When Love Rules The Heart.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9592, 11 September 1909, Page 2

When Love Rules The Heart.

CHAPTER XXXlll.—Continued,

"If Charlie Francillon is really so great an object of contempt you ought not to encourage his attentions!" he sternly replied Miss Vavasour had followed him into the hall. "I wonder that you are noc offended with me!" Cecil ad led. "I have taken an unwarrantable liberty ' Yes—l shall be delighted to be your cavalier to-morrow, or at any other time. Will eleven o'clock in the morning do?" "You are so kind. Good-night.'" She gave him a warm hand clnsp; then Cecil was driven home, his blood coursing imadly through his veins. They spent several mornings to • gether in the Row. miss Vavasour, who was a splendid horsewoman, chatted gaily with Cecil at one time, at another the silence would remain unbroken for an hour. He moods weie like an April sky~a!ternate sunshine and gloom; and, like the singed moth, he continued to hover about the flame which meant destruction. At last these rides came to an end. Cecil bethought himself of Lord Rainhill, but it was not until the very day of Lady Lovatt's reception that he presented himself at the Grand Hotel, where he found Rainhill nearly enveloped in a cloud of tobacco smoke. The young peer was pretending to read a newspaper. "Hallo!" he exlcaimed, stnrting up. "1 was just thinking of you, Cecil." He spoke kindly. "I hope you have brought good news." The young lawyer smiled faintly. "I don't know exactly," he answeed gloomily. "At any rate, there will be no shooting! Don't be alarmed." "You spoke to the godess, then?" Cecil's first response was a deprecatory gesture. "Don't old man!" he said. "She is 'no goddess—she is simply a good and beautiful girl—natural and womanly. Heavens, I hardly know whether 1 am Cecil Howard, lawyer, or a wandering lunatic, graduating for the nearest asylum, with honors!" He strode across the floor. "Give me a cigar—a weed to soothe my ruffled nerves!"

"Help yourself!" "Thanks!" Cecil sat down again, and stared at nothing in particular. "I spoke to her, Duncan and she heard me right through," he went on, after he had smoked his cigar in silence for a little while. "I could never undergo the ordeal again! She was sorry for me; I saw that at the last, for there were tears in her beau;} tiful eyes, and her swtec voice trembled. She said something about its being impossible—that I should understand whv verv soon." "Another fellow?" suggested Lord Rainhili. "I don't think so." his companion answered. "She is a perfect mystery —a bundle of contradictions. Begged rne to be her friend, and Well, I couldn't be anything else. We've, been out several times since, ridii g together." Lord Kainhill's face brightened. "I believe that she cares for yo.u, Cecil, old man! Take courage!" he said consolingly. "No —I am not to be deceived a econd time. I understand the posi • tion of affairs exactly; she lias let me down gently, that is all. I can almost feel son-y for Mrs Francillon and her schemes." He laughed shortly. "She has yet to discover that she is playing with a perfect little spitfire. 1 like a woman with plenty of courage, though! Well, I suppose that you are going to Lady Lovatt's Duncan?" He glanced at the table, which was littered with cards. "I notice that plenty of people are finding you out." "Can't hslp it!" returned Lord Kainhill disdainfully. "I had no idea that I was of so much importance in the eyes of society." "You are young and —an eligible." Lord Rainfiill'a eyes darkened with pain.

"Hush, Cecil! My experience of women has been a bitter one, I can never care tor another. I shall remain a lonely man to the end of my d.tys. I loved Zilla tfith the abiding love which a true man bestows upon what he deems to be his other self. I loved my wife—Helen—for her perfect qualities, her angelic nature —for the sake of the old, happy, dreamful days, when we were children together; but it is all ended now and I am weary of everything. I am going away again; I can't stand home and its painful associations any longer." Cecil sighed. "I wish that I could go with you, JJuncan; I hate the law—and London ! You have an invitation from Lady Lovatt? ; What about this reception?" "You are going?" "Yes;.l have promised Miss Vavasour. " Lord Rainhill smiled pityingly. "Since she is,not in love with you, Cecil, 1 don't think that I want to know her." Rainhill yawned. "To be candid with you," he added, "I think that you are altogether out of your depth when you make love to an American girl." "She is not what is vulgarly and erroneously termed a 'Yankee!"' the lawyer replied, a little rebeiliously. "Miss Vavasour is a Canadian I believe." "A distinction with little difference!" Lord Rainhill said lazily.

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

"She will change hfr mind to-night, probably—it's —it's the American woman's privilege to do so." "I don't like your sarcasm, and ] won't listen to it! Miss Vavasour is an angel!" Cecil rose and glanced at his watch. "Of course you will come? The young lady whom you have just been abusing particularly wishes to I know you." "Yes—if you may rely upon mv I turning up. old man." Rainhill answered. "Don't mind my badinage —do you? I know that it is painful, and I am not very jubilant myself. Won't you take luncheon with me? I promise to be civil." They both smiled. Cecil consented to'atay to luncheon with his friend: and during the repast both talked of their plans for the future. Ctcil's were somewhat vague but the other was quite resolved to sail for India the following week. It was nearly three when they parted "Ta-ta, Ueci!! I am sure to see you to-night. Don't expect me early. I have no liking for mobs of this kind, though Lady Loratt'3 is sure to be a swell affair, and she is a dear, genial soul!" "She usually does the thing well," the lawyer returned indifferently. "I understand that she has paid the new prima donna a fee of one hundred guineas for a couple of songa, Tata!" It was nearly ten o'clock when Lord Rainhill's cab arrived at the door of Lady Lovatt's charming residence at Buckingham Gate. The windows were ablaze with light. Lord Rainhill regarded the whole affair as a nuisance. He heard his name announced, and five minutes later was making new acquaintances and renewing old ones. He looked vainly about him for Cecil Howard, and for a moment wondered which of the many handsome well-dressed girls was Miss Vavasour. Mrs Francillon was there, and nodded to him familiarly, but hia response was merely a stiff bow. Suddenly some one touched him on the shoulder, and, turning, he saw that it was Cecil. I TO BF, CONTINUED, i