Selina's Love Story.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8244, 24 September 1906, Page 2

Selina's Love Story.

By EMe Adelaide Rowlands. A.uthoi■ of ii JLn Inherited Feud," t( Brave Barbara)" " A Splendid Heart," " Temptation of Mary Barr," "The Interloperetc., etc.

CHAPTER XXlV.—Continued

But now she had awakened to the knowledge of sweetness, and the sadness of loving in the way that she had loved and this convincing knowledge that she was dear to her brother, that she had looked into his heart and seen the truth that was concealed there, seut her for a moment into a very heaven of happiness. They wore silent for a little While, and then Sir George began pacing to and fro. 'Yon will give me this promise, Selina?' he said when he spoke. Her heart beat a little unevenly. 'Yes/ George, dear, 1 promise you. Indeed," lam glad to ei?e you this promise. I have been troubling myself these last few hours. I wanted to see my way clearly, and now you have helped me to do this.' Sir li'cirge drew a d?ep breath of relipf. Her look, her words, the tone of her voice all reassured him. He had feared thot she might have found it impossible to separate herself from this man s influence. He knew her to be no weak or foolish nature; yet at the same time she was very young, utterly unversed in worldly things, and such a man as DelHval might have boon most dangprous to hor. It was a matter of immense satisfaction nnd relief to him to find that bis sister had responded so promptly, and in a wuy so «iaßily, to his guardianship. Indeted, he was immeasurably 'touched by the sweetness and ducility of her character, whioh came home to hitb for the first time in this moment. > He began to speak on another matter—something quite as near and necessary to him. 'Dorothy tells me that she usually drivns out alone. I would rather she did not do this, Selina,' ho said.

instantly that exquisite sense of pleasure whioh had radiated Selina's whole being passed away from her, and sbe was brought back with a jerk to realities. She paused imperceptibly before answering her brother. Not from ber lips should he learn that it was Dorothy's deske that she should not go in the carriage in the afternoon. 4 Oh! your wife is a very important and busy person, you know, George,' she said. 'She has always heaps of things to do, and I—!, am not a bit of use in shopping. I never know what to choose and what to advise. •That is why Dorothy likes to go by herself,' and then Selina added, with a half laugh, 'I am such an impatient person I cannot sit boxed up in carriage. 1 always want to do unconventional things—get out and run. That is why I generally have my walk before breakfast; then the dogs and I can scamper in the park, and no one is there to Bee us.'

Again there was silence. Sir George's face bad taken a troubled look. 'You are friends—yoa and Dorothy?' 'Of course, dearest,' said Seliua. Then she added; 'Naturally we are not perhaps so closely in sympathy as we were in the convent together. Dorothy has a great many new duties, and life demands certain things from her. I think, George,* Sslma said, with a little pause, that I shall go back into the aountry now that you have come.' S»r George looked at her, and smiled faintly. 'I don't think that 1 am better at shopping than, you are,' he said, faintly, and in those words something was confessed that made Selina'a heart aohe. 'Oh, but you must cultivate a taste in dresses,' she answered him, as quietly as she could, 'then you wiil be able to go about with her. Sometimes a man's advice is very valuable, you know, even in such an important thing as a gown.' Sir George gave a sigh, then be smiled at her onoe more. 'Well, I'm off to my club now. You have taken a lot off my heart, Relina. I caonot tell you how 1 have been worrying all this? day. When you must and a husband 1 hope it will be a man whou I can esteem and respect and admire' They parted and Selina went up to her room. She had been in the act of writing a long tetter to Miss Lasoombe, bat she did not feel equal to finishing it. She sat a loog time looking out of her window at the trees in the sunlit park beyoud, and she kept back her tears with an effort. Her heart was full.

Her brother's sudden revelation of tendemees and affection had unstrung tier. It was of George she thought of this moment--onlyjGeorge. 'lhe old yearning to give hitn happiness, to minister to his welfare, held her in full sw&y.» Uelaval was utterly forgotten till, as ahe rose to go down to the drawing-room, and her eye fell upon a curious faded ornament which he had given her, he suddenly came back to her memory. She went downstairs thoughtfqlly. Asichael's little letter, explaining that his mother waß ill, had reached her early in the morning. She had been sorry at first, but now she was glad that she was not going to see him. She wanted to be alone to think over all that George bad said to her. 'Yes, I will go haok to the country,'she said, as she walked about the charmingly arranged room, full of fresh flowers sent up from the Gate House, and already eloquent of the influence of a beautiful and fascinating woman. '1 think Dorothy and George ought to be left to themselves. I shall not live with them. I shall let Polly help me. That will enchant her, and give me time to turn round and see what 1 can arrange for my future.'

She drew a ohair up by the long, opan window, ana sat where she oould see the carriages roll into the park gates. This she enjoyed, but she had already had her taste of crowded rooms, and the noise and bustle of the life that Dorothy lived was so very distasteful to her. It came back to her at this moment that Delaval had left her without any sign remembrance. This would have pained her a or so before, tut now she almost rejoioed. 'Perhaps he had become tried,' she said to : herself, with half a smile. 'Somehow 1 think he is a man who could turn very easily. 4 Tbet* her cheeks flamed with colour. 'Why did Michael speak to George about me, I wonder? It is nice to know that he oaies for me -But I don't want anythinc else but friendshin. I should not like to lose Michael's friendship. Now that we have made it up again I realize how much this friendship to me, and how much I have missed him.' ***** In his club George Durnstoae sat reading for a long time, or seeming to read. He was in reality turning matters over in bis mind At one moment Le waa tempted to sit down and write to Delaval, and in a quiet but courteous way to say that he had been made aware of Delaval's intentions where Selina was concerned, and that though, of course, he was honoured, he regretted that his sister's youth would set aside all question of marriage for the moment. Then he deoided that it would be rnuoh better not to write until at least Delaval himself should put matteri forward in suoh a way that they oould not be ignored. Strangely enough, some chanoe words caught his ear at this moment-, and the very man of whom be was thinking was spoken of in connection with an expedition

whioh had been discussed for some time. This little conversation passed between two men who seemed to know Delaval very well; at aay rate, they were not ignorant of iiis financial condition. 'ltelJyou, be can't get away,' said one. 'He did make a bolt, you know, once before; but there are one or two' people whu mean to stop him going in that fashion Bgain. Of course, he's the very man fortius business, and he ought not to be in. suoh straits for money, for a good deal has passed through bis hands one way and another; but there you have the case in a nutshell —he does not know whioh way to turn for a five-pound note! If he had the money, he 5 would be off tomorrow. He has just been praying to get out of England.' 'Well, he tapped me onue,' said the other speaker, in a significant way; 'got a good bit out of me, too, bat I don't think he willfdo that a aeoond time. Fact is, I've not get too good an opinion of him. A chap was telling me the othetf day that other people do all the work, and our dear friend takes all the glory. If he hasn't any money, he's going very well in some mlsterious way. I saw him just now; he was iu the park, sitting with that lovely girl Durnstone has married. He's always id ber pocket.' The speaker laughed. 'I dare say he would like to get out of it what he oould. 'Ob, no! That's going too far, remonstrated the other man. Sir George Durnstone rose and moved quietly away. A grave look bad settled on his faoe. His marriage was only a matter of only a few weeks,]and yet already a barrier seemed to have fallen between himself and his wife. Suddenly the danger that bad threatened Seliaa seemed to have turned round and threatened himself. Dorothy was a child; this man seemed to menace her. 'He must go; he must get out of England,' said George Durnstone to himself. 'lf it is the money that keeps him here, than I, pour as I aT, must endeavour to find that money.' (To be Continued.)