Selina's Love Story.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8222, 28 August 1906, Page 2

Selina's Love Story.

CHAPTE XIII. 'HE IS A STRANGE MAN, WHO HAS LIVED A STRANGE LIFE.' Selina drew back from him. All the light and gayety hart gone out of her face. l'he happiness about which she had just been speaking went from her heart. The grip*of his hand upon her wrist hurt her sharply, but it was not physical f-ain; it was the sudden sense of alarm that hib words provoked tnat oppressed her. Fear, however, was something so n«w to Selina that she quickly put.it behind her, and the feeling that followed immediately waß one of anger and pride combined. A certain coldness came into her eyes, and she threw baok her bead with a gesture that was so characteristic of her—a movement which Michael knew so well. '1 don't understand you,'she said, 'I don't in the least know, what you mean, Mr Delaval. He sLudied her face for a moment quickly, and he realized then with extraordinary bitterness that what she said was an absolute truth, and that during these later days, in which he had been imagining that sh«was drav.ing nearer and nearer to him, he has really made no impression on her whatsoever. He answered her ooldly. •Iloveyuul' he said. 'Are you going to pretend tLat you did not know that?' . Some oolour rushed into Selina s face. u She quietly detached his Angers from her wrist. . 'lndeed, I bad not the faintest idea,' she said, 'that 1 was so maob honoured.' There was a little ironical touch in her voioe—one that brought an ugly expression for an instant flashing into Delaval's eyes. 'Then apparently we have both misunderstood the situation,' he said, and then he laughed. 'You are strangely unlike other women. I don't think that it would have taken an ordinary eirl very long to oomprehend what my feelings were; what tny feelngs are,'*he amended; then he changed his tone entirely. 'Dear, little girl,' he said, softly 'do forgive me. I see that I have startled jou; but, in troth, you startled me. And yet I don't know that I ought to say thai. It is your very difference to other women i have known that has made you so dear to me. Of coarse, yoa have been ignorant; yoa have accepted me as a friend, and you haye given me your friendship in return. It is my misfortune that I cannot be satisfied with mere friendship. Shall we sit down for a few minutes?' he said; r it's not really oold.' He led the way aoross to where the chairs were. The maiJ seated herself at a discreet distance. She naturally imagined that Selina would wish this for what had been hidden in the 'girls eyes had been made very dear to the members of Miss Lascombe's household, and St. John Delaval was regarded with great sympathy and, admiration. 'They go well together,' said the maid to herself, and she kept her eyes turned discreetly away from them. Selina sat down. She felt miserable. Just a few minutes before she had felt so wonderfully happy. It would have been impossible for her to have described to anyone how happy her brother's letter had made her. How the knowledge that he had remembered her, the fact that he wanted her, had put sunshine into her heart. And Delaval's words had startled her, had sent this happinesß far from, her; had put her face to face guddeolr, and all unprepared, to solve a most difficult problem. • She felt nervous /and uncomfortable, br well as miserable, and he sat and watched her. Though he loved her in his own strange way, it gave him a great sense of satisfaction to read what was passing in'her heart. ) She had hurt him; she had actually made nim uncomfortable. For this most unusual oiroumatance it was only right and just that she should suffer in her turn. And after that first moment cf amazed anger had g3ne, he saw great pleasure in the present state of things. He .promised himself immeuse satisfaction in woiking his will against hers. 'So you don't care for me' he said, in a low voice. 'Not at all; n«t even a little?' Selina coloured, sharply and deeply. 'Please don't say that sort of thing, Mr Delaval,' she said. 'lt is not true. lam sure you must know I like you very much. I have scarcely realized how much I did hue you til', now. But ' He smiled-. 'Jtfut 'like' is not 'love.' I underhe said. He made his voice more soft still. 'Don't you think you could try to learn to love me, Selina?' he asked. She did not answer him. She was watching the people pass to and fro in front of them—the nursemaids and the children, the crowd of usual park saunterers. She was so honest. He know that she »yould speak the truth. She just turned to him for an.instant as she found words at last. 'I don't think I want to love anyone,'she said. 'lndeed, it—it seems so strange that anyone should care about me in this way. Especially,' she said, frankly, 'that you should care. For you are such a big man, and I —am such an iosignifloant little person.' There was no auggestion of coquetry in her manner. She simply stated a fact. There was the undoubted element of surprise in her voice. He had amazed her. Where an-

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

other wuuld woman have been waiting expectantly, probably with eagerness, this girl had uot even Relieved that she was more to him than any other creature. Her coldness inflamed bis passion. 'Well, now you do know,' he answered, 'and i want jou to know, that I love you—l love you, Selina —and I want you for my wife. You are the woman who is my ideal. What,' he asked, 'will you be content to go baok and fall into that kind of dependent's life? You say your brother has sent for you--that he wants you. You siy that he loves you still. I dare say there may be a little affection mixed up somewhere in his constitution for you, but lovfl ' Delaval laughed. 'At this moment, my dear child—though it may sound oruel to say so, 1 know I bt speaking the truth—believe me, you are no more to your brother than this stone'—he struok one with his stick—Ms to me. You will naturally ask me why, then, has he sent for you if he has not really uee 1 nt you? My answer is that most surely you are needbd, but not in the way that you suppose. ¥ou are being sent for, Selina, because Lady Durnstone haa already commenced to find that a marriage in hot haste may bring a sense of regret in moments of leisure and solitude. Our charming Dorothy is dull, Mr Delaval said, quietly, ihen he laughed. 'Dont look at me in that startled fashion" he said. 'I assure you 1 am only telling the truth. At all times it is a risky exoeriment for a man to marry a woman half his age. In »ir George Durnstone's case there should be added the enormous difficulty of handling such a nature as his wife possesses.' Selina moved a little away from him. In one sense it was a relief to dis cuss other matters than herself, but it hurt her, and very sharply, too, to hear him speaking in such an indifferent, such a convincingly pessimistic, way about her brother's marriage. 'Don't take from me all my pleasure,' she said t° bim a little sadly. 'I was so happy thinking that 1 was. quite necessary, and now ' Her lip quivered. 'You are more than neoesasry,' said St. John Delaval, in a low, strained voice. "If your brother torgets his sister in remembering his wife, lam here. There is no danger that shall I forget you. Won't yoa try and care for me?' Selina drew a sharp breath, and passed her hand over her eyes. 'I never give promisee that! cannot keep,' she said. 'This is not a very difficult promise,* he said, quietly. Then he bent forward. 'Am 1 so very hard to love, Selina?' She looked at him for an instant, and blushed hotly. '1 am afraid of you,' she answered. His heart leaped. It was the first sign she had given him of submission to his power. He put his hand on hers. 'Afraid of me! My deareßt one,' he said, 'why? It will be my life's work to show you how gentle 1 can be. ' I have not too much tenderness knocking about me for ordinary people, but if you will give yourself into my hands, Selina, you shall know how tender I can be. Youshall be loved, Selina, as few women are loved.' '..'•' Her hand thrilled in bis. She trembled as she sat. His voice and «yes magnetized her. She hardly knew wether she was nappy, but she did know that when he spoke to her like that, r when he looked at her with such passion in his eyes, she wa« not strong enough tojturn away from bim. 'Promise me that that you will try to Jove me?' he insisted, in another whisper. Her head drooped. She answered f ohe hardly knew what, and he smiled, well eafciuiied. After all, his wooing was mqre to his liking. He had no fancy for worldly or a willing woman. There ,was an element of the savage , about this courtship. He loved to conquer, and he knew quite well that, though she yielded to the attraction of his presence, Selina's heart was not yet won.