When Love Rules The Heart.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9581, 30 August 1909, Page 2

When Love Rules The Heart.

CHAPTER XXV.—Continued. "Mr Duncan." he murmured, "his lordship desires you to see him in the west drawing-room. General and Mrs Howard, Mr Cecil Howard and Lady Florence are there. His lordship bade me tell you this." "Thank you," Duncan replied shortly, "And this- this is Fate!" he muttered to himself. CHAPTER XXVI. A JOYFUL DREAM. "The interview was brief. All felt that it was a common sorrow. The differences which had existed between Lorn Rainbill and General Howard were forgiven and forgotten. They had been political foes for long years. His lordship's quiet, cutting sarcasm, his cold-blooded ethics, had maddened the fiery old soldier at times. Both were patriots, but of a different kind. They were neighbours who had waged constant war one upon the other. Then his lordship had noticed Cecil Haward's marked abili-ties-had encouraged and helped him. There was no bar to the intercourse and companionship of their children. General Howard was notoriously poor, but he had managed to send his son to Oxford. Cecil Howaid and Duncan Armitage had been classmates—had fought shoulder to shoulder in many a scrimmage. The hearts of all were now touched with the humility taught by suffering a common grief Mrs Howard and Lady Florence were sobbing. The general took Duncan's hand; his eyes were moist—there was a break in his voice, "Boy, it may be a great deal to ask of you in the circumstances, but if you care for her it will not seem so hard. Of course the whole thing is a mockery, but sick people who are ill have strange fancies. You will make my darling happy at last, and —and I thank you." "I wish that 1 could do more, sir," Duncan faltered. "I will leave everything in your hands—l am ready at - any time. I have loved Htlen since she was a mere child." He was conscious of Cecil's cold .gaze, and turned away. Lurd Rninhill was beeide him. ".You are completely unstrung. Duncan," he said affectionately. "You want rest. It is now five o'clock; dinner is at seven. The Howards are remaining here until — the last," he added, in a whisper. Armitage went to his own room. He moved about mechanically. He was like a creature without volition —a feather in a torrent. He did not are how sqon life was ended for himself. The future held not one ray 01 hope. He did not doubt that Zilla was dead; Etherington had said that the river was going to be searched. Oh, Heaven! He stood at the window and watched the flying laaves; he listened to the swirling, hissing rain. The moaning of the wind found an echo in his heart. He bathed and dressed in th 3 same mechanical, dazed way. and went down to thp dining-room at the sound of the fir&t bell. Cecil Howard was standing on the hearth-rug. "Duncan," he sair l , "I was rude to you once in town; I want to apologise, if only for the sake of the eld clays tugether." "It does not signify," was the curt reply. » "But it does, old man!" Cecil flushed. "We are all liable to temp tatian, and one is quick to judge nnd misjudge. I had heard so many ugly stories, and I knew what you were to my faster." "I refuse to be arraigned by you or any other man, Cecil Howard! Do you hear me? I have been little better than a puppet all my life, simply because I have not had the courage to assert myself. If you take your key-note from my father, you are making a great mistake. I shall never descend to hypocrisy and lying. My father has done me the bitterest wrong that one man can do another —he and another friend of mine— Clarence Mountarbon!" Cecil Howard was amazed. "From what I have seen and heard of Mountarbon," he retorted coldly, "I believe him to be a disinterested friend of yours. It is true that there was a fancied rivalry between you —on his part, at least; but that is a thing of the past. He has amended his ways, and Miss Casson might do worse. It is cowardly to disparage a man who has dragged you from the brink of ruin!" For a moment Armitage could scarcely contain himself. Here was proof positive that Lord Rainhill and perhaps Cecil Howard himself, had had some hand in Zilla's removal from Brixton Hill. Mountarbon's action had originally been inspired by petty feelings of revenge and malice. Finding that he had no real ground for either, he was passing as the heroic friend, but for him and Lord Rainhill, Zilla would not have left the protection of the Chatto3—Zilla's ■ fate would not have been shrouded in this horrible mystery. He turned his flashing eyes full upon Cecil Howard. "Cecil," he said sternly and coldly, "as brother of the saint who is dying in the ronm above us. I owe you an explanation. When you have heard it ■. jou may judge me as you please." j The young iawyer eyed! him s«l-l lenly. At the same time his face be- ,

5 BY OWEN MASTERS. § 1 ? If Author of "Captain Emlyn's Daughter," "The Woman It • Wins," "The Heir of Avisford," "One linpas- J» / sioned Hour," Etc., Etc. /

trayed a little sympathetic curiosity. There had been nothing mean or cowardly about Duncan Armitage in the old days. "Go on," hs said. "I have heard only Lord Rainhill's version of your indiscretion. Mountarbon has been his faithful henchman. H ; s lordship regards him with high favour—hence the partiality to the Cassons. Failing yourselr, Lorna might do worse than encourage the attentions oi one who loves her passionately." ~ Armitage laughed scornfully. He remembered that to the last his lordship had remained vindictive toward Zilla. He had called her a wandering beggar and common street singer. He must have known that her father's family was equal to his own—or had withering tun thought fit to keep silence? He broke out into a fierce and bitter tirade. It was so different from his old reckless carelessness and .indifference'! The yourg lawyer was startled. "I am not asking for your judgment—your leniency, Cecil. I have never wronged your sister, by word, thought, or deed, but I have not loved her as a man should love the woman whom he intends to marry. You are thinking of the night at Henley, wJien I told you of our engagement. I had drifted into it without questioning] my heart. I knew that Helen cared for me, idolized me —I knew that she was one of the sweetest creatures that ever drew breath. My father was trying to force Miss Casson upon me, for the sake of her wealth. I was commanded to do this, that, and the other. I was never questioned, but treated as the merest puppet My father never condescended to attempt to understand me. I revolted. My sister was horrified. I engaged myself to Helen, knowing that my action would be a countermove against my father. Then I defied him, and determined to face him on his own ground." "I have heard all this before—or much of it," Cecil remarked. His face was vcy pale. "Hush! I was wuite ccntent, though I believed that Lord Rainhill would never sanction my engagement to your sister. You were of the same opinion. Wejl, I had not then met my fate. She came a pocr singing girl, a member of an itinerant troupe, and I loved her at first sight." "I will not listen!" cried Cecil. "This is utterly degrading!" * I TO PK CONTINUED.!