When Love Rules The Heart.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9548, 21 July 1909, Page 2

When Love Rules The Heart.

I "Hang the troupe. Mr Seton! I quite understand your anxiety. Zilla is not to sing in public again You shall be well repaid for the loss of her services. 1 wish you to leave Henley to-day. I am going to London myself. Meet me at the Grand Hotel to-morrow evening, any time after Bix o'clock, arid bring Zilla with you." His voice softened, and his eyes rested lovingly on the girl's face. "That will suit you, Zilla, will it not?" he whispered. "Yes; and I shall not see you again until we meet in London? It will seem so long!" Seton was silent. His joy had overpowered him. "Good-by, my darling'" Armitage said. "To-morrow!" He *ook her hand and pressed it passionately. "To-morrow"! she replied faintly. Her eyes beamed with the eloquence of love. raised her fingers to his lips, then turned away. CHAPTER IX. "I ADMIRE YOUR CODE OF HONOR!" Duncan Armitage was desperate. he told himself, was man placed in so terrible a dilemma. Within the short space of a week he had deliberately engaged himself to two women —both beautiful, and both equally lovable. Neither, he knew, would be acceptable to his father; but to his independent nature that was a matter of little importance. He had acted the part of a villain —thoughlessly,'perhaps. What would the world think of him, say of him? But, above all, poor Helen,the gentle loving creature, whom he had deceived with an apparent recklessness that was blood-curdling—what would she think? He hated himself for it, and he ground his teeth in his bitterness of heart. When he arrived at the Nook, he was fortunate enough to gain his own apartments unnoticed. The ladies were at iuncheon, and now and again the ringing laughter of Miss Gascon reached his ears. For upward of an hour he sat without moving, his face downcast. He heard quick voices and light footsteps in the corridor outside the door of his room. It all seemed l ; ke an ugly dream—all save the pleasant trufh that he loved and was beloved by the sweet girl minstrel "Poor little Zilla!" he murmured tenderly. "Beautiful, innocent Zilla —how I love you!" With a quick movement he rose to his feet and paced the floor. He i had a cruel duty to perform -he must j tell Helen Howard all! She must' hear the truth from no other lips. | In a few days his wickedness and J folly would be the gossip of the clubs —the latest story morsel to tickle the palates of people ,to whom scandal and five o'clock tea were the sweets of life. If Helen's name could be kept out of it He sat down, his brows knitted, a leok of resolution on his face. It would be better, wiser not to see Helen Howard again—tor a little while, at least. He could make his i confession in writing. It wculd be less humiliating for both. And then? Well, he would leave the house quietly, and go to London. His sister would understand later. As for his interview with Lord Rainhill, he would make short work of that. Compared with other things, it was but the merest child's play. He seized a pen and began to write. "My dear Helen, playmate of my boyhood, the truest., dearest friend I ever had " He prauaed for his eyes were blinded by a rush of tears. The sweet face of Helen rose before him, so full of love and simple faith! Ha was her king, her knight of the spotless shield! How could he undeceive her? Oh, the shame of it all—the suffering, the humiliation! do it yet!" he groaned. He heard a deep voice under his window —it was the voice of Clarence Mountarbon. A flush sprang into his cheeks, there was a fierce gleam in his eyes. He remembered that his friend had insulted Zil'a — his beautiful Zilla! He listened. Mountarbon was talking to someone—to Lady Annandale and Miss Casson. He heard their voices, too. "Not returned yet?" said Mountarbon. with a laugh. "Jove! I saw him hours ago—ah—taking a con-* stitutional!" "Was Mr Armitage alone?" Lorna Casson asked. "I should imagine so. The streets were pretty full this morning. Bril liant weather, you know. And I spoke only in passing. Called back that should drop in at the Nook later, or something to that effect. By Jove, I must lecture Duncan upon his bad taste! Disgracef'.i], realty, to neglect t:o much beauty!" There was a chorus of merry laughter, and then Lady Annandale spoke. "Now that you are here, Mr Mountarbon, I insist that you stay to dinner! We are so lonely, you know! And lam sure that Duncan will be annoyed if he misses seeing you." "Well, my dear Lady Annandale, ! you must take me as I am" Mountarbon replied, in a tone of mock resignation. "I haven't sufficient energy to return to my hotel to dre.ss, really. It is not yet four j o'clock; and in the meantime 1 shall be in naradisp." 1

I BY OWEN MASTERS. 3 ? ? I* Author of "Captain Emlyn's Daughter," "The Woman y Wins," "The Heir of Avisford," "One Impas- 6 / sioned Hour," Etc., Etc. *)

"Flatterer!" cried Lady Annandale. "Miss Helen Howard is here. You have met her, I believe, Mr Mountarbon?" "Oh, yes!" he lazily replied. "I am going to the drawing-room," announced Miss Casson. "And please do not follow me! I have some songs I want to try over, and I become horribly nervous when people fuss about the music. lam glad that Mr Armitage is not here just now, as the songs are for his edification par'icularly." She laughed merrily. "We had a singing girl here. Mr Mountarbon, and her songs from the 'Geisha' were charmingly rendered, for such a creature. Mr Armitage quite lost his head " "And his heart?" supplemented Mountarbon languidly. "Always was an impressionable, impetuous fellow! I must talk to him." "His heart?" Miss Casson smiled. "Does a man possess anythng so inconvenient? I cannot believe it! Oh, we poor women ! I sent this morning for the music of the 'Gesha.' and I want to surprise Mr Armitage. He appeared to be perfectly infatuated with some of the aongs." "Or the voice of the singer—which?" asked Mountarbon. "She is certainly a cut above the ordinary run ot wandering minstrel!" he added meditatively. "But her father is an unmitigated scoundrel—a blackmail" "Of whom are you talking?" demanded Lady Annandale. "I thought you understood! Little Zilla Seton, the pretty gipsy girl. She has wicked dark eyes, has the little Seton!" "How can you men discuss the merits and demerits of such a creature?" Lady Annandale scornfully said. Duncan's smoldering wrath sprang into a flame, and, with tight clenched hands, he took a steo toward the ' door. Then he paused to hear Mountarbon's reply. "A pretty woman is always an enchantress. Lady Annandale. A man may despise her lowly birth, her vulgar tongue, but physical beauty and bewitching dark eyes appeal with a power that is irresistible to warm natured, impetuous young fellows, 1 such as your brother undoubtedly is. And, as for myself"—he laughed—"l do not claim to be any better than the rest!" | TO HE CONTINUED.!