Selina's Love Story.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8210, 14 August 1906, Page 2

Selina's Love Story.

By Effie Adelaide Rowlands. Author of "An Inherited Feud," "Brave Barbara," " A Splendid Heart," " Temptation of Mary Barr," "The Interloperetc., etc.

CHAPTER Vl.—Continued. If Sir George had not laid down the law about ftfr mother, perhaps Dorothy would Steve uoade it for herself. The priao and love that sho had nad in the beautiful woman waa quite gone; she judged her mother mercilessly, harshly. In the first hours of hystorical thought the girl bad tried to plan hor future. Of course, she would never dream of marrying George Durnstone —that was what she had said to herself thon; equally, she would never, uev p r go baoK to her mother's care. She had had visions of flying out into tli3 world alone—hiding herself from all those whom she had known. It had taken George Durnstone very long to change this determination. Dorothy was not framed to be independent, and if thib man had not been so close to hor she would have drifted into the keeping of some other person—the first, indeed, who would have exercised any inflqence upon her. Sir George's masterful air, oombined with bis undoubted devotion, carried the day easily. It ia true she did feel a little uncomfortable that nijjht as she recalled Selina's reproachful words, and the hard way in which Sir Genrgo had answered his sister, and she might have been mcv-Td to tears if she had followed Selina into her room, and had seen the real distress that was painted on her friend's face. Mary Lasconibo paused a long while before sho knocked at Selina'B door that night. When she entered she fjund the girl in her dressing gown, rub bing briskly, with a piece of chamois, a pair of high boots. 'They have just come fcacK from being patched up,' she explained. 'I practically ruined them the other day when I gut them so iTot.' Seliua's face was very white, and her eyes were very red. She was keeping back her tears with an effort. Indeed, aa Mary Lasoombe stood by the fire, she let drop the boot that she was rubbing, and turned away with a low cry. "'lt was only a few days ag.; that I wore those boots and was so happy, and now, Polly, I feel as if 1 . should never, never be happy again!' •We always feel like that when we are young,' said Miss Lascombe, in her quiet way; 'things may not be juat the same with you, Selina,' she added, 'but theie id no reason why you should not be happy, my dear; at least, as happy aB any of us can hope lo be when we have left qhiUibood behind.' Sella a bi'usiiftd her eyes with the baok of her hand. Then she advanced to tbe fireplace. 'Was I r. roue to speak as I did, Polly?' sho asked. Miss LasoomhG shook her head with a faiut szsile. 'Wrohg—-no!—unwise, yes. 'But I must speak out!' Selina said, half passionately. 'I seem too have lost the brother I thought I knew so well. Polly, George is so utterly different, I know it has been the fashion with other people to say that ho could be hard and cold, but I have never found him so; and'—the lips quivered again —'l never, never thought he could speak to me as spoke to-night! Polly*—the girl drew involuntarily nearer tbe older woman, and she shivered—'l don't like to think of what passed in London to-day. I have a sort of dread that he must have been so cruel; and, after all, what I said is so true—he is a stranger. Dorothy's mother should surely come before a stranger!' 'lt is tha old Biblical law,' said Miss Lasoombe, 'that a man shall forsake his father and his mother when he takes a wife, and a : wife shall turn from all that have belonged to hor when she gives herself to her husband.' Selina's >'ace seemod to whiten still more; then abe said in a low voice: 'Then there is no j.laee for me now in George's life?' Miss Laacombo ntroked her cheek gently. 'Giro them a little tiaje dear,' sho said. 'I hare always felt that if George wore to lull in lore he would take tfco complaint very badly, and circumstances have worked to intensify tbe power of thia new influence tnnt has come into his life. 1 don't for on instant suppose,' said Miss Leacombe, quickly, 'that he really meant what he said to-night; still for your own sake, Selina, it would be aa wf.ll if you were to shape some new future for yourself. "Ihat is what 1 think,' selina siirl, in a low voice. 'lt won't be very easy, Polly, but 1 suppose it will come nil right in the end ' 'I shail take you away with me,' said Miss Lascombe, abruptly. 'I was going to Devonshire when 1 left yon, but we will go to* town instead. You cannot rel'uee me thia pleasure, Selina,' Misa La?combs said, hurriedly; 'this hurried marriage up»ets everything, you see. I have an idea that George will not stay away very long. Jie v has deteriniued to let the world see how powerful he is, and also, at the same time, exhibit an indifference to the world's oprnioß. I mean, my dear, that, though be is conscious thai there will be;j a great deal of surprise and gossip over his hurried marriage—and all the old business about Henry Dunworthy and Mrs Bnraldine is bound to bo unearthed and buzzed about—ho intends to defy this curiosity and gossip. I quite believe he will have his way,' said Miss Lascombe, 'for things go so differently nowadays from what they dia even twenty years ago. Even though I did not like to hear him say it tha other day, I must repeat

hat the fact that Dorothy will have a good deal of money will pardon a great deal to a great many people.' 'How does she get moDey?' asked 1 Selina, in a low voice. \ 'Her mother was making thousands : when she suddenly retired from 1 public life,' Miss Lasoombe re- ! plied, 'and though Sir Henry Dunworthy was called a poor man when he married bis wife, fortune was kind to him; ho has received several magnificent gifts from foreign countries and,' here Mies Lasoombe smiled, 'I dare tay your 1 friend, Mr SC. JDhn Delaval, could tell you some of tbe stories that have been oiroulated abcut Sir Henry Dunworthy; stories of loot and of wonderful treasure that he brought baok to England from time to time. A long time ago I remember hearing that the child—who was, of course, Dorothy— would be an heiress; and 1 don't Huppuse that the fact that she now intends to deny all connection with her mother will affect that mother's purpose.' Selina was crying quietly. 'Oh! 1 don't like it,' she said brokenly. 'I don't like any of it, Polly; most of all I am so disappointed in Dorothy. Surely she ought not to turn against her mother; I only wish,' said Selina, brokenly, 'that her duty was mine.' 'Now let us have no more tears,' said Miss Lascombe; 'just begin to make your arrangements for leaving here in a couple of days, Possibly George may be sorry for what he said to you to-night, but at the same time by dnar child, it is no use ignoring the fact that you are better away from the Gate House, for a little while at least. I have not the slightest doubt that you j will be asked to return by both George and hla wife; you are a very useful person, you know.' '1 don't waut to be useful,' said Selina, with a touch of that j passion in her voice again. I j want to be loved.' j 'Ab, said Misa Laecouibe, and | there was a curious sound in her j voice, 'how many wotren have harboured that wish!' Then she kissed Selina. 'Good-night,' she said, abruptly. 'Try not to fret. There is in you one thing that I have already liked Selina,' she said, 'and that is your practical nature. This has all come upon you very unexpectedly; but you are going to grapple with it. There is good fightiag stuff in you, you know; you are bound tu come to the top.' Se'.ma smiled through her tears and the smile lingered after her friend had gone; but though she knew that she had plenty of common sense a"d plenty of pluck, she was very young to be uprooted from all that means life and home in the rough way that she was being uprooted. Sbe cried a great deal before she got into bed, and she lay awake crying more, till her head ached and her eyes closed wearily. When she awoke the next morning Selina realized that tbe last remnant of her girlhood had gone for> eper; henoeforth she was a woman, and would have to fight a woman's battles. CHAPTER VIII. 'SHE IS THd] WOMAN I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR.' Miohael Soilhester had grown accustomed to meet and endure all the small difficulties that had come in his path single-handed; he was also of a slow nature. He never did auything impulsivelythat was one of the very qualities that made Selina so impatient with him at times. It took a good deal to rouse him. Selina had only once in her life seen liim angry, and then she had bean a little frightened. They had been walking Lome from a garden party, and had come across a man illtreating a dog. Tbe way Michael's eyes had blazed, the swiftness with which he had stripped off his coat, and gone for the man, had taken Seliua's breath away. He bad ordered her on sternly, and sho had obeyed. And a little later, when he had joined her, though he waw breathless, and hi 3 face had a bruise, ho lookei his old calm self. It was only the miserable dog ho was leading by a string to bear witness to the fact that he had been administering justice.