Selina's Love Story.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8214, 18 August 1906, Page 2

Selina's Love Story.

[ CHAPTER IX.—Continued

" *1 am very fond of my home,' Mies Lasoombe said; 'if it waa not for the risk of hurting people's feelings I dun'fc think I should care to leave it.' Selina had brought two of the dogs with her, and they, too, seemed to be pleased with their surroundings, for they ran about sniffing appreciatingly, and finally ensconced themselvesi in'front of the big log fire in the large square hall. 'Now, to-night,' said Mary JLasoombe, 'we will have an early dinner, and go to a theatre; you would like to run upstairs now, Selina, and make your room comfortable. Lock here'—she produced suddenly a small box—'theae are some of' your pet knioknacks. 1 brought them away with me because 1 waufc you to feel as much at home as possible.' •Oh, t-.'lly, you spoil dip,' said Selina, and tears were very near her eyes. The dogs went upstairs with her, and then, though she had imagined, despite her brave outward look, that she would never be happy again, Selina found that the moments wen t by delightfully, while she busied herself in unpacking her boxes with the aid of one of the maids, and in arranging the room in the prettiest way possible. tier window looked out over a large square, in which the trees were just putting forth their wealth of fresh green foliage. It had been raining, but the sun was shining now, and the sky was very blue above the tops of the opposite bouses. Into the gill's chilled and almost bereaved heart there crept gradually a sense of gladness. It would have been 'impossible for anyone to resist the kindness that Mary Lascombe Ihvished upou her. The knowledge that she was still cared for so warmly, that her presence was necessary, was very healing. By ihe time the next day came, in deed, Selina was almost restored to her eld self. Miss Lasoombe intended to give hor very little opportunity to sit down and remember all that had passed sn recently; and the expediences of the moment were so new, that Selina, wedded bb she was to the charm of the country, declared most truthfuly that she found London very enjoyable. At the theatre an unexpected pleasure awaited her, for, sitting in the stalls just a little behind them, was no other persCn than St. John Delaval, who name and "poke to them at the end of the first act. 'How funny that we should meet so soon again,' Selina said, and he agreed. 'lt must have been some inspiration that led me here to-night,' observed. He di(j not think it necessary to explain that he had been in Bond-street when Miss Lasoombe's carriage had stopped and she had alighted at one of the theatre offices. To follow, and learn what her errand had been, had been a very easy matter to Mr Delaval;and so it was that found himself sitting beside Selina now, in the most natural way possible. Miss Lascombe greeted him cheerily enough but she was by ,no moans pleased to see him. 'ln that direction,' she said to herself, 'there can lie far more sorrow for my girl than any that she has left behind her. What can his motive be in seeking her this way? He is undoutedly attracted by her; but he must know by this time that Selina is practical ly penniless, and I should not think that a girl of her calinre, fresh and countrified, could hold him for more than a day or so. It is unfortunate that he should come into ner life at this moment.' So mused Mias Lasoombe. But SBlina was really pleased to sao him. •1 thought you were going abroad immediately,' she said. 'ln fact, 1 was picturing you to myself on board ship to night. 'Were you really thinking of n.e?' said Delaval, in a low voice; 'that is an undeserved happiness.' The girl answered him in her frank way. 'Of course, I was thinking about you,' she said. '1 have not mut too many people ia my life, you know —people like yourself, people of importance—that I could forget you very quickly.' 'I don't want you to forget ever,' said Delavalj in the same low, dreamy voice. He took up her fan, and in doing so touched ber hnnd. The orchestra had begun to play again the swinging measure of a waltz. 'This seat is empty; I shall sit here, said Delaval, and he drew a little bit nearer to her. No, 1 don't want you to forget me,' he repeated; 'and now I shall tell you something. 1 am postponing my journey abroad entirely because of you.' 'Selina turned and looked at him for an instant; amazement waa in her eyes, and a strange thrill at her heart. 'Because of me?' she said. 'Why,' she opened her eyes, 'what have 1 to do with it?' 'Well, nothing in one [sense, and everything in another,' Delaval answered; 'the fact is,' he explained, putting on a little less sentimental air—he fo!t ho must go to work very carefully with this girl—'l have been thinking a good deal about you, Miss Durnstoue. I know that this sudden marriage of your brother's means a thorough upheaval in your life. Silcheoter has talked to me so much about yon,' he added, 'tbat'l am presumptuous enough to feel that I know you very well. 1 will b& frank with you. I waa prepared to meet a very nice girl, but a very ordinary one, and I met instead—you! And you being 'you,' why, I feel 1 should like to have some tangible place in your life just now.'

By Effie Adelaide Rowlands. Author of "An Inherited Feud" Brave Barbara (( A Splendid Heart," " Temptation of Mary Barr 9 " ({ The Interloperetc., etc.

Selina was looking at the curtain. The musio sounded far away; that strange, yet delicious sensation at her heart held her spellbound, as it were. There was far more music to her in the sound of Delaval's voice than in the strains that came from the orchestra; she felt as l! she were in drenm. 'There is nothing very remarkable about me,' she answered, rousing herself to speak. 'I am just an ordinary girl.' 'Are you?' said Delaval, in that same low voioe; 'well, you are this sort of girl to me. Tou have power to hold me; to make me set aside my own wishes simply for the pleasure of knowing that I am somewhere near you, that I may perchance hear you spean and |look at you. It is the first time such a thing has ever happened to me,' he said, and he spoke honestly. Miss Lasoombe leaned forward at this moment. 'When are you going away? 1 she asked in her abrupt fashion. Delaval at once" answered her. 'I am not quite sure. Certain circumstances have arisen to delay me; but I doubt if 1 shall be here longer than a day or two.' must come and see us,' said Miss Lasoombe, but not very graciously-—as matter of fact she felt both annoyed with and nervous of this man. 'Delighted,* said Mr Delaval. 'When may I oome—to morrow? oi, batter stUl,' be padded quickly, 'why should not Miss Durnatone and yourself come and have lunoh eon with me, in my rooms; I have a 'pied a terre' in town—a poky place, shut up for mouths together most part ,of the lime; but I believe I have odds and ends of things there that might be interesting to you, and it would be a great Lonour to me to receive yoa.' Mary Lascombe caught her brows together in a sort of frown. 'Would you like this?' she asked Selina, abruptly. And, as the girl assented eagerly, the matter was settled. 'I will oome and fetch you,' said Delaval; 'I don't,believe you would ever find the place by yourself. I am nothing if not original, you know. I live in some attio out of a mows; that is to say, I don't live anywhere really. The sky, and a bit of grass are enough forme.' After that be said no more in soft undertones to Selina, for the curtain went up and the play w«nt on, and later he devoted himself entirely to Miss Lasoombe, who felt herself yielding to the fascination of his manner, although she still clung to her belief that be was a man to be feared and even distrusted. Still, she could not help seeing that Selina came back from that visit to the theatre considerably brightened, and as they sat chatting over their sapper till quite late, there was the old note of unconscious gladness in the girl's voice as she talked. 'So long as he does not stay in her Jifw I don't care,' said Miss Lasoombe to herself, 'and he undoubtedly can have no serious intentions. Why do I doubt him? Perhaps, after, all, he only wants to be kind to her. Perhaps he pities her as he would pity a child. Anyone who a met her in reoent circumstances must have realised that life ia heavily shadowed for Selina > just now. His intimaoy with the Silvesters will have made him well acquainted, very probably with what her life was in the past.' Nevertheless, Mary Lascombe could not sleep very comfortably that night. She was already suffioieufly worried about Selina; she felt as if the responsibility of the girl's future rested entirely in her hands. Ueorge Dunstone's attitude set aside the hope that he would trouble himself very much about what his sister did or what happened to ber; ijdeeel it was more than probaole that he might weclome a marriage as a means of solving the difSoulty. 'Why did I promise to go there to-morrow?' Miss JLasoombe asked herself at least a dozen times; 'I am only thrusting the girl into what I fear to be a danger. I can only hope that Selina will be stronger than moat girls. She is not sentimental or weak. Of course she is interested in Delaval; flattered, perhaps, because he has shown her some attention; but I won't let myself think that she will break her heart when he goes away,' And while Miss Lascombe was pondering and / fretting a little over what mght lis iu the immediate future, Soliua was lying awake, also. She was feeling a strange tnrill iu her heart. She was seeing once again that dark, handsome face, with its insorutible smile and marvellous eyes; she waa counting the hours till the morrow should oome and they should meet agsin. (To be Continued.)