Selina's Love Story.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8262, 16 October 1906, Page 2

Selina's Love Story.

CHAPTER XXXlV.—Continued.

Delaval was btriding to and fro. He was speaking to Selina; a tor--rent of exultant and otoel words poured from his lips. Undoubtedy at this moment be was not the man he had been. All reserve was gone; he was like one who was under the influence of some intoxicating drag. The girl looked at him with fasoinated eyes, but, somehow, terrihle as he looked and awful as his words were, there came, instead of fear, a great contempt for him, mingled with something like pity. And then, na his voice was growing fierce", and puss' oo seemed to be possess'ng him more completely, he came all at once to a sndden and abrupt ending. - Standing looking toward the window, with dilated eyes, a strange, ashen look passed ov >r "•« face, and he even appeared to tremble. Michael pushed Selina into Miss Lasoombe's arma, , 'lake her away,' be said, under bis breath, for he knew that no ordinary scene was about to be eu- * acted. The window had opened slowly, and there stood the avenger —the woman who had given bim the truth about his brother's death—that old and frail woman who had aworu she would not go to her grave till she had brought the betrayer of her daughter to justice. It was extraordinary the effect that this woman's coming had upon Delavai. She simply stood and looked at bim. 'Have I found you, oh my ■enemy?' she said, Then she laughed. 'This is tho moment for which I have worked, for which I have lived; Yon know me—the mother of Roslta, tho woman who has cursed you day and right, and whose curses have worn through the ar- . mour of your craven courage! You oaa hluster and you can .murder, yet you cannot stand against mv onise!' She moved nearer to him, and raised her thin, nrinkiod hand. It was empty, yet the strong man . .shrank back-as though she pointed a ■wennon ut htm. 'There is poison in your blood -and noiaon in your heart,' she said —.'the poison of a ourse! You went away to escape me, but you had to 4jome back. There was more evil work for ynu to do—another woman to be destroyed—and now you UjoußUt to deal a death blow at that; poor ohild!' She pointed to Selina. 'Through the child of her brother you meant to wring her heart. It is just a little too late, St. John DelaVHl. Vcu have bad a Jong score; now it is somebody else's turn—it ie my turn!' With incredible swiftnes3 the woman passed up to him and gripped bim by tJie throat. She seemed scarcely strong enough to hold him, yet be flung out. his arma and his faco turned blank. ' ' * Michael almost drove the two other women fxom, the room, and then moved forward to take that hand\aivay from Delayers throat; but, even nab 9 did so, she released her viotiio, who staggered, and, moaning, fell forward violently on the floor.

•Do not to.uob him!' the woman said. 'Why should you help him? He watohed your brother die; cow you shn)l see him die alsol' But Michael was human. He knelt, nod triad to turn that figure over. •Jaak!' be said—'Jack!' calling bini by tho old familiar name, and his voice was broken. The woman only laughed'—a low, a curious, laugh. *Bo do bravo man dio!' she said; then, quite calmly, 'you can do nothing; he has ceased to live. And if you would know what has killed him, 1 .will toil yon: It is fear—■ blfok, bottomless fear! Yousais 1, had oo weapon. 1b this woak, miserable band strong enough to drive lifo out of snob a frame? No; he hoe died because he is afraid—beoauflo, for all bis wonderful deeis, he is a cur!' She drew herself up and wrapped the\voil about her. •The child is ouce ncaln in his old room. I go. If 1 am wanted, they will fl"d me; for all that 1 do 1 am ready to answer.' Michael scarcely heeded what she aaid, and ho never beard her move through the open window again. He was gazing at the man's face lyin;,' before him. Delays! wns breathing stortorously. Even to hlfl unprofessional eye. Miohael saw that this attack was a most serious one. And Dr. Foster oame In hurriedly fit that moment, followed by Mlfs Laucomtio, who had rusned to fetish him, lie took in the situation at a glance. •Apoplexy,''he fiaid. They did everything that waß possible for the stricken man, but the old woman's words were true: though he breathed for a number of hours, &L .John Deiaval wbb dead from tbo moment Hint bis eyes bad rested en that grim figure of justice. * «- * * * Tuilting with Michael Siloheßter a loag time afterward, Dr Foster declared that it: was by no means improbable that what that strange old woman hud said was true. '], »o a doctor, oho oertify to the physical condition of the man, bun 1 cannot, of oourse, pretend to know what had brought him,to that stale. I have often noticed,' said Dr. Foster thoughtfully, 'that men who have achieved the things that ho did have some vulnerable epor, some extraordinary weakness. Tbi« man must have ' been stooped in Baperstitlon of aooio kind. To such a man the

By HMe Adelaide Rowlands. Author of "An Inherited Feud," 4< Brave Barbara," [** A Splendid Heart," "Temptation of Mary Barr," * ( Tlie Interloper," etc., etc.

knowledge that be was followed and watched and cursed in a stealthy, fashion for O o long must have had an, undermining effect," And then Dr. Foster changed the subject. 'And when are you «oing to be married?' be said. 'As soon as Selina will tell me when she is reaiy. j Dr. Foster put his hand on Michael's shoulder. 'Take her away, my boy,' he said, 'as quickly as you can. Have no nonsense about her staying with Lady Durnstone or the child. Claim hor, and show her that you are her master. That good creature, Mary Lasoomfce, will stay in her place. Selina wants a long holiday; she wants, above all things, change of aoeiie, and, if possible forgetfuloess. Toll bar 1 say you need a change; tint will do the trick.' And Dr. Foster's eyes twinkled. But no triokfwas needed. When Michael took her in his arms and asked her to oomo ( away with him as bis wife, Soliiia made no protest; indeed, she was too tired, too exhausted with all tbat had passed, and she longed to be away, even gfrom the child she adored—away, just she and Miobael alone together. , And, if she had not wished it herself, she would have gone because of bim. 'You »re eo gooo, so true,' she said. 'George believed in you, and I love you for tbat; but 1 Jove you best of all beoHUse you are so dear to me, and because I so nearly lost tho wonderrul treasure of yonr love.' THE END.