate!" It was late when he reached home. The women had retired, and Duncan was glad of it. He went to his room, and was soon dreaming of Zilla, the beautiful girl singer.

The morning brought waking dreams. Every minute took him nearer to Zilla. He threw discretion to the winds and prepared to face his sister with a fearless smile on his face.

It was late when Lady Annandale came down. Miss Casson was in the grounds, and Helen Howard pleaded a headache. Lady Annandale greeted her brother with an indulgent smile. Several letters lay on the hall table, and one was for Duncan, from hid father, Lord Rainhall. With an impatient frown, he thrust it into his coat-pocket. Miss Casson entered the breakfast room, her face beaming with smiles. Her toilet was perfect. JNo mention was made of the minsfcpeJkas and Duncan was glad of it. Once <P" twice he glanced at the clock. The breakfast seemed interminable,. "You Will excuse me, please," he said, at last. "I have a letter from my father, and I have an appointment at eleven o'clock. I will read the letter in the ilbrary. It is sure to be unpleasant; my father's letters always are. I think that I hate the sight of his handwriting. Very unfilial, no doubt, but I cannot help it!"

| TO BE CONTINUED-!