When Love Rules The Heart.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9561, 6 August 1909, Page 2

When Love Rules The Heart.

? BY OWEN MASTERS. | \ Author of "Captain Emlyn'd Daughter," "Tho Woman L ? Wins," "The Heir of Avisfovd," '"'One Impas- 5 *} sioned Hour," Etc., Etc. /

CHAPTER XV. —Continued. "You are tired, sweetheart?" Armitage whispered. "Yes—l suppose I am." She smiled faintly; but; there was a sombre glow in her eyes "J am not very strong, and the excitement tells upon me. It is nothing. I hope that we shall be left alone. It is so cool and restful here!" The tea was refreshing, and Armitage thought a little mournfully of the orders he had given to Mrs Cnp.tto. His heart was light then —only a few hours since—now it was weighed with an indefinable dread. "Pshaw!" he said to himself. "Am I an irresponsible boy, or a man? I have prided myself upon my strength of will, and now 1 am doubting like a fickle schoolgirl. My father has called tne impulsive, mercurial. I shall learn to be afraid of myself." He pressed one oi Zilla's hands lovingly, passionately. "Dear little woman, I want to be so good to you! If there'is anything 1 have forgotten, darling, you will tell me? If I am thoughtless, it is not carelessly so. Tell me all that is in your mind. We shal' not be interrupted here. I spoke to the waiter. They are not bu3y to-day, and have other rooms. See, the door is closed now. Kisa me, Zilla, my empress, my saint!" . She held her sweet face toward him; but the somber look in her eyes was still there. "Your empress, your saint!" She shivered. "A poor ma.den like me. Kiss se again, Duncan —it may be for the last time." "There will be no last time until death, Zilla. What foolish fancies you have! I hoped they were done with forever —those foolish dreams! Do you not see how such thoughts torture me? And my throbbing brain isawhirl!" "I know it, Duncan! We have been mad, both of us, for a little while — blinded by love's delirium! And I have been so Wildly happy! You have asked me to speak freely, truly. Oh, Duncan, I love you too well to let you sacrifice yourself for my sake! 1 shall never forget the amazement of your lady friend—the bitter, scathing contempt! If 1 dragged you down to my level, I should soon learn to hate myself, as you would hate me! Nay—hear me out! Oh, Duncan, Duncan- how sad that we ever met! 1 will leave England. 1 have friends in France—friends who know my unhappy story, iVends who i will protect me from the man who calls himself my father. I will take the vows—l will be a si.-ter at the UrsuJine convent at Boulogne—and you will think of me sometmes —the poor little singer who is praying for you always—always!" She broke down uttsrly, and wept on his shoulder. "Zilla, Zilla," Armitage said, almost sternly, "those silly fancies again! I will not listen. You will 'take the vows' " —he laughed—"yes—at the altar, when we are married, the day after to morrow! As for Mrs Francillon—a mischiefmaker, a malicious gossip, a female Judas—l loathe the woman! Forget her, dear, as I shall, until I can repay her a you a moment's pain. ** 'How sad "that we ever met!' Can you say that truthfully, Zilla? I know that you cannot. Since I have known you and leved you the world has been transfigured. 1 was miserable, disconten- . ted, restless; there was a void in my life which is now filled. Love in a cottage is paradise; an empty heart in a gilded palace is worse than perdition!" The girl heard, and her sobs ceased. She nestled more closely to her lover's breasc. The sombre expression in her dark eyes gave place to one of sweet tranquility. "You love me so much, Duncan!" A gentle sigh passed her lips. "I have told you so a thousand times," he replied. "I tell you so as long as life .lasts." "Duncan, you have asked me to tell you all that is on my mind, but I am afraid of your anger." "My anger against you? Zilla, will you ever be tired of wounding me?" He caressed the glossy little head. The girl's dark eyes were turned up to his. " Would you be angry. Duncan, if I told that I was really jealous?" he wistfully asked. "Jealous?" he repeated. A dark flush rose to his face. "Of whom? Of what?" Zilla was truthful in all things. She knew nothing of woman's arts and tricks of dissembling. Her colour came and went swiftly. ; 3 "I am really jealous, Duncan—it is only natural--! am jealous ot Miss Howard! I heard whaL the lady said —Mrs Francillon—l could not help it. She spoke of your engagement to Miss Howard, and I know that Miss Howard cares for you. My woman's instinct told met that then you seemed so far from me as the sun is from the hearth. Miss Howard is as beautiful as an angel: she is of good birth, too, and a lady, while I " Armitage looked troubled, wearied. "It is all nonsense!" he said briefly. "Miss Howard and I were children together—our estates join each other. She was my playmate

—we were boy and girl sweetheart if you will! I cannot prevent what the gossips may say or do. In my world engagements are daily made and unmade in society, in the newspapers—altogether unknown to the people chiefly concerned." He looked away miserably. These prevarications were so contemptible! "1 have an equal right to be jeasous of Ethei ineton and other admirers of yours!" Zilla's heart seemed to turn cold within her. She shrank away from him. "I mean," he added quickly, penitently. "that there would be an equal amount of reason in it." He rose to his feet. "How close, how stifling this room is' Shall we go, Zilla? lam sure you would enjoy 'Carmen.' " "I have no desire to see 'Carmen,' or anything else," Zilla said. "I have attracted sufficient notice already. I would rather walk in the open air—somewhere away from this incessant noise. My head pains me horribly!" Arimtage bent over, her tenderly, solicitously. There were dark circles r.und her eyes—even the quivering hps were pale. He thought of Hyde Park, but so many people knew him. London was full of open spaces. At this hour they would be crowded with men and women who had toiled all dav. He wanted something near wthin reach of a cab drive and he thought of Battersea Park. It was an inspiration. He wondered what kind of a park it was, and hoped it would not be filled with noisy children. "Come Zilla!" he whispered. "Poor little darling! The excitement ha 3 been too much for you. Your sveet face is flushed. I k now of a lovely spot where cool winds blow over a beautiful lake." He paused, not certain that his memory was serving him faithfully. He had read cf Battersea Park in a guide-book. Zilla followed him mutely. The noise of the streets again sounded in her ears. She heard a newsboy shouting, "Extra Telegraph! Capture of a desperate convict!" The distant strains of a hand-organ rose, fittully above the din. Armitiage waited at the corner until a cab crawled past. He hailed the driver, and the vehicle drew up alongside. "Battersea Park !" Arimtage ordered. He assisted Zilla into the cab: then they were whirled sway. | TO BR roN'iVNt/ED."i 20 Ladies' Tweed Coats and Jackets, usually 29/G to 52/6 must be cleat ed at 2G