A Heart-Song of To-day

d her; you are a very

een, started to his feet as a beautiful Italian mant

st have my way. I know whom you have missed," she said truly, for Sir Tilton Everly ha

en beautiful or fascinat

t make you love one woman and only one, or I cannot slee

I want Haughton to have the innings; she is good fun and does

s, rolling a small table on which was the debri

ny of your secrets would be chic enough to tempt a man to

s for him alone," and the handsome wealth

see I know you gay butterflys," he said, lazily placi

wly, and with a new te

ought you here to tell

ffer of marriage this

ters and wish me free?

posite her and separating her boudoir from a small morning-room pushed aside, and a pair of wrathful blazing eyes

id you to the altar with another, but I say take him, there is not a better fellow in t

another, while I could kill. Nay, don't start. Yes, could kill a woman you might love. And the spe

r me too much; believe me, 'tis

as a god, and I have been always one to speak as I feel; yea, and get what I want most days," she added, leaning forward and smiling into his m

speaker had come from behind the curtains and was the owner of the wrathful eyes; a heavily built man of medium weight, a bold man with a handso

Delrose," said Trevalyon, with the utmost sang-froid as he leaned

imself, I believe," said Mrs. Tompkins wrathfully, push

admit no one to my presence. I s

e, I have promoted

no promotion; he knows

bold handsome style, reckless to

, my pretty Kate don't look so severe, I have one, you have the

," and a decided foot went down, "leave Captain

e not the fruit, I'll play gooseberry," and seating

eux, Mrs. Tompkins;

out to rise f

lings of Trevalyon by the magnets love and gold as to win. In the meantime he thought as he stroked his mous

g his arms glared defiantly at Kate who returned hi

into a woman's presence. Go this moment! I command y

k. "I tell you, Kate, I am not a man to be made a football of; don't, if you hav

or; the other who had a passion for herself, that she had outlived; and now with quick resolve and latent meaning, knowing the intruder's love for coins, continued: "E

of woman, and such an one as you, never!" he answe

making a step towards him, her rich crimson robes of velvet trailing after her, now offered her hand

I am an older friend tha

boudoir, and, thank fat

stars, I stir

how would it end? and so Treva

made your entree later than I, if you are making a point of t

n her wish is the will of

a-tete, but with the entree of a soldier on the war-path," and stepping towards his hostess he said gallantly: "So fair a foe, dear Mrs. Tompkins, surrounded by soldiers, is unfair; I beat

way, but she read no weakness there,

d not intruded himself, I should not have let him go till I had brought him to my feet, but I

ur friend; you wil

wo-fold kindness. Now

and lifting her hand t

d Colonel Haughton?" enquir

u sat beside that other man. Gad!

entlemen only me

with me Kate, or by he

mockingly. "I leave your presence,

bes, jewels, coal-black tresses and a smi

e London world on their ear, over your parentage, daught

win

make up friends, Kate," and his face softened, and going ov

nt lover with a long me

afford to quar

te. You will never sever

aning forward he strove to read the inmost thoughts o

art in the matter, my devotion amused you, my bold wooing was a n

ource of my wealth and t

r thoughts to myself; you must admit, Kate, that it is hard lines for me; marry me, dear, an

nds on her knees, he strov

coldly; "love would indeed be a t

her words Delrose buried his face in her hands and groaned heavily, as though

u no pit

ssed my path, you h

her babe as he carried it aloft to feed the young? No, she told herself she had spoiled him, allowing him the entree to her presence for the past seven or eight years at will. She cared for him too for his bold, fierce, passionate nature,

d your sky, because I am constant and wish to have you for my wife; wish to keep you in my arms. Lincoln Tompkins never knew; our world never knew; crossed your path? By the stars, Kate, I will not give you up!" And there is a sudden fiercenes

of a conversation you played the sneak to

receding several paces from h

her; and strong man that he is, he holds

y queen, my beauty, come back to me. Give

im?" she thought. "I lo

all gratify my ambitio

idol gratify myself; a

t's all

uss begin

you leave no room for other fe

ou will only marry me, Kate, only me. Say yes, dear; Haughton would never suit you.

again fearfu

for years he has had a hidden wife, and, depend upon it, it'

f this story is true; I remember you told it me at New York as false; but I dare say at that time, not being jealous of him, you were, after the manner

d influence over her,

nute longer; you have

e to Colonel Haugh

on connection alone," he said, j

tarving for

e? Just think of that, and then say would any other wo

ce, but she sat her horse well and her figure is perfect. I overheard Wingfield at the 'Russell' club rooms, telling Chaucer of the Guard

let me thin

ed. Her companion did not break upon her reverie, he sat quiet, studying her profile as he had often done before; there was a certain witchery in the hour, the lateness, the stillness, the roseate lights above them,

has taken possession of him, lest she should slip away from him altogether, for Dame Rumour has given the widow of the American millionaire in marriage to more than one. The demon of unrest hath gat hold on him and every night ere going to one or other of the many distractions open to him, he paces the square opposite her windows to see who is admitted. More than once Col. Haughton and the man he most fears, Trevalyon, have alighted from the handsome dog-cart of the latter; to-night as we know, he, with the madness of jealousy upon h

r face quickly, brushing his beard (he was so ne

f whom have you been thinking all th

ly, George dear, but who is t

course; did I

were not such a bad fellow after all as Trevalyon; it would be a terrible thing, George

h! I begin to see," he continued thoughtfully; "you wou

pliment, and if you wish to please me you will revive this old scandal, so as to prev

favour, my queen, while I swear he shall never

vent Miss Vernon posing as his wife. I shall be sweeter than hon

me when I may see you alone, fo

oyed his beef and beer better; no, go do my bidding, and in your effort

t tell me; may I come to-morrow

ed to the lips

a soldier is accust

George, or you shall

foot on my neck, dear,

awing her robe, exposing a very pretty foot encased in cream hose, and

he said softly; "only let me

write you, as the letter writer

t; may it

r your m

ive it with

sly out into the night; the closing of the door roused the sleeping footman, who, as he locked the door and

in after all; my lady is sweet on him, I'm