When Love Rules The Heart.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9549, 22 July 1909, Page 2

When Love Rules The Heart.

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

CHAPTER IX.—Continued. At that moment Miss Casson's fingers glided over the keys of the grand piano in Lady Annandale s drawing-room. She played a brilliant perlude, then her clear voice reached Duncan Armitage's ears. He listened sneeringly. She was singing Zilla's songs., but they did not sound the same! Miss Casson's voice was hard, metallic. Zilla's was as sweet as (hat of the lark. This noise was torture beyond expression. There was a paus3 and Mountarbon called out: "Bravo, Miss Casson! Thanks, awfully ! I am sure that your perfect singing will charm from Armitage 8 mind "all thoughts of the little Seton's cooing notes." Miss Casson laughed, and began to sing "A Geisha's Life": " 'A geisha's life imagination tints With all the charming colour of the rose, And people won't believe her when she hints Its beauties are not quite what they suppose. Because I'm rather quaint and picturesue They think that, for a butterfly like me, Existence is delightfully grotesqueHow very much mistaken folk may be! " ' "Oh, dance, my little geisha gay, And sing your pretty songs!" they say. But don't you see It's hard on me, Who sing and dance the livelong day? " 'And, ever as my samisen I play, Come lovers at my pretty feet to fall, Who fancy, till I bid them run away A geisha's heart has room enough for all! Yet Love may work his will, if so he please; Hisjmagic can a woman's heart unlock, As well beneath kimonoMapanese As under a smart Parisian frock. " ' "We love you, little geisha gay— Oh, won't you love us too?" they say, But don't you see, It's lost on me, Who hear the same mirig ever day?' " "Delightful little songs of their kind, Miss Casson," Mountarbon said. Lady Annandale had retired, and Mountarbon was talking to Lorna through an open French window. "So idiotically sentimental, you know! I am sure that Armitage ought to be flattered. Would you po to all this trouble for any one else?" "I don't think so," Miss Casson coldly replied. "Mot for Mr Mountarbon at any rate!" "Why, may I ask?" "You are iptolerable. I have not forgotten a very unpleasant scene between us in London, fray do not let there be a repetition of it here! You told me that you cared really nothing for me—that it was i.iv money " "I told a lie," he fiercely retorted. "1 was mad with disappointment, and I have followed you here." "It is useless, for 1 do not like you. Mr Mountarbon! I hoped that you were a gentleman!" For a few moments there was silence; then he replied hoarsely: "I have Armitage to thank for this! Why is it that some men ara so favoured? Why is it that all women are fools? You are a handsome girl. Miss Casson; but, compared with the street singer, your beauty is as naught in the estimation of the man you are so servilely anxious to attract!" His tone was intensely bitter and cutting. "He is with her now. He has been with her all day." I admire your code of honour?!" Miss Casson laughed mockingly. Clarence Mountarbon turned and walked across the lawn, while the woman whom he had now lost all hope of winning warbled "The Amorous Goldfish." " 'That charming girl for a time upset The officer brave and gay, And his sad little pet he contrived to forget, For with never a crumb did he chance to come, So the goldfish pined away ! Until at last some careless soul With a smash knocked over the big glass bowl, And there on the carpet, dead and cold, Lay the poor little fish in her'frock of gold! " 'But her fate so bit-bit-bitter Is a story fit-fit-fitter, For a sad little sigh, And a tear in the eye, Than a thoughtless tit-tit-titter!' " Mountarbon turned and looked back with flashing eyes. His jndolent air was gone. "I think that I both love and hate her!" he said to himself. "She talks contempetuously of men's hearts! She cast a slur on my code of honour too. I never dreamed that Armitage was my rival until now. We were once fast friends; but what is the friendship between man

and man when one robs the . other of the woman he loves? Friendship? A hollow mockery! The bonds give way, and hatred " He broke off abruptly. He saw the gloomy face of Duncan Armitage at one of the upper windows, and a deep flush mounted in his cheeks. He waved one hand airily. Armitage moved away. "There will be trouble between ua," muttered Mountarbon. "He has heard something. I could find it in my heart to lecture him; but let him go his own way. Poor little Zilla! I pity her. She is so pretty—and so wicked! A perfect little witch! I never thought it of her. But the father is no fool Why should Armitage and I quarrel? My real enemies are Lord Rainhill and the frivolous Lady Annandale. I will talk to Duncan. Poor little Zilla!" Again Lorna Casson's voice rang out: " 'But her fate so bit-bit-bitter, Is a story fit-fit-fitter, For a sad little sigh, And a tear in the eye, Than a thoughtless tii-tit-titter'' " Mountarbon heard, and unconsciously he murmured again: "Poor little Zilla!" CHAPTER X. "THE DIE IS CAST!" Armitage surprised Lady Annandale, on the evening of the day when he had been out with Zilla, by walking unconcernedly down-stairs about half an hour before dinner. Clarence Mountarbon was reclining on a gar-den-seat within view of the window, smoking. Helen Howard and Lorna Casson were cutting flowers for the table. "My dear Duncan," exclaimed Lady Annandale reproachfully, "I did not know that you were even in the house! When did you return home?" "Hours since," replied her brother carelessly. "It was a relief to get away from the incessant chatter of you women, so I have amused myself packing my satchel. lam off to London by the midnight train, in obedience to the order of the great Caesar.'' / "What nonsense you are takling! Caesar indeed?" "I mean the governor—our respected father—Lord RivSnhill. It is of no use putting off the evil day. lam determined to face the inevitable!" ( .-a Lady Annandale's face became very pale. "You frighten me, Duncan*" she whispered. "What do you intend to do? Tell me everyting. The others will not be in for a little while." | TO RK nONTINI/ED.]