When Love Rules The Heart.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9594, 14 September 1909, Page 2

When Love Rules The Heart.

CHAPTEK XXlV.—Continued. "Duncan," he said, "have you forgotten the word 9 you uttered five minutes since? Are you sure? I can't believe it! I won't believe it!" There was a look of misery on his face as he uttered the words. The gay strains of the musicians in the grounds, the splashing of the fountain, the very beauty and serenity of the night maddened him. "No it was all a mistake, Duncan—a trick of the fancy, a chance resemblance? You have been thinking and dreaming of the lost Zilla until her face is constantly mirrored in your mind!" He broke off and waited for Lord Rainhill to speak—waited with the air of a man who is already foredoomed "Cecil, old friend, I have found Zilla at last. I know how hard it is for you; it is like relinquishing one's hopes of paradise. I understand it. In your own heart you know that my Ziila never cared for you -never encouraged you. To love her is no crime." He passed one hand over his brow in a dazed manner, "I cannot quite realise it yet. She was lost to me beyond recall; and now she is here, within reach of me, within sound of my voice!" Every word seemed to pierce Cecil's heart. He strode to and fro. "What are you going to do?" he demanded. "People think that you! and I have had a violent quarrel. I have seen Mrs Francillon and one or two others watching us; and the moonlight makes it as light as day. I shall no\ be content until I have the truth fram her lips. Can you trust me, Duncan. Will you leave it to me There must be no scene here, before all these soulless busy bodies. I could not stand it. Let me see her—let me make an appointment for you. Let me hear the confession from ber own lips, and then " Lord Rainhill did not speak; he silently pressed the other's hand, and Cecil turned toward the house. "It is understood" he said. "You remain here—l will be with you again soon." With an assumption of carelessness and unconcern he sauntered back into the reception room. "What has become of Lord Rainhill" asked Lady Lovatt, bustling up to him. Mrs Francillon's eyes were fixed upon him. "He is in the grounds," Cecil Howard answered. "Bad headache or something of the kind! Change of climate, no doubt; he has been out of England tor so long!" Mrs Francillon smiled maliciously; she had heard angry words. What an actor Cecil Howard could be when he chose! His eyes, travelled round the large room. Miss Vavasour was not there.

Instinctively the young man bent his steps toward the archway that led into the conservatories, and Mrs Francnillon's malicious gaze followed him as he went.

There were several intricate ways, alcoves, and shady nooks. A a whisper, the flash uf diamonds, the gleam of silk and satin robes betrayed the presence of lovers in their shelter. With sternly compressed lips and knitted brows Cecil went onward. He saw the fluttering of a fan before him in the gluom. He knew it well—it had been a gift of his own. He heard the silly laughter of Charlie Francillon, and Miss Vavasour's clear tones. "Very sorry to intrude, really— Queenie—er, Miss Vavasour! Pardon! Your sweet name will come first somehow—nofc that you should care when I use it I—er—thought that you had come to this delightful seclusion-delightful secluded spot 1, should say, to escape the'attention of somebody I could mention." "Your surmise is perfectly correct, Mr Francillon," Miss Vavasour coldly Responded. Charlie laughed again.

"I knew it, Queenie, by Jove. Awful cad that—er—lawyer .fei lowHoward ! Hide like a rhinoceros, not to understand! But you know what these lawyers are. Lives on the reputation of being—er—brother-in-law to Lord Rainhill! By Jove, it makes one quite sentimental—the moonlight, the music, and the sweetness of everything, and you, the sweetest of all, Queenie! I think that you like me, and I know that I am madly in love with you." In his sudden emotion he took possession of one of the slender gloved hands. He had half raised it to his lips when it was snatched angrily away, and Miss Vavasour started from him with indignantely flashing eyes and quivering lips. ''How dare you!" she panted. "You cov/Hrd, you insufferable cad! IMy disgust for you equals the hat- ' red and contempt I feel for your mischief making, designing mother!" Charlie Francillon was dazed with astonishment. "By Jove !*' he murmured. "You're not in earnest, Miss Vavasour Only a lark, eh" He stroked his moustache with trembling fbgers. There was no mistaking the girl's fiery wrath. "Oh, hang it," he thought, "there is going to be a blessed scene! What will the mater say! Abused her, too, by Jove!" "Go!" Miss Vavasour commanded. [ "And never dare to speak to me again! Why should you follow me here to insult me with protestations

S BY OWEN MASTERS. 3 (, Author of "Captain Emlyn's Daughter," "The Woman G V Wins," "The Heir of Avisford," "One linpas- 3 / sioned Hour," Etc., Etc. /

of love! Love!" She laughed scornfully "The very name of it in connection with you fills me with horror and disgust!" Charlie Francillon crimsoned; his vanity was wounded. "I wouldn't have such a spitfire as a gift!" he retorted, and then turned upon hi*G heel. Miss Vavasour waited until he was gone, then slipped back into her seat and wept hysterically; but the storm was brief, and by and by the lovely face was illumined by the light of a great joy. A cough startled her, and Cecil Howard approached. He appeared to have sprung from the shadows. She noticed the stern lines about his mouth, the almost helpless misery in his eyes; but her thoughts were elsewhere. "I had been there Borne minutes," he began, carelessly indicating a tall tree. "I could not help it—l came in the midst of Fran cillon's avowal. You must be getting used to this kind of thing, Miss Vavasour!" "Do you intend to be cruel to me" she' demanded. He endeavoured to appear carelessly indifferent. How wildly, how tumultuously her bosom heaved! And the dark eyes had become lustrous, the lovely face was glorified.

Cecil took one of her hands and kissed it.

"I have come to say "good-b.v" to the sweetest hopes that man ever cherished,"'he said quietly, but with intense'feeling. "A week since the relinquishing of those hopes would have been more bitter than death! I never had the slightest right to covet you, to love vou! It is over now!" he let the trembling hand drop. "Lord Rainhill is here, Miss Vavasour—you know it!" "Yes"—her hands were clasped over her palpitating heart—"l [saw him arrive—l watched from an upper window." "You sang that song for him," he went on. "You are not Queenie Vavasour at all!" She could not understand the anguish in his voice. "It was one of my lover's favourite songs—one of many I used to sing to him. tam not Queenie Vavasour, but Zilla, the itinerant singer! Ido not know what possessed me! I saw that he had gone into the grounds—my lover of the old days—and I felt that I must scream! He heard my song—he knew Zilla's voice! I escaped |here, trembling, frightened. Oh, Cecil—Cecil bring him to me!" I TO BK P.ONTySUED. j