When Love Rules The Heart.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9554, 29 July 1909, Page 2

When Love Rules The Heart.

V BY OWEN MASTERS- *> ? / (, Author of "Captain Emlyn's Dniur\ter,'' "The Woman {, c «s « Wins," "The Heir of Avisford," "One Impas- Jj / sioncd Four," Etc., Etc. /

CHAPTER Xll.—Continued. The sun of a peer led the .poor singing girl though the busy streets. The brilliant morning had tempted forth the votaries of fashion. , Many pairs of eyes were turned upon Duncan Armitage's stalwart form—upon the shrinking, graceful figure of the beautiful Zilla. "Armitage, by George!" said a man's voice. Duncan frowned and pressed onward. "Some of these people know me, dear," he murmrued. "I am not ashamed of you, even in this threadbare frock, but this is not the time to exchange civilities with anyone. My mind is too perturbed." After toe busy noisy streets the peace ami beauty of St. James' Park were balm to the girl's stricken soul. Duncan led her to a shaded seat, and took a place beside her, one slender hand clasped firmly in his own. The birds were chattering merrily in the trees; a group of happy children were throwing pieces of biscuits to the swans on the gleaming lake. The summer wind murmured dreamily "Zilla," Duncan whispered tenderly. She looked up, her eyes iflisty with teara. A sob escaped her. "It is dreadful—dreadful!" She covered her face with her hands. "Oh, Duncan, I heard all! I followed my father—l don't know why; I was impelled by something I cannot describe -a vague shadowy fear. I heard his voice in the smoking-room -• I hesitated to enter the room for exclusive use of gentlemen—and I stood rooted to the spot, horrified! Oh, I think that I loathe and detest him! I will never see him again! His cruel face, his whining tones, his wicked words, will live with me for ever!" "Zilla. my darling, you muit tell me everything that you know of your past—some day, not now. John Seton may not be your father I cannot believe he is. The man has deceived you from first to last. Now for the future—the future!" He started up. "I am my own master, and they will get used to it in time. Zilla, do you think that you can trust rnc fully?" "I only know that I love you, Duncan. I know that you are brave and irue. And I am so helpless! I love you so much that, if you told me to walk into that shining water and thus end my troubles forever. I should unhesitatingly do so! I love you so much that I would willingly die rather than bring you i one moment's unhappiness! But I know so little—so very little—of live that, you must talk to me freely and without fear. My childhood was spent in the French boarding-school of which I have told you, where the doings of the great world beyond never reached me." He looked into the dark eyes, he listened to the sofc voice, and he laughed at his fears. "Can you wonder, then, that the new life in England amazed and horrified me?" she continued. "I had looked forward to it s<j much, and I thought that my father was at least a gentleman, although poor.'' She shuddeied. "He has told me so otfen of his years of privation for my sake, he has upbraided me for my ingratitude; and I have tried to be dutiful in all things." "Hush, little one! You shall not he tortured by these unpleasant memories! You are mine now, until death and after! Mo power can part us. Your future shall be one of eternal sunshine." His eyes were full of passion. "'Zilla, you are my queen—my gipsy queen—if you will—and I shall be your slave, your lover, until the end of all things!" He impressed hot kisses upon her face, careless of being seen, and Zilla's eyes sparkled with happiness. "Duncan—Duncan; my knight of the spotless shield!" A frown crossed his brow, and he turned to her in his quick, impulsive way. "We shall have to be married very soon, Zilla. But in the meantime what I am I to do with you?" "You know better than J, my darling." "Your father may follow you. We must guard against that. It will take me a week or ten days to make the necessary arrangements for our marriage, and then " she waited, her ips parted, a look of perfect confidence on her face. "And then we will be married by special license, and go abroad." He sighed, and a pang shot through his heart. He thought of Lord Rainhill, of Helen Howard, of Lady Annandale, and of the flutter there would be in Micieiy. "And we will visii the dear old 'pensionnat'in France!" Zilla said rapturously. "The 'cure' will tell you how I carne to him, Duncan." "Yes/' he responded absently. "Shall I tell mv father everything at once, or wait until after the marriage?" he was thnkiing. The trees rustled in the wind, and a ripple passed over the lake. A big fleecy cloud observed the face of the sun. "Zilla, we must go." lli-3 mind began to work rapidly. "We will lunch somewhere, ar.d then drive into one of the subuibs. There are plenty (of quiet, respectable peopla who will

be glad to receive a paying guest for a week or two. I have noticed the advertisements in the papers. It is very simple," he added cheerfully. "And I will come every day until we are married, and you shall sing to me, Zilla." The girl smiled happily. They turned ot leave the park, ar.d she glanced at her shabby frock and wellworn silk gloves. "I have wondered why people stare at us so much." she said. "Of course it is the difference in our dress! And I have no money." "No money, Zilla?" He laughed agily. "All that I have will soon be yours, mydarilng! You shall have beautiful clothes, and diamonds to match your shining eyes! What a lovely woman you will be then!" "I a glad that you think so, Duncan. I should die if you grew tired of me—if you were ever ashamed of me. Do you know, darling, I felt at little jealous once of the beautiful lady with the blue eyes and the golden hair—the lady who was the guest of your sister? I remember how she looked at you, and I could not understand then why my heart pained me so!" "Jealous already, little one?" Duncan said, with a strained laugh. "You must not be jealous of anv one; it is not complimentary to me." "Oh, I worshipped you only at a distance then!" she went on artlessly. "Now I love and reverence you for your nobleness, your courage. 1 wonder if Lady Annandale will learn to love me for your sake? I cannot forget the scorn in her eyes." "Quick, Zilla! A hansom is at the corner." A minute later they were being driven cityward, to a quiet restaurant in a by-street, where there was little fear of their being followed by Seton. Armitage ordered the cabman to wait, "I shall want you all the afternoon if you are not otherwise engaged," he said. "And, if I may trust you, 1 shall have need of your cab every evening for a week or more." The cabman was highly pleased, and thanked Duncan effusively. "You can depend upon me, Mr Armitage," he said, with a know ing smile. "I'm as dumb as a doorpost." "You know me?" | TO BE CONTINUED.]