His Heart's Queen.

Taranaki Herald, Volume L, Issue 12290, 24 June 1903, Page 6

His Heart's Queen.

By Mrs GEORGIE SHELDON,

Author of " Stella Rovsevelt," " Sibyl's Influence," "The Fortaken Bride," " Queen Bess/ " Brownie's Triumph," "That Dcwdy," &c, ftc.

CHAPTER Xll.— Continued. "Poor child ! poor wounded, loving heart !" he said. "I wonder how you have borne your sorrow. I know there is no human sympathy that can heal your wound-^ only One, who has all power, can do that. But, Violet, I can see, even though you shrink from, saying it — even though you have tried to hide as much of the wrong done you by othefs as you could — I can see that you are unhappy from other causes than the loss of this dear one. Your heart is starving for sympathy, love, and comfort. Now, . just as frankly as you have talked to me, I am going to talk to you. You have said that the drama of your life is played out — has ended in tragedy ; that you have loved and lost— your heart' has exhausted itself, and you can never love again. This may be so, Violet ; we will assume that it is" — his Hp quivered painfully as he said it, and his face was very pale — "still in all probability, there are many years of life before you — years which may be filled with much good for those about you, if not of absolute happiness for yourself. Could you make up, your mind to spend them with me ? Do not be startled by the proposition,dear," he said, as he saw the quiver that agitated her ; "j^ou shall think of it as long as you will, and shall not be urged to anything from which you shrink. I love you — that fact remains unalterable, in spite of all tht you have told me, and though your heart may not have one responsive vibration to. mine, yet I feel that I would gladly devote all my future to the work of winning you to more cheerful frame of mmd — that I should be happier in doing that than in living without you. I v et me take care of you, You said you were tired of traveling — that you long ■ for home and rest. Come to my horne — you shall have all the rest and : seclusion you wish — you shall live as you will ; only let me give you the protection of my love and my ' name and threw around you all the , comforting influences that I can. Forgive me if I refer to your sad past ; but only for this once. The man who you have-honored with your love is gone ; I do not ask you to forget him, or to violate j in any way, the affection that belongs, to him ; but, since your life must be lived out somewhere, I ask' you to let it be with me. Do not allow your sensitiveness to restrain you — do not feel that you will' b.e'wronging me,' as you have expressed it, l by giving me only the ashes of your love ;' I shall be content if you will but come. Violet,' will you ?" Violet was nearer loving him at that moment than she, had ever been.

How grand, how noble, he seem-ed-in his utter self-abnegation-thinking only of her and of the comfort that he might manage^to throw around her broken life !

Oh, she thought, if he was only her brother, how gladly she would go with him and give him all the affection that a sister might ,beY stow upon one so worthy. It was a great temptation as it was, for the barriers that had come between herself and her sister, and which she knew would "become stronger and almost intolerable, if she disappointed her in her ambitious schemes, made her feel as if it would be impossible to remain with her, and the world seemed verjr desolate. Still to consent to become the wife of this good man, to "accept all the benefits which his position would confer upon her, to be continually surrounded by his care and thoughtful love, seemed the height at selfishness to her, when she had nothing but her broken life to give in return, and she shrank from the sacred bond and the responsibility of its obligations.

"I am afraid — it do.es not seem right," she faltered, yet she lifted her .eyes to him with a wistfulness that was pathetic in the extreme, and which moved him deeply. "Violet, come," he repeated, earnestly, as he held out his strong right hand to her. "I dare not," she said, "and yet " "You want to — you, will!" he cried, eagerly^ as, leaning toward her, he clasped the small hand that lay upon the arm of her chair. It was icy cold, and glancing, anxiously into her fac#, he saw that she had fainted away. The excitement of the interview, the desolation of her wounded heart, and the longing for home and rest were too much for her frail strength, and she had swooned, even while he thought she was consenting to be his wife. , He sprang to the bell and rang for assistance, then gathering her in his arms, he gently laid her upon a sofa, just as the door opened and Mrs Mencke entered.

"P am afraid that I have overtaxed her strength, M Lord Cameron said, in a tone of self-reproach, as he lifted a rueful face to her.

"Have you won ?" she asked eagerly. , "I think' so, but " ' Mrs Menckc waited lor nothing more.

"She will soon . recover from this," she interrupted, a triumph' ant ring in her tone, as she began to sprinkle Violet's face with water from a tumbler which she seized from a table. "Leave her with .me now, and I will call you again when she is better."

The young girl was . already. beginning to revive, and fearing that his presence might agitate her again, Lord Cameron stole softly from the room, but , looking strangely sad for a man who believed he had prospered in his woo"You are better, Violet," 'Mrs. Mencke said, with unwonted tenderness, as her sister opened her J eyes and looked around the room as if in search of, someone/ : She brought a glass of wine to her, and putting it to her lips, bade her drink. ." She obeyed, and the stimulating beverage soon began to warm her blood and restore her strength. "Has he gone ?V she asked, glancing toward the door. j "Lord Cameron ? Yes ; he thought you . had had' excitement enough for one day, and as soon as you began to come to yourself he stole away. Do you wish me to call him back ?" her sister inquired curiously. "No,"" but, there was a perplexed look .upon her fair face. .

"He tells me that you are going to make him happy, Vio," -pursued her sister, anxious to learn just how matters stood, "Jthat v you will marry I am delighted, dear, and B itno.W/that be will do alii in his power to make your life a perfect one." ' "Di<i he tell you that ? Did I promise ?" Violet cried, . with a startled look and putting her Hand to her head r in a dazed way. 1 .

"Violet Huntington ! what a strange child you are ! Here you have just given a man. to understand that you have accepted him and yet, when you are congratulated- upon the^ fact, you affect not to know what you have done !" cried Mrs Mencke, pretending to be entirely out of patience with, her.

She meant to carry things with a high hand now. She saw that there had been a momentary yielding unon Violet's part, though there was some- doubt as to just what she had intended to do, and she was determined to make it count if £he could do so by any means, legitimate or otherwise.. : "'"' "Don't be cross Svith me, Belle," Violet pleaded, with, <juivering, lips, for I really cann6t remember. i Lord Cameron wa^s so . kind, so generous, and I began to say soirieI thing to him— l don't know what !— when I felt queer and v i new i«olhing. more until I wbtce end found you here.'-' , „ | Mrs Mencke her advantage in ,all this, and did not fair to »?ak«* the most of it. "Well, you nxnst have given lam to understand that vmi have accepted, him, fox he told jjis i{]«7.t he had won you, arul wow I hop^ we shall not have any more nonsense about the niatcsr. Lord Cameron is too good a man to. be ti.rfled .with. ,:^ou ha/e giv^n Kirn ;w:iir promise, aad must Maud by 't, %> she cb.i;iud>J, in au au'.h ;:i'.atlve tone. _ < "Yes, f 7 have juomJytc!, I suppose — I must,' 1 j»O3i»ed_ unhappy Violet, *md tK^ii . liiuted aiv^y again. , (To be continued.)