When Love Rules The Heart.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9591, 10 September 1909, Page 2

When Love Rules The Heart.

(JHAPTEK XXXll.—Continued

A BEWITCHING VOICE. "How remarkable!" said Miss Vavasour, her dark eves flashing. "It is rather remarkable; and she may be indirectly responsible for the young lady'a death More romance, and thei; I'have done! Zilla was decoyed from the home which Armitage had found for her, and taken to a village called Ferry hill. " Miss Vavasour shuddered again. "But the man who took her away was not the lover some people had supposed him to be —he was her own father. He was a gentleman, though not of the most enviable character. He was of good, indeed, noble family, and the story electrified society. Mr Etherington himself was amazed; but indisputable proof was adduced. When a young man, he had married his gamekeeper's daughter, and deserted her abroad, Zilla was born later. His valet learned the facts, and vowed venge ance for some wrong done to him by his master. Mrs Etherington died, and the valet took away the little child. The valet wa3 Seton." Miss Vavasour was staring at Cecil with dilated eyes. Her lips were parted, she clutched at his sleeve. "The proofs'/" she said. "Of what nature were they? I hate a story which is incomplete—l hate conjecture!" She laushed hysterically. "How warm-hearted, how emotional, how impetuous!" thought Cecil. "Ah, and how I love her for her womanly sympathy!" Then he said: "1 he proofs? Why, Seton's J own confession, the marriage certificate, Mr Etherington's own admis- j sion!" "Then all'£ well that ends well!" Miss Vavasour's dark eyes sparkled. "But I am losing faith in your hero, Mr Howard." "But all is not well," said Cecil, with a quick gesture of "The poor girl, under some terrible dread, fled from the house to which her father had taken her before he could make himself known to her. She has never been hesrd of since. Duncan Armitage moved heaven and earth without avail, and I believe that he almost lost his reason." "And consoled himself by marry • ing another woman?'' she said scoffingly. "Do you call that love and constancy? Ido not." A look of pain came into Cecil's eyes. | "It was your sister Mr Howard." I beg your pardon a hundred times!' she added penitently. "Yes—Armitage married your sis ter "he went on gently. "Let me tell you how that came about. Helen never heard one word of poor Zilla ; she never dreamed that Armitage did not love'her even as she loved hi . Then an accident befell her, and she was believed to be dying. She never dreamed Armitage did not love her even as she loved him.She had a whim —a wish —whatever you like to term it —when on her death bed to be married to the man she loved. Armitage humoured her; the ceremony was performed at once; and I honor him for his noble self-sacrifice —I honor him for his unwearying devo- j tion to the poor little sweetheart of his boyhood's days!"

CHAPTER XXXIir,

There was breathless silence for a time. The voices of men, the light of laughter of women, floated to their ears. The ba'lmy August air stirred the leaves above them. Miss Vavasour looked up at Cecil; her eyes were shining. "Thank you, Mr Howard,"' she said in a half whisper. "Some day I should like to see your hem." "Some day?" he repeated "That day will be next Thursday, at Lady Lovatt's reception, if you are there, Miss Vavasour. Lrrd Rainhiil has promised me that he will be there. Shall I tell you why? He wants to see ycu. 1 have talked and written to him so much about you —about your goodness, your beauty!" He bent nearer, his face impassioned, his words fiery and eloquent. Once she made a faint protest, but ahe was powerless to steam the torrent of his fierce avowal. "Oh, Miss Vavasour—Queenie, if I dare call you so—l have loved you for long months with a love even as great and as pure as my hero's love for his street shigei I I have been afraid to speak lest my presumption carried me from the golden heights of hope to the blackest depths of misery and de • spair! I am poor, but ambitious; I can make a name for your sake —1 feel that I can achieve greatness if you will only smile upon me! Miss Vavasour, will you not look at me? Will you not speak to' me? Only one word!" The girl's face looked almost deathly in the moonlight; a violent shudder shook her whole frame. She raised one hand imploringly; a few faint words fell from her quivering lips. "Mr Howard, I am bitterly grieved—what you ask is impossible! I like you, esteem you, I want you always to be my friend." A ciy of anguish escaped him. He looked hopelessly away. The alughter of Mrs Francillon's guests seemed to mock him, "Don't go away —don't leave me yet!" Miss Vavasour whispered. "The people here will notice it. I must see you again next Thursday, at Lady Lovatt's reception then you will understand." Cecil turned his despairing eyes

V BY OWEN MASTERS. J | Author of "Captain Emlyn's Daughter," "The Woman \ Wins," "The Heir of Avisford," "One.lmpas- *} sioned Hour," Etc., Etc. 7

[ upon the sweet face. He tried to speak but the words were lost in a choking sob; he merely bowed. He felt that life had ended for him; he had no wish now to attend Lady Lovatt"s reception. He felt he would rather fly to the ends of the earth. But he had given his promise. Some ■ body came out on to the balcony and remarked upon the beauty of the night; then Charlie Francillou's insane laughter sounded near. "Why, here you are, 'pon rny word!" he exclaimed "Hope I'm not intruding? Really, things are awfully slow! Can't think what the mater is up to! More like a mothers' meeting t than a jolly reception, by Jove! Now we shall see the thing done at Lady Lovatt's! Be there, I suppose, Howard?""Yes," Cecil curtly replied. Charlie Francillon let fall his eyeglass, and sauntered away, muttering to himself: '"The mater's right—he's fascinated at last! By Jove, Queenie is simply waiting for me to propose! I do hate these ripe plums ready to drop into ones mouth! Spoils all the excitement, don't, you know !"

Cecil Howard was in a most tantalising frame of mind. As he was leaving Mrs Francillon's house, Miss Vavasour had approached him in full view of other departing guests. She had spoken tu him pleasantly, and had whispered: "You will not desert me for a whole week, Mr Howard? You have already told me that there is nothing doing in your profession for a few weeks. I should love a gallop in the Row —any morning—if you will be so kind as to hire a horse for me, and make an appointment. Oh, lam a good horsewoman—l learned to ride in Canada!" She glanced up at him bewitch ingly, appealinglv. A curt refusal was on his tongue. Was she an accomplished coquette? Was she playing with him as the leopardess plays w.ith her prey? "I want you to like me, to try to think well of me," the girl added Impulsively, "and to relieve me a little of the hateful society of Mrs Francillon and her odious son." Like her? Think well of her? What mockery was this? He laughed. "The hateful society of Mrs Francillon and her ocioua son," ahe had said. I TO BE CONTINUED, j