When Love Rules The Heart.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9571, 18 August 1909, Page 2

When Love Rules The Heart.

CHAPTER XX.—Continued. I Zilla crept through a broken hedge, scratching her hands and face and tearing her shabby dress. She crouched down with quaking heart and aching limbs. The carriage whirled past, and a faint cry escaped her. The vehicle contained two men •—Gus Etherington and her father. Then there was some truth in Mr Etherington's promises; and her father was free. She was glad of that. Her faculties became numbed again, and she stared sullenly after the departing carrage. "They wll come back when they find that I am gone," she muttered. "Why cannot I lie here and die? Sleep would so sweet—the sleep that ends in death !'* Beyond the grainfields a strip of forest' lay calm and cool-looking against the blue of the sky. Zilla turned her fade toward it and tottered onward. She had lost all count of time. She climbed fences and waded through streams. A haven of rest was before her, where she could sleep and die. The prayers she had learned in the dear old pension at passed her lips now. She believed that she was a child again, wandering in the wood in search of wild flowers. She called to imaginary companions. At last she sank wearily upon a bed of dried leaves. The birds sang a lullaby, the bees droned a slumber-Jong, and Zilla biept. The sun was sinking. A soft wind whisperd among the irees, and Zilla smiled her dreams. "Duncan, my fearless knight'" she murmured again and again. The moon rose, stars glittered in the purple heavens. The music of church-bells floated out on the air. Zilla moved in her sleep and shivered slightly—the night was growing chilly. She heard the beils, and an j expression of insffable joy appeared on her face. She was back at the dear old pensionnat! They were chanting the "Anerelus" in the church ! over the way. Her lips moved. "'At noon as she lay in the sultrines under his broad leafy limes, Far sweeter than murmuring waters came the toll of the Angelus chimes; Pious and tranquil, he rose and uncovered his reverend head, I And thrice as the "Ave Maria," and thrice was the "Angelus" said Sweet custom the South still rptaineth to, turn - for a moment away From, the pleasures and pains of existence, from the trouble and turmoil of the day, From the tumuJt within and without, to the peace that abideth'on high, When the deep, solemn sound from the belfry comes down like a voice from the sky. '"And thus round the heart of the old man at morning at noon, and at eve, The bells, with their rich woof and music, the network of happiness weave. Thev ring in the clear, tranquil evening, and, lo! all the air is alive, As the sweet-laden thoughts come like bees to abide in his heart a hive? Th°y blend' with his moments o£ joy, as the odor doth blend with the flower, They blend with his light-falling tears, as the sunshine doth blend with the shower; As their musicjs mirthful or mournful his pulse beateth sluggish or fast, And his breast takes its hue, like the ocean, as the sunshine or shadows are cast!'"

She breathed the words passionately, tenderly. She heard the thunder of the organ; she saw the winds crowded with .saints. The rafters trembled when the adoring voices were raised in th£ prayerful song. The wind stirred the trees, and a leaf fluttered downward. It rested on ZiJla's face, and ,'hor beautiful dream was ended., A cry escaped her, and she struggled to her feet, cold, weary, and in rags. Had some loathsome ceature touched her? A bird uttered a weird cry. It had aH been a dream —the music, the "Angelus!" No—the bells of some church were still ringing. She tottered into the moonlight, and began to toil wearily onward. The bells were pealing joyously—they were mocking at her misery! She covered her ears with her hands and ran. Then the bells ceased, and shejstood uantinn in the glare of the gaslight. How unutterably weary she was! Her throat was parched. Oh, for a drink of pure water! Beyond the gaslight, Zilla saw a builcing nestling darkly amid a thick group of trees. Lights gleamed from the windows'. There were warmth and comfort there. She walked blindly along the drive, and paused before a massive portico a lagged figure, with dishevelled hair and gleaming eyes. She wanted shelter and rest. Her dazed senses understood no more. Her trembling; limbs would hardly support her; but the old instinct was strong within her. She must sing if she expected any reward. She stood back on the the trim lawn, and her sweet vjice rose on the still ah. She held

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

out her hands in blind fashion, and , sang the passionately pleading song of Blind Nydia, of Thessaly: "'Buy my flowers—oh, buy, [ pray! The blind girl comes from afar. If the Earth be as far as I hear them say. These flowers her children are. Do they her beauty keep? They are fresh from her lap, I know, For I caught them fast asleep In her arms an hour ago, With the air which is her breath— Her soft and delicate breath— Over them murmuring low. . . .'" Zilla's song ended in a wail of passionate appeal. She was blind to all that was passing about her. The lights from the lamps in the portico shed a soft radiance around her, and she stood revealed, a strange un-canny-looking figure, |£tf SggjfiSl Two men servants were regarding her curiously, contemptuously—a footman and the butler. "I suppose that it's a case of passing around the hat now, John," the butler said to the footman. "There don't appear to be a hat, Mr Brown. I think she's goin' to sing again. Perhaps I'd better move her off?" he added questioningly. "One moment, John.. Let's see her game. Of course there's more of them, an' the girl is only waiting for them to come up. a fine object she is! Lfioks like a witch! Such people ought to be locked up!" The butler sniffed contemptuously. "Now, you there!" he added in a loud voice. "Off you go. or I'll set the dog at you n ■wm'zsEßSEZzz&m Zilla did not comprehend. She gazed straight before her with unseeing eyes; her brain seemed numb. Her parched lips moved, but no sound came from thtm. "Take the creature away, John!" the butler said loftily. "There'll be the deuce to pay if the mistress catches us!" John came forward and seized one of Zilla's arms. She fell to the ground. He shook her fiercely. "Here's a go," he grumbled—"drunk, very likely. It's all a fake being blind. I saw her look at me straight enough." "Fools! What are you doing there?" The voice come from the hall—- | hard, rasping, shrill. The butler tried tu look apologetic and dignified. The footman became as an autmaton.' There was the sound of a stick on the floor, being used as a support in walking. Then an old lady appeared in the portico, tall and severe-looking, he.r black eyes flashing angrily. She wore a dress of black silk; it gleamed in the light from the lamps. It rustled omii.ously when she moved; the style was out of date. There was a cruel expression about her mouth, her nose was hooked like the beak of a bird of prey, and a pair of vicious black eyes gleamed through gold-rimmed spectacles. | TO BR CONTINUED.!