His Heart's Queen.

Taranaki Herald, Volume L, Issue 12287, 20 June 1903, Page 6

His Heart's Queen.

By tArs GEOFJxiE SKELOON,

Auihos- of " Stella Rovssvelt," " Sibyl's rnfiuence," " The Forsaken Bride,"

" Queen Bess," " Brownie's Trhintph," " That Dcwdy," &c, iftc.

CHAPTER XI. 1 j "DEATH HAS RELEASED -YOU FROM YOUR PROMISE." The voyage across the Atlantic proved to be a most delightful one. Vane Cameron and Ralplr Henderson, by tacit consent, joined Mrs Hawley's party, and were so entertaining and attentive that they all congratulated themselves upon having secured so pleasant addition to their company. By the time they' reached England Vane Cameron had surrendered his hitherto impregnable heart entirely to Violet, and wlien he bade Mrs Hawley and her charges good-by, alter seeing them comlortably established in the hotel where they were to remain during their sojourn in London, he asked the privilege of bringing his mother — who had preceded him to England b}^ several months — to make their acquaintance. This was an honor which Mrs Hawley , had hardly anticipated ; she well knew the exclusive proclivities of British blue blood, and was highly elated by the prospect of being introduced into London, society by Isabel, only child of the late Earl of Sutherland. It is needless to state she graciously accorded the young man the privilege he asked, and delightfully looked' forward to the promised visit. She had not long to wait, tor before the week was out Lady Isabel, accompanied by her son, came to make her call, "and she appeared to be no less attracted by the .beauty and winning manner of Violet than young Cameron had been. " Mt»s Hawley made herself exceedingly agreeable by her courtesy and cultured self-possession, and before she left it was arranged that lier ladyship would give a reception at an "early date for the purpose of introducing her new acquaintances to London society. After that there followed a whirl of pleasure and excitement such as Violet and Nellie had read about, but never expected to enjoy. Mr Henderson and the young earl, as he was now commonly recognized, attended them everywhere, until it began to be remarked in select circles that the son was likely to follow the example of his mother by marking a wealth}' American. Mrs "liawley's reports to Mrs Men eke of all this were highly satisfactory, the worldly minded sister congratulated herself that she 'had sent Violet abroad instead of insisting upon her going to Canada. She had neither seen nor heard ■^anything of young Richardson since Violet's departure, although Mr Mencke had tried to post himself ! himself regarding Jiis movements. 'All he could learn, however, was that ha had left Cincinnati a few weeks after Violet sailed, but no one could tell him whither he h£d gone. This was something w)|«a r< lief , although the Menckes A-ouid li^ve been glad to keep track of him, for a dim suspicion ihat }.c iJi« : «;ht have followed Violet h f r.;ntcd 1b?;n. The 3'ouug lady expected to hear from her lover soon after reaching London, but 3 weeks went by, and lie 1 , one line had she.rece vid. She was getting very an^i'* ts and ilnpatient, but of course, she did not dare to betray anyUiitt£ '»f i>.c feeling and so {strove to bear her disappointmeut with n" b^'A a front as possible. w ; She, however, faithfully wrote to Wallace every two or rlic-c days, and in each letter jientione'l the fact that she had not heard from' him, and begged him :iot to keep her longer in suspense. , . She imagined that >sh<! exercised great care in sending her icttcts so that Mrs Hawley would not suspect the correspondence, ivy she went down to the hotel letter box to post every one with her own hands. But Mrs v Hawley had received orders from Mrs Mencke to intercept all such missives,' and she, in turn, gave instructions to the hotel clerk that all epistles addressed to "Wallace Richardson, Cincinnati, Ohio," be returned to her. Thus the lovers never heard one word from each other—though, to the woman's credit be it said, if there was any credit due her — she conscientiously burned every letter, unopened, foe -she was secretly very fond of Violet, and 'could not. bring herself to wrong her still » further by perusing the sacred expressions of her loving little heart, or the fond words which Wallace

. intended only for her eye. * But, Violet, though anxious, could not find much time to indulge I her grief, for she was kept in such a constant round of excitement. Several times Nellie awoke in the night to find her weeping, but, upon inquiring the cause ot her tears, Violet would either avoid a direct reply, or allow her friend to attribute her grief to homesickness. One day, about six weeks after Mrs Hawley and her party reached London, every one appeared very much surprised by the arrival of Mr and Mrs Mencke at the same hotel. Mr and Mrs Hawley alone were in the secret of their coming, but they did not betray the< iact in their greeting, and Violet, though' she met her sister affectionately, /as at heart very much annoyed by her arrival. "Mrs Mencke and Mrs Hawley improved the first opportunity to, have a long, confidential talk upon all that had occurred during the period of their separation, and the former was fairly jubilant over hei\ friend's account of ' the Karl of Sutherland's attentions to Violet. 11 An English earl I" she exclaim-., ed, with a glowing face. "That is~ positively bewildering ! And you think that Violet likes him ?" "She cannot help liking hiiri," responded Mrs Hawley ; . S'for he has a way that is perfectly irresistible. As i" wrote to you, he is a good deal older than she is, and he possesses a quiet dignity and a certain masterful manner that carries everything before it. "If he will only . prove himself, masterful enough to conquer Violet's will and make her marry him, I shall be too proud and thankful . to contain myself," said Mrs I'lfeilcke, earnestly "It is very evident that , he intends to do so if he can," returned her friend, "and we must leave no opportunity unimproved .to help him in his wooing. We must keep Violet s<2> busy with engagements that she will have no time to think about her carpenter .lover.." Two more weeks passed, and still Violet did not hear frotn Wallace, and the secret suspense and anxiety were beginning to tell visibly upon her. She lost colour and, spirit, and but for the fear of exciting suspicion, she' would have refused to mingle in the gay scenes which were becoming wearisome to her. There was still a ceaseless round of pleasure, receptions, parties* opera, and theatre, and everywhere the party was attended by the two young gentlemen who had become so deeply enamored of the beautiful American girls. > Violet tried her best to resist the force of the stream that seemed' to < be hurrying her on whither she would not go, but without avail ; for Vane Cameron was always at* her side, and everybody appeared to take it for granted that he 'had a, right to be there,,! while it became "evident to Violet that lie,,was onlywaiting for a favorable-, opportune ity to declare himself her lover. . What she dreaded came at last:. They all attended the opera one evening, and a brilliant, appearance they made as they sat in one, of the proscenium "boxes. But Violet did ( not enjoy the performance, and could not. follow it; her thoughts would go back to that fateful day. when her life was saved by thecoolness and determination of Wallace Richardson. From that moment her soul had seemed to become linked to his - by some mysterious and indissoluble bond. « All through the brilliant performance she sat absorbed, feeling sad, depressed, and inexpressibly anxious, and looking like some pale beautiful spirit in her white dress trimmed with swan's down, that was scarcely less colorless than herself. Lord Cameron thought he had never seen her so lovely X but he realized that something was not quite right with her, and, though he had received Mrs Mencke's permission to speak when lie would, he resolved not to trouble her that night with any expression of his affection. ;v-"."*"''".; v- "."*"''". ].''•"> After then; 'return "to 1 the hotel, .Mrs, Mentke followed Violet to lier 'room, pride and triumph written upon every line of her face. ;,"Have you anything to tell me, Violet ?" she asked, .-a tremulous eagerness hit her 4 tones } .'"'No; w,hat\ : could you imagine that I should have to. tell you?" the'young girl teplied, .regarding her with surprise. > ■ "What ails you, Viplet ?" Mrs Meiteke asked, with a sudden heart- ' throb, as she noticed her unusual

ipallor. "Are you sick? Has anyIthing happened.^' \ '' . "No, I am not sick, answered, with a -heavy sigi ; -"and what could . happen -that;.vbu would not know about?".. .• I "I know what I wish^wpuld Hap' pen,*' returned her ,^ister^, , eagerly, "and wliat liord. Cameron wishes too. He had eyes for no one but you to-nignt, and I must say I never saw you look so pretty before. Your dress is jiist exquisite, and it cost a heap of money, too.; but that ' counts for -nothing in: comparison with the conquest you liaVe lnade." ' v - Violet' could not fail to understand what all this meant. She flushed, hotly, and nervously began to pxill off her gloves. -::=■ „'<--- „ Mrs Mencke smiled at the blush. ; it was ominous for good,'; she thought. (To be continued.) .

"HOLLUWAY'S, OINTMENT AND PILLS'. Diseases pf the skin. No case of disease' of the B}kan; be its nature -What it may, has 'failed 1 td' r be benefited when *. 'these potent remedies haVe been properly applied. In scrolulaus and scorbutic affections, ihey are especially serviceable.. , Scurvy and - etfiiptjong, which had; resisted all other mqfcles of treatment; and- grad- , ually became worse, have" been completely cured by ' Holloway's cooling Ointment and purifying Pills, which root out the disease from the blood itself and leave the Cson^fcitiifcion free from «very morbid. _ taint. • 3jn. ihe iiursery/ Htollpway's ' Ointment" ;shduld be ever at" "hand; ft will' give'^ase^-in, aprains, contusions, Suiiis/ scal^^and infantile erfuptions, " a^dl'inay always safely *be applied by ; : any .pidin&ryj .attendant. . . J".__,- -jjL.^;", il :^y'f There are special iagßjinajs\ijig/iSOm9 sstuntiingi "bargains a^i .-rtlip/'MeJbouFn© Clothing , Compajiy^s ' special .bargain sale. Here is one of theiHu - Men's warm 3cnitted ujoiderpants, . Shetland and ribbed usually 3s- lid <nbw ;2s lid.* . . ' Spectacles to suit all sights in. steel, nickie, rolled gold, or , solid gold frames from ,2/6 per pair, and oculist's prescriptions made up at reason^ ( able prices at J. H. P'arker's Ojptjcian, next Railway Crossing, f Devon-street, New'Plymout^..*f '-, * '.'',,