Selina's Love Story.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8212, 16 August 1906, Page 2

Selina's Love Story.

[CHAPTER Vlll.—Continued. ♦Well,' said Mary Lasoombe, '1 don't know but. tbat I agree with you, although I have, of course, told the child I consider she made a mistake. * She is very unhappy, Misa Lasnombe added, rather abruptly; 'that is inevitable. She has bo twined her life around George that, now that Bhe finds herself out absolutely apart from him, it seems to her that she does not know how she will live.' , Michael got up a little hurriedly and shut the window. 9e was soarcely conscious of the action. 'Why have you come to me? he asked Miss Lascombe, borrowing a little of her abruptness. She looked him full in the ayes. 'There is a rumour floating about —how I know not- that you intends leavine England. I have oome here to ask you not to do this—at least, not for any length of time. I know that vou are a friend of Sol ma's, and I wart to muster all her friends about her/.Thero J8 none of them,' said Mia* Lascooibe, in a quiet way. 'in whom I have suoh a confident belief that she would always be helped and counselled the best than by yourself.' Michael Silohester flushed. ' 'J don't aak anything better than to serve Seiina all my life,' he said. He spoke very quietly, but his tone carried far more eloquence than if he had spoken with passion. Miss Lascombe got up. 'Weill I must go. Seiina and 1 are leaving the Gate House tomorrow. .1 wanted to take her away this evening, but she pleaded bard to have one nicht more in the old place, so 1 had to yield. I want you to promise to come and see me in London. I shall not take No, said jsSiss Lascombe, briskly, with a smile. 'You have some foolish idea in your brain about Seiina. That must be beaten out. In any case, 1 want you to come and seo me—l have a partiality for you. I know you have a great deference for age; very well, then, you must respect my gray haiis, submit graciously to whatever i desire.' Michael Silohester smiled once again. . 'I will come,' he said, and he added, 'Thank you,' as he held Miss Lasoombe'a hand. Walking through the town, Miss Lasoombe feit almost soothed by this brief interview >*vith Miohael. Life at the Gate House had been so strained, so permeated with an atmosphere of excitment that had little of pleasure in it, that the oontaot with this quiet, strong

nature was very agreeable. She elected to walk baok. It •was a fine afternoon, with a delicious suggestion of warmth in the air that makes spring bo beautiful, so full of anticipation. She ha;l purposely left Selina alone. 'Lhe girl had comported herself v.?ry bravely during that quiet ceremony. She had not eveu cried when the bride and bridegroom had driven away, but she had looked painfully ill and her eyes had spoken too eloquently of the suffering that was in her heart. Miss Lascombe had just a few words with Sir George on ths j subject of his sister. 'Selina is going away with mo,' she said. 'I think her decision a wise one. She thinks that you and your wife will bo better here alone when yuu return. You know you can trust her to me, George.' Sir George's answer was a disagreeable one. «1 think Selina is old enough to take care of herself now,' he said 'She haß had so much headway here. She ought to have cultivated any amount of practical sense and • self-reliance. It is kind of you to bother with her, 1 headded, Dy way of an afterthought. 'You know very well, Miss Lascombe retorted, ''it is happiness for me to have Selina with me.' Ihen she ventured to say a few more words. 'Surely you are not going to quarrel with the child, George? It is because she holds certain views that are opposed to yours she is fretting her heart out now. In your own jmppiness pause and thinklittle of her.' 'Very good of you to dictate what I, ought to do, Polly,' Sir George ' answered, quietly, and with that Miss Lascombe had left him. She had no knowledge as yet whether the brother and sister had spoken quietly together, but she doubted this. She felt convinced that Georga Dsirnatono bar] started without devoting a single thought to his sisters' future—without »j remembering the wonderful devotion the child had given him ever since she had known what love was. She pinned little faith to young Lady Durnstone's loyalty Co Selina. i- : - 'lf the girl can turn in twentyfour hourtj and deny her mother, Miss Lascombe mused to herself, 'the mother who had been to her such an image for veneration and affection, it was scarcely likely that she would show sufficient strength of oharactar to influence her husband against his harsh feeling for his sidter.' When she reached the house Selina was not visible, but she came upon St. John Delaval, stretched comfortably in an armchair before the fire in the drawing room. Already Miss Lascombe had commenced to moderate the admiring interest that she had given this man. She resented his prosence here in particular on this occasion and St. John Delaval knew what was pasoitig in her mind. '1 am waiting for a chance of seeing Mib's Dranstono,' he said, as he rose. 'They told me she is wandering somewhere about the grounds.' 'She has hail a very exciting and unpleasant day,' said Miss Lasootabe, coldly. 'I think sho is best Jpft to herself.' 'I would not presume to intrude ,

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

in this way, said Mr Delaval, quietly, 'but I want to say 'Good bye' to her. lam going off again in another twenty-four hours.' Mary Lascowbe felt her heart rise. ' 'lndeed!' she said. I thought you were home for some little time?' 'I never know my own movements, or my own mind," said Mr Delaval, with a sm«le. 'Just when I think I Htn settled down, the spirit seizes me, and 1 have to go away. You see,' he added, 'I have no ties, no one to consider. If my mother had lived it would have been another matter. I have a sister, it is true,' he added; 'but she lives the other side of the world, and as I hate ' the 'man she has married, I never trouble myself very much about her. Then he ohanged his tone. 'I hear that you are going to take Miss Durnstone away with you. I am so pleased. She is much too fins a charaoter to stay In this small environment. I cannot help feeling that this marriage of her brother's, this sudden uprooting of all that was, is about the best thing that could have happened to her. I shall carry away with me,' he went on, 'a most charming souvenir in the remembrance of this delightful old house. You knodown at the bottom of the hearts of us wanderers, there lurks a love of home.' Against herself Mary Lasoombe was charmed by this man's manner. There was a suggestion of sadness in his voice and his words that went instantly to her heart, and they stood in silence for a little while; then, Mr Delaval spoke again, glancing at the olook. 'I wonder if I might venture to try to find Miss Durnstone in the gardens? And 1 off to town tonight, I an want to see Michael Silohester before I go. I have a great liking foi Micheal,' Delaval added, with that delightful smile of his; 'I don't mind confessing to you now, Miss lasoombe, that I cannot stand his mother. It has always been a source of amazement to me how Miohael Jhas managed to support his mother all these years.' He had advanced to the window as he spoke, and opened it. 'Perhaps I shall see you here when I oome baok,' he said, and with a little bow he passed through, and left Miss Lasoombe alone! He laughed to himself softly as he walked over the grass. He was absolutely aware of all the doubt and vague objection forming itself in Miss Lascombe's mind against him. The knowledge only increased a certain determination which had formed itself very clearly in his mind these last few days. He was attracted by Seiina. Pyh* sioally she charmed him, and mentally also; but it was, perhaps, her aloofness which was her gteatest attraction to bim. lie knew, of course, that she was susceptible just as so many other women were, to the charm of his personality—to that other charm which belonged this strange career. But he also knew tbat though she might think about him, though uooonsciously she might colour when his eyes met hers, she was, in reality, as far away from Dim as the j stars are'from the earth. Her immense and unusual love for her brother was the secret of her great charm for Delaval, inasmuch as it signified that at last he had met a woman who denied his sovereignty. It hurt his vanity sharply to have to confess so much. As he strolled now across the lawn, he ran over in hie mind the.many women who had given him homage, and he laughed to himself as he realized that he was piqued with a country child, who might have been supposed to have been utterly beneath his notice. He oould not find Seiina in the grounds, though he strolled everywhe"e. He had a dim idea that she would have gone further afield, so he set himself to wait by the^ l gate in the lower part of the grouns. There was that great affinity between them in their love of nature, in their delight in space and freedom. The afternoon sun deol'ned and the air grew chilly as he waited, but he did not wait in vain. After a whilg he discerned her coming aoross the fields, with two or three dogs following her. She had no idea that she was being watched, and she walked along easily. Delaval's pulses stirred as he looked at her. There was something of the primeval woman in this girl. Her grace waa the grace of nature.; the proud way in which she carried her head, the splendid way she set down her foot, spoke of physical perfection, and nothing of the deteriorating influence of fashion. (To be Continued.)