His Heart's Queen.

Taranaki Herald, Volume L, Issue 12280, 12 June 1903, Page 6

His Heart's Queen.

By m^ QEOiiSi SHELOdN,

i Awte of " GteEia Rovsevelt," " Ssby! J s JsifSuence," " The Forsaken Bride," j " Queer? Bess," " Orswssle's Trianiph," " That SScwdy," &c, &c.

CllAP'iLli VJl.— Continued. k I "Did you expect to get the saneftion ol my sister or her husband — 'to our engagement ?7>? 7> she asked. "I did not come expecting to gain anything that I wanted/ I Wallace returned, smiling, "for I I had resolved not to take you at your word until I assured myself that you fully understood all that 1 it would involve ; then, of course, I knew that the proper thing to do would be to ask their consent j to our betrothal." j "And you intend to do this now ?" Violet questioned. ' "Certainly. You are not of age i ' arc you, dear ?" , "No ; but, "Wallace, they will never sanction it," Violet said, [ with burning cheeks, but thinking ' it best to prepare him for the i I worst at the outset. ' "Because of my present poverty j and humble position?" he ques- , tioned, gravely. j "Yes, and money is their idol," : the young girl frankly answered, i "'fhen, Violet, I do not think it will be right for me to bind you by ' any promise to become my wife, i until I have earned a position and ; a competence that will meet their j approval and warrant me in ask- \ ing for your hand." ; Violet put him a little from her, ' and stoo 1 erect and proud before him. | "You do not need to bind* me by j I any promise," she said, in a low, thrilling tone, "for when I gave you my love, I gave you myself as \ well. I am yours while I live. In •' confessing my love for you, I have | virtually bound myself to you, and f even if I am never your wife in f name, I shall' be in soul until I die. ! You can ask the sanction of my ' sister and her husband, as a mat-j tcr of form. I know they will nott give it ; but they have no mortal j j right to come between vs — they "■ never shall ! They are very proud — and ambitious; they hope," and B n Violet coloured crimson at the confession, "to marry me to some rich man ; but my heart and my hand are mine to bestow upon, whom I will ; and, Wallace, they are yours, now and for ever." j i Wallace regarded her with astong ishment, while he wondered if I there was ever so strange a betrothal before. He had asked no promise, but he j felt that she could not have beenj more surely bound to him if their ] marriage vows already been pro- ! nounced— at least, as far as her ii- j j dclity to him was concerned. i | "I am young, I know," Violet j went on, after a moment ; "I am not yet quite eighteen — and Wilhelm is my guardian. He can con- | trol my fortune until I am twentyone ; but that need make no differ I ence v/ith our relations. You will be true to me, I know, and I do not need to assure you of my own faithfulness, I am sure. Meantime , [ you will be working up in your pro- j fession, and when I do reach myj' majority and come into posses- j sion of my money, I can do as I j like, without asking the consent of any one." . "My faithful, true-hearted little woman, I had no idea there was ; ■1 such reserve force beneath your j - 'gay, laughing exterior," Wallace j returned, tenderly. "What a royal! *'gift you have bestowed upon me, my darling ! I accept it reverent- J ly, gratefully, and pledge you my i J faith in return, while I do not need ih j to assure you that I will not Iparo myself in striving to win a name and a position worthy to oficr my heart's qiieen. You have changed ,the whole world for me," he con- ' I tin tied, with emotion. "I am no _J longer alone, and you have armed* me with a zeal autl courage, to battle with the futiirc, such as I v .should never have-, known under D other circumstances. . My- darling, I take your promise with your love, and when the . right time comes I shall claim my wife." He draw her to his breast again, and, lifting her sweet face to his, he touched her lips with a fond and L reverent- betrothal kiss. '°" "Humph ! Pray, Miss Violet, j 1 allow me to inquire how long you D have been posing for this interesting tableau ?" This question, in the gruff, sarcastic tones of Wilhelm Mencke,1 burst upon the lovers like an unexpected thunderclap, and, starting t to her feet, Violet turned to hnd j . her sister's husband standing not six feet from her. I <3 Mrs Mencke seemed rooted justj inside the doorway, apparently too j paralyzed by the scene which she ] had just witnessed to utter a word, \ | while there was an indescribable ' \ expression of anger and disgust up- :

on her handsome face. For a moment Violet was so astonished and confused she could not utter a word ; then, with that slight uplifting of her fair head which those who knew her best understood to indicate a gathering of all the force of her will, she quietly remarked, though a burning flush mounted to her brow : "Ah, Wilhelm ! I thought you and Belle had gone' out for the evening." "No doubt ; and you had planned to enjoy yourself in your own way, it seems," sneered the angry' master of the house, , as he glaredsavagely at Wallace, who now arose and advanced to . Violet's side. , ] , "Stop, if you please, "vViiheim," the young girl said, as he i-t'cme'd about to go on, and her clear tones rang out warningly. 4 'Wheii3/ou^ went out I had no thought of receiving any visitors; but of .that I will speak with you later, Allow me to introduce my friend, Mr Richardson. Mr Richardson, my brother-in-law, Mr Mencke ; my sister you have already ire.." . Wallace bowed courteously, while he marveled at Violet's reu?Hj liable self-possession ; but neither- Mr Mencke nor his wife acknowledged the introduction otherwise than by bestowing a malignant look upon him, and this ; slight aroused all Violet's spirit to arms. . "Friend!" repeated Mr Mejicke ; I "one would naturally jutfge from the touching scene jusc tracked that the young r.nn sustained a much nearer relation to you.' 1 "He does!" ilasa-jd cutVWet, | she boldly iaced-both the iritrudjris, and reckless of the .jdnsequencVs*"'oi the avowal; "he is -i?iy e.ffiaiif^d '■ husband !" | -> "Violet I*' almost screamed htt sister, as she .sprang forward, and I seized the young j;i i by the arm. "Are you ur:»/y ? : ' - "Pardon me, madam," said Wallace, courteously, us he advanced toward the group, "aird pray give me ycnir ntuntion for a moment while I explain what may seem an unpardonable intrusion, and for which I an. wholly to blame." "No,", interrupted Violet, leasing herself from her sister's grasp; "I alone am responsible icr -what has occurred this evening. Mr Richardson, in an unguarded mo- | ment, revealed to me the fact thati he entertained an affection for me I such as I have long known, exists ;in my own heart for him. I res- | ponded to it " 4 \Shametess girl ! " . ejaculated Mrs Mencke,, in an angry tone. "Np, Belle, I am not a shameless girl. I simply gave truthful ex-. S pression to an attachment in return for a confession that gave me great happiness, and notwithstanding that Mr Richardson told me he [ would not bind me by any promise [ until, as he expressed it, he should } should be in a suitable position to i warrant him asking my hand of ! you, I told him outright that my acknowledgment of affection was as I binding with the as any promise — " | "Mr and Mrs Mencke," Wallace now interposed, "I cannot allow your sister to assume the responsibility of all this, for it is really my place to shield her. I love her with all the strength of my nature, and I now formally ask you, as her- guardiars, \o sanction the compact we .*iave made this evening-" t "Never !" empathatically repotted Mrs Mencke, in her haughtiest ! tone. "It is not worth while to di&cuss ! such an impossible proposition, and you will best suit us, young man., "by making yourself scarce' ! without more ado," supplemented IMr Mencke x with menacing air. ' "Belle ! Wilhelm !— do you call yourself a lady a gentleman, and dare to insult a friend of mine in your oWn house ?" cried Violet, quivering* with indignation, her eyes glittering like coals of fire. Mrs Mencke began to realize that they were arousing a spirit which might be difficult to manage ; con- [ sequeutly she deemed it advisable to adopt a different course. I "We have no wish to insult any one, Violet," she began, with dignity, but in a more conciliatory tone ; "but, of course, we are very much astonished by such a declaration as you have just- made, and you a mere child yet " "I believe you were married at eighteen, Belle ; I shall be eighteen in two months," Violet quietly interrupted, but, " with a roguish gleam- in her blue eyes. Mrs Mencke coloured. She had no means forgotten the circumstances connected with her

(own marriage, which had been .an. lelopement, because, of a. stern parent's objections to the man' of her choice; though this fact was not known in the circle • where she' now . moved. x ' - "Well, you will not marry "at eighteen," she answered, tartly/'^ "Perhaps not ; indeed, I have no desire to, but when I do, Mr Richardson will be the mau whom I shall marry, and I, want the matter understood once for all," Violet returned, withL a gravity which betrayed her ' unalterable determination. ' -* "You had best put the child to bed, Belle, and 1 will . show 'this carpenter the way , out," Mr Mencke remarked, contemptuously, as if he really regarded Violet '-s assertion as simply the iteration of. a wilful child. Violet ■ shot a look that made him wince ; then, turning, she laid her hand upon Wallace's arm. "It is a shame !" she said, «with quivering lips. ■< "I blush that relatives of mine can stoop to 'offer any one such indignity. Forgive me that I am powerless to- help it." •* . •„ „' "I have nothing to forgive, and I haye everything to honor you for, Violet; but it is best that I should go now, and we will settle this matter later," the, young man re---plied\ in a fond, yet regretful, tone. It had been very hard, to stand there and preserve his self-control ; butfot her sake he had borne all-in silence. • "You will never give me. up ?" the yotmg girl pleaded, her small finders closing over his . arm " appealingly. . Ke . took Her hand in a. strong, yet gentle, clasp. "No, never, until you yourself ask it," he saidj firmly. <• "That, I shall never do.. Doyou hear, Belle, Wilhelm ?" she cried, turning defiantly to them. . "I have given Wallace my promise that I : will 'be -his "wife, and he has said that he will never give me up: v Just so sure as I live^ I shall fulfill "that promise." . . *' . MrsMencke ..lost control qf hei> §elf';entirely at this. t . ,f., f . , * 'Violet Huntington ! " she . cried, white .to hfejr : .Ups, witli rage',, "you : will at once retract that rash vow or this'< house is no longer your home." , \ , "Mrs Mencke,' let me entreat that the subject be dropped f (fz the present," Wallace here interposed. "Believe me, - I shrink from being the cause, of any disturbance , in your household, , and, since this union, which appears to : cause "you such uneasiness, cannot be consummated for .some 'time yet, I beg that you will not distress your sister ' nor yourself by further threats." ' : "I will drop the subject when you both agree to cancel this fool- . ish engagement. Give me' your word of honor that you will never claim the " fulfilment of Violet's - rash promise to you, -and I will drop the matter and be glad- to, do so." ..,.'* "I • cannot promise that," Wallace firmly replied; though he_ had grown very pale f as he realized how determined they were to separate them. "I love your sister^ and ii she is of the same mind in the. , future, when I can feel justified' -in claiming her, I shall certainly* make . her my wife." "And you know me well enough, Belle, to be sure that I shall not change— that I shall not retract one. word that I have said tonight," Violet added, with no less firmness than her lover had manifested. "I know that you are a rash' and' obstinate girl, but you will find that I can be just as relentless as yourself, and you will make me I the promise I demand . or.- this ' house can ; no longer be • -your home'," Mrs Mencke sternly retor- . ted. ' ' • r "I shall never make it,", Violet reiterated, with white lips, while^ she; looked up into her lover's fa^^ with such an expression of affection and trust that he longed to •take, her to his heart and bear her away at once from such uunatui;al guardianship. v x '- , (To be Continued.) , :