Selina's Love Story.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8211, 15 August 1906, Page 2

Selina's Love Story.

CHAPTER Vll.—Continued. Selina bad liked him very muoh that day, and she had told him so, bat Michael had nothing to say about the matter. His general taciturnity was undeniable, acd so when he came to thoend of that strange letter, though his heart mover* quickly, and he breathed aa though he were passing through a cold wind, he merely sat still. Again and again he read th* letter, and once ne moved to put it in the flro, with a strong feeling of contempt for what was poisonous and anonymous; then be chooked himself, ami, instead he folded it away and nut it in a drawer of his writing table. 'I wish t.iafc had not come juat now,' ho said to himself. It was so like him. He wauled to have his mind quite unbiased where Del aval was concerned. But when he lit his pipo, and. ra-ing to and fro, began to try and ponder out ibe mystery, he found that he could not gat away from the horrible suggestion of treachery aud disloyalty. "Aud 1 took birn to the Gate House,' be said to himself, in a dull and miserable way. The knowledge that Delaval bad left hi? mother's house and was staying in the town had hurt Miohael sharply, though, of course, he had concealed this. He could only construe this action in a way thut was hurtful to himself. 'He means to see Selina frequently,' he mused on, 'and it would have been diffioult for him if be stayed here as our guest. Who cbu have written that to mo? Sorn* enemy —such a man is bouud to have enmies.' And then MionaelSdchester's thoughts began to weave themselves round and about bis dead brother. All the facte concerning bis brother's death had been brought to theui by Delaval, It was 1 he who had sent the cable announcing that Edward was dangerously ill, and then the second cable telling them that the toy had passed away. Wot for one instant had Michael ever doubted the sympathy and the affection which St. John Delaval had given to his brother's memory. There were dozens of letters from Edward, full of enthusiasm that amounted almost *o infatuation for the man who was his leader. It was hard, remembering those letters —rememberins,too, the way in which Delaval had spoken about Edward—to reconcile himself to the itfea that such a man could be the traitor this anonymous letter suggested. Michael had no liking for anonymous letters— not for anything that was stealthy and seoret; but he was not the first to prove how hard it is to wholly ignore the poisonus influence of Buoh missives. It is just possible that had such a letter reached him belore the events of the last few days, before he had convinced himself, unhappily, that the old friendship with Selina was a thing of the past, he might have tossed away this letter with contempt, utterly ignoring it Now, though he was contemptuuas and had little liking for the person who had sent it, he, could not dismiss it altogether.

He smoked many pipes, and paced the floor till he wa3 tired, and still there waa that restless, unhappy feeling gnawing at his heart—a feeling of dread, lest he should have been the means of putting narm in Selina's way. He knew too well that life at the Gate House was' wholly upset. He was throughly acquainted with George Durnstone's peculiar .iature, and felt convinced that Selina's brother would carry this marriage through, not only aga'nst the whole world, but becauee there was opposition aaginst him. It waa uot easy for Michael to plan for himself a future without Selina. The meaning of this did uot come to him in its fullness all at onoe. He only felt as if a blight had fallen £upon his life, and the longing to uproot himself from the dull, mechanical routine of his work began to take possession of him once again.

Ho slept very little that night, and the next day he went through his duties, oppressed all the time with the remembrance of what that letter had contained; oppressed, too, with a dread lest he should come face to face with St. John Delaval.

He had not yet determined what he should do, but be thought that before approaching the man whom ho had honoured, whoso friendship had been almost the greatest thing he possessed, ho would teat the matter u some way.

'Even if 1 go out myself to the place where Edward died, be mused once, g'lt would be better to separate myself from all this, no matter what it oosts me, than to risk misjudging my friond. Why should I not go? Selina has done with me; my mother will not really miss me; and it would comfort mo if I could stand by my brother s grave.' Two clays later f.he neighbourhood was startled by hearing that Sir George Durnstone had been marriod very iiuietly, and that he and his bride nad left the Gate House, to travel for a time on the Continent. Naturally, people chattered about Selina, and what lay before her. Michael's heart ached for her. He alone, perhaps, out of all the world,'knew her love had been for her brother, aud he ootild understand so well what she must be suffering at this time. In the afternoou of the day that Dorothy Baraldine had beocme Lady Durnstone, a lady called at the bank and asked to epeak with Mr Silohester. It was Miss Lasoombe.

Michael ros« to greet her with a little flutter at hia heart. He had a great liking for this bright, practical, middle-aged woman, and had always experienced a sense of

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

satisfaction when Miss Lusoombehad been slaying at the Gate House. •Am i disturbing you?' \ Mary Lasoombe asked, in her usual brisk way, 'lf so, send mo about my business.' \ "I am very muoh pleased to see you, ' said Michael, and he pushed forward the armchair for her. Mary Lascombe looked at him with kindly eyes. She knew that he was plain, that moat people thought him dull, but sho had discernment. The gold in his nature shone clearly to her above the dull surface. She knew more than this, too; she knew that he loved Selina with one of those loves that are so rare and so beautiful, and, though she bad no desire to see Selina married yet a while, she did wish with all her heart that the girl should see what a treasure lay olose to her hand in this man's faithful devotion and strong loyal love. It hurt Mary Lasoombe see how tired he looked, how sad his eyes were. 'I hare been hoping to boe something of you,' she said; 'why have you not come to the Gate House?' Michael looked at her. 'fa'elina told me not to come.' 'Selina is a child 1' said Mary Lascombe, impatiently, and Michael correoted her. 'Selina whs a child, but she is changed. She will neve? be a child again.' 'Of course she was upset the other night,' SBid Miss Lascombe; 'and you know her so well you ought to be aosustomed to hei sharp way of speaking fcy now. She was very angry with your mother, but she was not angry with you.' Michael smiled. 'That was not the impression she gave me,' he. said; then he put a question eagerly. 'How is she?' he aeked. They tell mo that George was married this morning. It seems very hurried. lam afraid Selina will fret.' 'I came to tell you,' said Miss Lascombe, 'that I am taking her away with me. We shall go tomorrow. 1 have had great difficulty in persuading her to come with me; but at last I have succeeded in beating down all her objections. They were none ofthem very serious. She imagined that she was upsetting my plans. She little realised how enchanted 1 am to have the chance of having her with me for a time.' 'Do you mean that she is leaving the Gate House altogether?' said Miohael. Hia voice was rather husky. 'Weil,' said Miss Lasoombe, as she smoothed her muff—the day was chilly, and furs were stilljneoessary—--1 think it advisable that she should leave it for a time.' 'Have they quarrelled?' was Michael's next question. Miss Lasoombe looked him straight in the eyes. 'There has been some of the inevitable friction attendant on a marriage of this aort. Our dear little Selina is sometimes 100 candid.' Why was the marriage so hurried?' Mr Silohester asked. 'Of course, I know Sir George meant to bave his way; but surely he could have waited a little wbilo. He has known ihis girl only a few weeks.' 'To such a man, said Miss Lascombe, 'opposition is line the strong wind that fans a flame. Possibly there will come a time when George will understand that he has made a mistake. , But you can take it from me that be will go to his grave professing that he never grasped this." Michael sat in silence a little while, and she heard hita sigh. 'What did Selina say?' he asked hurriedly, after that sigh. 'I suppose from what you have told me, there was some little passage of arms between herself and George.' Mary Lascombe paused a moment. 'Selina did what one would expect the child to do—stood up boldly against an act which, to her eyes, is not meiely unjust, but most cruel. Perhaps you can guess what I mean? George has married this girl, but henceforward she will be Lady Durnstone possessing no tie in the world except her husband. George went to London three days ago, and when he returned he announced to us that Dorothy had no mother.' Michael Silohester knitted his brows. 'Ho uan be hard, I know that,' be said slowly,' and this is only in keeping with his character. Then he smiled faintly. When Michael smiled, the while of his face was ohanged. 'And so Selina sood up against this, bless ber! But one likes to, hear of her fearlessness and her lovo of what if) right.' (To be Oont nued.) A MODERN DIGESTIVE. One of TJr. Sheldon's Digestive Tabules wil digest 1500 grains of meats, eggs, and othel wholesome food. They are a genuine ionicr because they bring about in the only, natural way »• restoration of nerve a building up of lost tissue and appetite by the digestion and assimilation of wholesome food. They can't help but do you good. For sale by H. B. Eton, Masterton, J. Baillie Carterton, and Mauriceville Cooperative store.