Selina's Love Story.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8213, 17 August 1906, Page 2

Selina's Love Story.

CHAPTER Vlll.—Continued.

n 'And she has the heart of a man, -Delaval Baid to himself. Such a creature should belong to me. She would follow me wherever I went. She would have no fears, no weaknesses. She is the woman I have been looking for. Not a plaything of fashion, but a companion, a comrade; with all this," he murmured, with half-veiled eyes, 'a ! woman who knows how to love. I shall not let her go,' and his heart beat in a manner that was strange to him as b» leaned against the gateway, and watched Selina draw nearer and nearer. Ihe tears had gone from her eyes, there was a glow on her cheeksshe had fouebt her flgbt and sbe had conquered. It was this quality in her that made her so attractive to him. When she was quite close, he stepped forward and spoke her name, and his heart leaped again as he saw for an instant at least her eyes light to with pleasure and ber lips smile. 'I will not speak just yet,' he said to himself. 'l* will keep my hand upon her. They will stand between her and me, if they •oan. That will be fur the future,' and he smiled half cruelly to himself. 'I have n«jver yet been denied what I wanted. It will go ill with anyone who stands for any length of time between this girl and me!'

CHAPTER IX

DELAVAL EXTENDS AN INVITATION.

Selina had been to London twice fcefore, bat on both occasions f ber visits bad been very brief, and tl>a girl had returned to the country •with a sigh of relief when they jhad ended. Mary Lasoombe tried to arrange everything possible to make things pleasant for the girl on this occasion. She had a delightful house, in an old-fashioned part, it is true; but Still a house fall of comfort, \witb plenty of space, and she alloted the largest room she had to Selina. Miss Lasoombe's heart was moved to admiration and deeper affection by the evidence tLat was given her of the girls courage. Though she knew it out Selina's heart like a knife to go away from the Gate House- uncertain when she would see it again, or even if she should ever rekun—Selina was as bright aa possible. ahe ran to say 'good-bye' to the servants, and, as usual, when she was moved, old Anne gave her a >good scolding. But there was a Tristful nore in the old servant's voice, and she caught Selina's hand in hers for an instant as the girl was runing out of the kitohen, trying hard to stop the quiver of ier lips. 'Miss Selina, my dear,' she said, *yoa will be so good as to let the master know I mean no disrespect to him nor my lady, that he had better have some one younger than I am, some one more fit to be in the kitohen than me in these days.' Selina turned at once. *Oh Anne!' she said; 'what will you do; where will you go?' Anne put on an air of conscious pride. •I'll go to my son William.' she said. fHasn't he a nice comfortable cottage of hia own? There'll always be room for me with Willalm. Don'fc you fret now about me, Misß Selina. Selina took the two old workstained bands in hers. •Look here, dear old thing,' she said, 'don't do anything till you hoar from Sir George. Why—why, Anne, it won't seem [like the Gate House if you go away -' And than Anne broke clown. •I wouldn't go; not me, Miss Selina,' she said, huskily; 'but I ain't going tu stop here without you. Time enough in the past I'v D pictured to myself the day when the master would marry, but I always saw it in a sort of glory, white flowers and grand carriages, and me making all sorts of dishes and great fuss, and a great ceremony, Miss Selina. This don't seem to be the proper sort of marriage for the master, nor do it seem proper aa you should go away, miss.' 'Oh! I'm not going away for good, Anne, Selina tried to say as brightly as she could; only I think it bettor that people—married people-should begin their life together, without other people; that's why I'm going now. I'll see you very soon, Anne, the girl said, and she put her arms about the old servant and kiasod her. There were tiaces of the tears she bad shed rep'titiously as she got into the carriage beside Mary Lascombe, and was driven to the station, but Mies Lascombe was bliad on coasiong. When they got there they fr.und Michael Silohester. He had taken Mary Lascombo's hict, and bad fallen back into his old manner with Selina. He appeared as if nothing could have moved him, and ho was very comforting and useful. He looked after them with all possible care, and when they were in" the train he held out his bands to Selinn. 'lt is probable that I shall have to be in town for a daj or twe,' he said; 'Miss Lascombe has asked me to call and see her.' That will be very nice,' said Selina; but she said it in a listless way. There was still that kind of restraint in her manner to him, still that suggestion of reproach; and Michael turned away from the station wheu the train had gone, and went back to his office feeling as if life had ended of him. The sun was shining brilliantly; but to blm there was no sunshine,

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

no suggestion of light and delicious gayety in the spring air. It was not wholly of himself that he thought; he grieved for her. To him she was utterly changed, a being on another plane, a oreature set far, far away from the mischievous, half-boyish oompanion who had never, never realized what lay in his heart for her. All the way to London Mary Lasoornbe chatted away briskly. 'lf only we have some decent weather,' she said, 'I am going to make you enjoy yourself; this is the timo of year that London is at its best. The parks are full of spring flowers, and there is that atmosphere of life and enjoyment which has to be felt to be understood. We will go to some theatres,' added Miss Lasoombe.'Did you bring your habit with you, Seilna? I think I could get you a mount now and then.' Selina flushed. 'Polly, dear,' she said, wistfully, 'you must not spoil me, and I must not start out by having too much pleasure. Don't you lorget that I have to make up my mind about my future. You see,' the girl added, catching her breath a little. 'l—-I have been thinking a great deal these last few hours; lam ever so cmoh more oalm now, and I think 1 see things muoh clearer; and Polly, dear, even if George should ask me to go baok to the Gate House—oh, I don't, mean, merely as a visitor, now and again, but to live as I have lived there—l shall refuse Ynu nave to think just what I can do. Polly, I want to be independent now.' 'Time enough for that,' said Miss Lasoombe, in her abrupt way. *Micd,' she added the next moment, '1 quite agree with yon, Selina; were I placed as you are placed, I should, have exactly the same feelings. Life at the Gate House could never be the same to you again. You have eo centered your existence on George, chat even this separation from him would not be half so painful as to go on living, dt»y alter day, under the same roof with him, and find yourself utterly unnecessary—set on one side entirely, perhaps at times feeling that you were an intruder. No; far better that you can do something for yourself. You leave it to me. I will work it all out for you; but I only do this on one consideration, and that is,' said Miss Lasoombe, 'that you fall in with my plans now, and get baok your bright happy spirit. You are too young to go about with that tired look in your eyes, Selina; and, after all, you km>w, my dear child, though you feel a little miserable, and will probably be very homesick, you have not been caiied upon to suffer a great sorrow. Mr Delaval tells me that he is going abroad directly,' said Miss Lasoombe, ohaqgme the subject suddenly. 'Yes,' said Selina, and that Jittle wave of colour oame into her faoe that seemed natural when this man's name was spoken. T don't .quite know where he is going to, be seems to be so restless; I am afraid Michael will be very disappointed. Miss Lasoombe grunted. •It's just as well, perhaps, that Michael Sllohester should have lost 80"rie of his illusion,' she said; 'I think be hi.s put Mr Delaval on too high a pedestal, and has been giving him too muoh admiration. He is a very uausual man, of course,' Miss Lasoombe chatted on, 'and very attractive in his strength and unconventionally; but 1 am not quite Bore where to place Mr Delaval in my own mind.' They lapsed into silenoe after this, and very little more was said between them till London was reached, and they found Miss Lascombe's oomfortable, old-fashioned, roomy brougham waiting for them. Though her heart was so said it was impossible for aelina not to yield a little to the pleasurable excitement of her new surroundings. She had never been inside Miss Lusoombe's house, though, she had been invited over and over and over again. On the two occasions she had been in London Mary, Lasoombe had happened to be abroad. (To be Continued.)