Selina's Love Story.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8216, 21 August 1906, Page 2

Selina's Love Story.

CHAPTER X.—Continued

A little exclamation escaped Mies Lascombe's lips as Bhe saw Selina kneeling beside some strange woman; bat De'aval smothered an oath. He took in the full significance of the situation. He went forward to assist Selina to rise, but she was on her feet immediately, and Caroline Baraldine rose also. 'I am afraid I am nu intruder,' she said to Delaval, in her low, musical vtiioe, fcat 1 heard bychanoe that you were in Loudon, and I came to ask you some questions. ~ I —-I am sorry, 1 did no! know you had visitors, yonr servant told ine to come upstairs.' Selina had advanced *:o Mies lasoombe. 'Folly,' she said, 'Polly, this is Doiothy's mother. Do come and pay something—say yuu are glad to meet her.' Miss Lascombe patted tbe girl tenderly on the shoulder and advanced quiokly. 'lndeed, I am glad to meet one whom 1 nave admired for so long,' she said. f /Sbe held out her hand, land Mrs Baraldine nervously put hers into it. The warmth, the sincerity, the kindness of this reception aluost made her break down, and, seeing this, with her* quick tact, Misa Lasoombe drew Seliua on one side. 'You wisn to speak to Mr Delaval,' sbe said. Mrs Baraldine moved to the door, but before she passed out she turned tand held her hand toward Selina. \'Good-bye,' she said, 'and tbank you.' Selina moved forward rapidly and grasced the hand in both of hers. 'Not "good-bye," ' she answered; 'I want to see you again very soon.' Mrs Baraldine bent forward and kissed ber; tne next moment she had passed through tbe heavy which Delaval held on one aide. Though he was sharply annoyed at j her coming, he let nothing of this j appear in [his manner; indeed, he j pressed her to stay, but Mrs Bar aldine shook her head with a faint smile. 'No,' she said. 'I have no place where there iB pleasure or gayety. I have come to toll you that I am going out to him. I shall not find him waiting tc greet me, for I know that he is already dead, but I am going all the same.' Delaval's brows contracted. 'You must not think that,' he answered. 'Yuu know that Dunworthy bears a charmed lifei Bow often have we not imagined that we should never see bim again.' 'lt is different.now,' answered the woman, slowly: '1 know that he has pissed away: he sent me a message.' She drew n small packet from the bosom of her dress. 'See,' she said, as she opened it; 'this is the ring he has always worn, the ring I gavejhim. It was never to leave bim Save when death jame. Wherahe sent that to me,' said Caroline Baraldine, 'he must have been ha'fway into the world of shadow. And I would not have him back,' r-f be added, half passionately, 'for the sorrow that has fallen upon me just lately would have been too muoh for him to bear. He worshiped the child, as you know. To realize that she no longer belongs to us, that she desires to be separated, is something that perhaps J may learn to endure; he would never tiaye done so, 1 , ' 'And y6tf &r<3 going out there?' said Delaval, movel both to pity and admiration; 'deal you cannot do this; it is much tqo dangerous for,you. You will never be able to support the climate, and if wba t t you think should be true, will it not be a terrible tax on your heart and your mind? Let me F° rsu& de you not to go.' 'lt ia all lhat 1 have left me,' said Mtb Baraldine, passionately; 'don't iob me to the little 1 have.' Delaval was silent, and she went on speaking. '1 want you to belp me, instead. I want you to put me in the way of going; to tell me just bow I can best reach it. That is why I sought "you to-day. It I Bball never see him again—and I know I never'shall—-1 can at least kneel by his grave.' 'Of course, I will nelp you, if you must go,'said Delaval, quietly; M will come out to you this evening, I may not be free all the afternoon.' When be bad put ber into her carriage and watched it drive awajr, the man stood musing with a strange look upon bis face. 'Perhaps, after all,' bo aaid, tu himself, 'her coming was not so inopportune for she has emphasized George Durnstone'a hardness; she has swept away from fcielina's mind, maybe, tho last clinging remnant of faitb. and without faith there cannot be great love or great devotion.' Then -he shrugged his shuulders. 'But why shoud I give a second thought to such a foolish thing? Am I hot strong enough to fight down this influence? I think su! Some people might coll ic madness on my part to give two thoughts to this child, but I have awakened to a real love at last! 1, who have always laughed at love! Well, it is merely the fulfillment of tbe old saying, "One liveq to learn." But I must be very cautious. This i.ascombe woman against me. She knows my reputation too well.' He was quick to notice tbe traces of tears on Selina's face, but he made no oomment; neither did he allow the conversation to dwell udou Mrs Baraldine. He had an unlimited source of subjects on which to talk, and by.the time they were sitting down to lunch, which was served in an original manner, and attended by a darkskinned youth wearing an Indian costume, be had managed to banish from Selina's look ail trace of that strange and agitated meeting.

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

Indeed, in the hours that followed, the gii'l seemed to drift far, far away from all that had been so real to her recently, so fraught with bewilderment and sorrow. She lived like one in a new cjuntry, and was utterly unconscious that each fxesh suggestion that she gave of her sweet and yet capable mind was driving this man closer and closer to her. Even when they left Delaval's rooms and went for a drive, Selina remained in that kind of dreatn, and Mary Lasoombe sat silently watching her. Happily for her peace of mind Delaval had played his part well. He chose a moment when Selina was not within hearing to speak of his immediate departure, and of all that he intended tn do, and be exerted himself to give Miss Lasoombe the impression that his present courtesy was courtesy and nothing more. Though sbe was not absolutely convinced, yet she oomforted herself by finding the mere that he should mean anything serious as being absolutely ridiculous. 'lf it were any other man,' said Miss Lasoombe to herself, 'then things would be different; but Delaval is not like other men. I dare say,' she smiled a moment later, 'be is doing as much an he is doing now because of contradiction. He knows how anxious 1 am about Selina, and he wants to give me a soare. Weil,' added M iss Lascombe, a moment or two later, 'I wanted to rouse Selina, -an J am doing it with a vengeance. At least, she ia not fretting after George, and that is a great point gained.' ***** Michael Silchester let a week pass, and in that week be pondered the subject of 'that anonymous letter most thoroughly. The more be thouht the more surely he came to the conclusion that he must take some notice of it. If it had been on any other subjeot he might have dismissed it, but his love for his brother and his friendship for Delaval been as vital with him as the love he had given ' Selina Durnstone ever sinoe he had known her. 'lt's a hard thing to take to a man,' he said to himself at times during the week, 'but! have never found Jack deal crookedly with anything; that's one of the things that I have always liked—his straightforward way of going through life. Just because hd has been so wonderful and baa made suuh a reputation, he is bound to have a lot of people envious of bim. Then, why can't they otrike at him openly; wby go behind his back and try to put poison into a friend's mind? J shan't tell Jack about this letter till 1 have spoken to him once more about Edward. That, will give me ray opportunity.' «* In fact, when Michael set himself to remember all that appertained to bis brother's death, it came to him very surely that thera was a good deal yet that had to ba told. For instance, there were many things belonging to Edward Silchester whioh Delaval had promised should be sent back to his home. These things bad never arrived. Neither Michael nor his mother knew really what bad been passing in the dead boy's life just before bis death. 'He can't blame mo for talking about poor Ed,' Miohpel said to himself, but he said it restlnasly. He was slow in making up his mind to approach Delaval. Perhaps thdie lurked in his heart a fear lest the 1 accusation that this unsigued letter had flung at his friend might have an element of truth in it, or perhaps it was the thought of Selina that checked bim, though, indeed, • it oost Michael a mighty effort to go through his daily work at the bank and to remember how far away Selina was now, and how little he knew of what wns passing with her. change et the Gate House bad made a great upheaval in his life. It seemed so strange and sad to Michael to go past the familiar gates -—to feel that there was no one there to welcome him. There had never been any great pretense of friendship between George Durnstoue and himself, and he had certainly no particular desires to meet Selina's brother when be CMtne back from his home. It was rumoured through tbe neighbourhood tnat Sir George and Lady Durnstone would be returning to the Gate House almost immediately. Mrs Siiohester was in a great flutter over this. (To be Continued.)