When Love Rules The Heart.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9587, 6 September 1909, Page 2

When Love Rules The Heart.

CHAPTER XXX. —Continued.

Cecil Howard met him at South ampton, and they clasped hand silently. Cecil was unchanged; the younger peer had atered greatly He had now a thick beard, and his hair was streaked with gray. "Welcome homel" said Cecil at last. Rainhill smiled sadly. "It is good to be in England again," he said. "I saw the stars in an English sky last night, and it gladdened my heart." When they were in the train Rainhill asked a few questions. "My sister is well, I hope, and all your people, Cecil?" "Oh, yes!" "And what about yourself? Still mounting the slippery ladder of fame?" "I am doing well,'' Cecil replied. "Oh, yes, I am greatly envied by dozens of fellows in the profession!" Lord Rainhill regarded him quizzically. "You haven't forgotten what you said to me, Cecil" he asked. "No." Cecil's face flushed and then paled. ""I tiave often wondered how you were progressing in your love aflair." "Shall we smoke?" Cecil said. "We have the carriage to ourselves." He lighted a cigar, and handed his cigar case to Kainhill. "No!" he repeated, referring to his brother inlaw's question. "I am sucn a desperate coward ! And Queenie —that is, Miss Vavasour —has been to New York on a business trip in connection with some property she has there. Mrs Francillon went with her, of course. Hateful old wom'an! Detests me, you know. Wants Miss Vavasour for that idot of a son of hers." "Has Miss Vavasour returned to England yet?" said Lord Rainhill, smiling. "Yes—two weeks since. I want you to see her, Duncan, if you are i.ot too much of a misanttirope." He sighed. "It is just U;e mind-id of the loiig vacation, so I can spare you any amount of time, if you think I can t>u of any use to you." ' On tne other Hand, can Ibe of any use to you, old man?" "I —don't know." "I am afraid that I cannot influence Miss Vavasour in your favour. American ladies are reputed to he very independent arid strong-minded. I should like you to win, because yoa seem to be hard hit; and I dislike Mrs Francillon. I don't think that I ftave ever met her son." "A perfect fool!" the young lawyer declared hotly. Tne nhe actded despeairingly. "I cannot understand it. hasn't the brains of an ape, ana yet Miss Vavasour ravcurs hin,. He is merely an animated tailor's dummy—eye-glass, waxed mustache, and an irritating lisp." Lord Rainhill laughed loudly, and more heartily than he had laughed for a long time. "Ycu are a laggard, Cecil, and do not deserve to win the lady, I sinll be glad to make her acquaintance, if on Iv to humour you. When shall it be"?

"Mrs Francillon is giving a reception this evening," the young lawyer began, but Lord Rainhill rejected the icea of his attending the reception. "No—l have told you that I dislike th 3 woman. She 'ince did me an ir.jury. She is an unscruplous, epiteful creature!" He frowned savagely. In his mind's eye he saw a shabbily dressed graceful-lnoking girl coming toward him ori a hot summer evening in Regent street; a carriage whirled past; a. haughty, cruel woman flashed a haif-contemptuous, half-amused glance at the girl at his side. He remembered Zilia's pain and terror. "No," he went on, a iittle huskily, "I am going direct to my old quarters at the Grand Hotel in Picadilly; my man has already wired. To-morrow I have engaged to consult with the lawyers about the disposition of the Etherington estate — the claimant is beginning to cut up rough; the following day I must run down to Henley' to see Florence and Sir John. Afterward 1 shall be at your service." The young lawyer was silent for awhile. The train was rapidly near ■ ing Waterloo Station. "Then why not turn up at Lady Lovatt's reception on the twentieth? Miss Vavasour is sure to be there, as it has becoms the thing to invite her everywhere. There won't be much of a crush, as the season is practically over. On the following Tuesday Mrs Francillon is going away to the south coabt. Will you promise?" "You may depend upon me, Cecil," Lore) Rainhill said, yawning. "Lady Lovatt is an old friend of our family." The train glided into the Waterloo Station, and the young man alighted. Lord Rainhill looked about him fo a minute or two at all the old familiar objects. "It is good to be in England again," he said. "One has.only to leave it for a while to appreciate the meaning of the word 'home.'" . They strolled down the platform while Lord Rainhili's valet looked after the luggage. part here," Lord Rainhill said mischievously. "I can ?ee that you have but ore thought—Miss Vavasour, lam growing interested ! If you want me at any time, you know my address, though I shall no 1 ; be available for several days. 1 will

* BY OWEN MASTERS- 2 1~ . 1 Author of "Captain Emlyn's Daughter," "Tlio V\ om;tn ? Wins," "The Heir of Avisford," "One Irnpas- "} sioned Hour," Etc., Etc. /

not forget Lady Lovat's recepion. In the meantime, I strongly advise you to lay siege to Miss Queenie's heart. You are going to Mrs Francillon's place to-nifrht?'' "Yes,'' Cecil said faintly. "Then screw up your courage, man." "I will by George—if I can only get an opportunity!" "Make one!" Rainhill laughed. "I have no symapthy with such cowardice! Let me see, it is the thirteenth. At all events, I shall meet you at Lady Lovatt's on the twentieth. and 1 shall expect to find you an engaged man." The lawyer flushed. Such a possibility was like a glimpse of para* dise! , "I will try," he replied desperately. "I will win or lose. If I lose you may not see me again for a long time; I thirk that I shall shoot myselt or be off to the antipodes." "Is It as bad as that?" Lord Rain ■ hill regarded his brother-in-law earnestly. "It is," Cecil simply answered. "Next Thursday, it Lady Lovact's." "If lam successful in my suit I shall be there. You may then congratulate me at once, without asking questions. You have nerved me to put my fate to the touch, and win or lose all " They shook hands and parted. Lord Rainhill was driven to his hotel. He was weary, and retired early. He found himself wondering many times how Cecil Howard had fared. Then he fell asleep, and | draatned that he saw Zilla's face as he had known it in what was now the "long ago." He awoke with the old feeling of depression, and anathematized his stupidity in coming to the Grand Hotel, lis associations reminded him constantly of tnat "too brief love dream." In the course of the day he called at the office of the late Mr Echerington's lawyers. The senior partner *as co-executor with himself. The lawyers were in a quandary, and talked of throwing the affair into Chancery; The next-of-kin—a cousin of Etherington's—was constantly harassing them. .He had made a formal demand that no more money should be spent upon unnecessary and foolish advertisement. It was a mere wild-goose chase, he declared. The money was rightfully his, and it should not be squandered. He had no belief in the existence of any other legal heir or heiress., I TO BE CONTINUED, i