When Love Rules The Heart.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9593, 13 September 1909, Page 2

When Love Rules The Heart.

CHAPTER XXXlll.C—ontinued.

"I am glad that you have turned up, Duncan," he whispered. "Great crush—is it not? Goodness, how the women do chatter! You are too late for the prima donna. Divine singing! Miss Vavasour has retired with a h?adache: I've just been- getting some smelling salts for liar. She won't be away for very long." "And I shall not remain hexe very long,'" Lord iiainhill said wearily. "I am in no mood to endure the senseless chatter one is compelled to listen to and the heat —bah! Some of the people are going to torture the piano now!" Cecil laughed and hurried away. Lord Ruinhill was buttonholed by an old soldier, who marched him off through the conservatory. The old man had been at college with Rainhill's father, he said, and he wanted to introduce (he young man to his daughters—four long-limbed girls, who were bashful in manner and had freckled faces.

Rainhill gallantly wen'c through the ordeal, and at the first opportunity escaped to the grounds. The gardens were prettily illuminated with coloured fairy lamps, and Chinese lanterns; a fountain was playing musically. It was a perfect night; the air was soft and sweet. The distant strains of a band of musicians added to the dreamful beauty. People were scattered about the grounds; men's deep voices and the Ight, rippling laughter of women were heard; white dresses gleamed in the gloom. Rainhill sank into a rustic seat under a magnificent lilac tree. All at once his languor left him—his senses were on the alert. Was he dreaming? Was he really in England —in London—in the gardens of a fashionable mansion or sleeping and dreaming on the piazza of some colonial house? There were no fireflies flashing through the darkness, no chirping crickets, no croaking frogs, no whirring of the night-birds' wings.

He glanced around him, and knew that he was at home. His heart had almost ceased to beat. What did it mean? He listened again. A woman was singing in the drawing -room. The windows of the drawing-room were thrown wide open, and The music and the sounds of her voice floated toward him. "I am mad!'' he muttered. He pressed his hands to his head, and listened. The band in the grounds was silent; the fountain plashed in the moonlight. He saw that several men and women had paused near the open window ol the drawingroom. Others were entering the house. "She has a lovely voice!" some one remarked. "Quite equal to the prima donna." "Sweeter —far sweeter!" "Listen! She i 3 going to sing again!" "Then I am not mad or dream • ing !" murmured Rainhill. "Gracious Heaven, it is her voice—my lost Zilla's!" And this was her song:— "'Were I thy bride, Then all the world beside Were not too wide

To hold ray wealth of loveWere I thv bride!' Upon thy breast My loving head would rest As in the nest _ - The tender turtle dove— Were I thy bride! I B '"This heart of mine Would begone heart with thine, And in that shrine Our happiness would dwell— Were I thy bride! And all day long Our lives should be a song; No grief, no wrong Should make my heart rebel — Were I thy bride! ' "The silvery flute, The melancholy lute, Were night-owl's hooS To my low-whispered cooWere I thy bride! The skylark's trill Were but discordance shrill To the soft thrill lOf wooing as I'd woo— Were 1 1 thy bride I "'The rose's sigh Were as a carrion's cry To lullaby buch as I'd sing tc thee— Were I thy bride! A feather's press Were leaden heaviness To my caress, But then, of course, you see, I'm not thy bride!"' A storm of applause followed the song, "Delightful voice," some one commented. The people began to move away from the window, and Lord Rainhill rose from his seat. He raised his white face to the shining stars; there was a wild, dazed look in his eyes. He crept nearer to the window, quieMy as a thief; and he saw the figure of a woman—straight and slim. A dozen men were gathered round her. Her mien was almost regal—her attire was costly, and igood in taste; her dress was of white satin trimmed with lilies of the valley; diamonds flashed on her finger —in the coils of hor dark hair; a red j Rose nestled r.gainst her snow-white throat. Her face was lovely, Ikt eyes I were dark, misty dreamful.

V BY OWEN MASTERS. £ 1 1 b Author of "Captain Emlyn'a Daughter, 1 ' "The W oman Wins," "The Hair of Avisford," "One.lmpasT d / sioned Hour/' Etc., Etc. 7

I CHAPTER XXXIV. "IHE WOMAN YOU ADORE 18 WAITING FOR YOU!" Lord Rainhill lay perfectly still for a shoit time; how long he never knew. His head swam, strange noises sounded in his ears. Then he s*?w the stars shining above him. His head was pillowed on Cecil Howard's knees, and Cecil was speaking to .him. •'Are you better, Duncan, old boy?" he was saying. "Shall I get you some brandy? What a row those musicians are making! Thank good ness somebody is coming!" Rainhill roused himself. "Help me to the seat again, Cecil," he said. "I shall be all right presently. I have made a fool of my • self been as silly as a schoolgirl! Don't let these people know!" There was a gnawing pain at Cecil Howard's heart; he felt as it he were being suffocated. With a strange wild look in 'his eyes, he watched his friend gradually recover from the half swoon into which he had fallen, he saw Rainhill's yearn ing gaze turned to the open window of the drawing-room again. "It is all ended ior me!'" Cecil thought. He rose resolutely and faced hs friend. I TO BE CONTINUED, i

i A wild sob escaped Lord Rainhill j and he prayed to Heaven to spare him his reason. j A hand lightly touched his shoulder; and he turned round and faced Cecil Howard, who was smiling at hiin. "Duncan, I have searched the whole grounds for you! 1 had no idea that you were here. I suppose that you have heard Miss Vavasour's songs? Divine -is she not?" "Which is Miss Vavasour, Cecil? Quick —my brain is in a whirl!" "The dark girl in the white satin • dress. See—her face is turned this way!" "It cannot be!" Rainhill cried wildly. "Oh, I must be mad! Ob, Zilla, my lost love —at last I have tound you!" And then he fell senseless to the ground.