Selina's Love Story.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8245, 25 September 1906, Page 2

Selina's Love Story.

By Efiie Adelaide Rowlands. Author of-*'An Inherited Feiul," t( JBrave Barbara," " A Splendid Heart,," " Temptation of Mary Barr," " The Interloper," etc., etc.

CHAPTER XXV.

DOROTHY'S DIBAFP6INMENT.

Dorothy returned home after that ' meeting with Deltval, thrilling with that same strange exoitement whiuh had lingered about her ever since the night before. She had spoken very plainly to Mr Delaval. c ! cannot understand what bas induced George to bo so stupid,' she said. 'Not stupid,' said Deiavul, with his quiet smile, 'hut conservative. I have never been honoured with Sir George's friendship or appreciation.' . - Dorothy threta back her head with a laugh at this.' 'As if you wanted his appreciati/Qi},' she said. Just for an instant Delaval had laid his hand on her wrist. 'Derr child,' be said, earnestly, 'don't put foolish ideas into y° ur bead, and, above all, don't liJiarrel with your husband about me.' Jjady Purn'atone bad j'isfc tiirned aiid looked into bis eyes for a moment. He realized then that Doiiotby bad taken a step forward. She was not quite the same woman sbG had been Jhe day before. 'I am not goiug to quarrel, she said, 'but equally I am not going to be ruled. The fact is,' she added, a moment later, 'George is perfectly well aware that it was v6ry wrong of him to have married roe in the way he did. He should not have misled me in the way he did. He did not give me time to consider.' To this Delaval, had shaken his head. • . 'You must not say such things to anybody,' he said; 'not even to me. You are married to George Durnstone. You married him apparently of your own freewill, and you must make the best of things. Dorothy shruggled her shoulders. '1 was making the best of everything,' she said, a little sullenly, 'and then Selina mun£ spoil everything. You don't know—you have not the slightest idea—how Selina oan annoy me. Delaval had turned his face away at this. A slight frown had settled on It, and be did not wish Dorothy to see his expression. 'I think you misjudge your siaterin law,' was all he said. 'Oh, no, I don't!' Lady Durnstone bad responded. • Delaval had ohanged the convocation. He did not wish fof the moment to discuss the situation with.

Doruthy. ' Be knew so well how to make the tiuie pass pleasantly with women of Dorothv's stamp, and it wan long after-the hour when Lady DurnstoDe usally left the park that th«y separated. . Although she was going out to dinner with her husband that night, she dressed for the eveuing with a little thrill at her heart, and for almost the first time felt a sensation of triumph as she realized how beautiful she was. _ Jast before she was leaving her room there came a tap at the doer, and her maid informed her that selina was outside. 'Am I a nuisance?' asked Selina, in a blithe voice.

Dorothy ahooK her head. 'Oh! no, I'm finished; oome in. 'What do you think of my Dew gown?' 'lt is beautiful,' said Sehna, warmly; indeed, as Dorothy stood a liUle way apart, and turned herself round for inepeution ? she thought aho had never eeen ri prettier creature; certainly it would be difficult to find one who waa Jovlier than Dorothy. 'I am going to wear J rubies tonight,' Dorothy you have not seen my new neoklaoe, have you? 1 had it set in such a funny way. It waa Mr Delaval's idea.' Dorothy was looking at herself in the mirror. 'Yes; this is beautifully out,' she said, in a critical way. It was strange how quickly she had passed from the ignorance of a sohoolgirl to the Worldliness of a woman of society. She laughed. 'I suppose I shall be teased for wearing black so much. The duohena waa saying to me yesterday that it was getting to be quite a matter of speculation what I should wear at oertain functions. I had no idea I was bo important. There,' she'took out a long, flat velvet case, 'those are my rubies aren't they lovely? The thing for the head is the best of all.

When the jewels bad been arranged to her liking she turned with flashing eyes to Selinu. •Do you think ,George will bo pioud of me to-night?' she asked, with a laugh, and Selina answered bank,' quietly: 'lndeed, indeed he will! How could he help that?' She had gone to Dorothy to apeak about herself. Now that matters had been put so olearly before her brother, Selina was anxious to get away from London. She did not think it was possible that Dorothy would object; but, atill, the girl was so strange with her in these days that she was prepared for anything. When the rubies had been sufficiently admired—add, indeed, they gave a lurid effect to Dorothy's beauiy—■-Selina spoke of the matter iu her mind. 'lf—'i you have no objection, Dorothy, she said, '1 think I should like to run down to the country for a ilttle while. Now that George has come to town, you den't want me, do you?' Dorothy frowned.

'Yes, I do,* she said, sharply, for it euidenly crossed her mind that with Selina away sbo would bave her husband to attend to all da; long. 'Why do you want to go to the country? What a funny little thing

yon are, Sellna. Why wou't you enjoy yourself like other people do? I For instance, why can't you pome to the opera to night? There's plenty of room in the box. 1 don't want you to be always in the background like this., People will say that 1 am unkind to you.' Selina laughed a little forcedly. 'What nonßen°e!' 'No, it is not nonsense' answered Lady Durnstone, shortly. 'Why, only the other day someone asked, "What has become of your sister-in-law? One never sees her now." I don t want people to think that you are not happy, or that 1 make you a kind o* a drudge.' Selina sighed. «I really don't think it matters to other people very much wha«; we do. 1 came to London when you came, because Qeoge could not oome, anc! now that George is here yon don't want me.' 'I have just told you that I do, said Lady Durnstone in the same vexed way. 'Of course 1 want you. Tb«re are heaps of things tbet you can do for me. If you would only up you to bo jolly, life Would ttiuob bettor for both of us; and what on earth would you do down at the Gate House now? The place is- all upside No, please, don't talk any more about this, Selina,' said Dorothy quietly. More and mote she felt the necessity of keeping Selina with her. When she and her husband were driving to their dinner purty,Dorothy broached this subjeot to Sir George. 'Selina wanted, to go down to the country,* she said, 'but I stopped it. l want her with me. It is only right she should be with me.' Sii George's heart gave a little leap at what seemed to him this touch of affeotiouate regard. 'I dnn't think Selina wants .o leave you, dearest,' he said; 'only you know what a oountry creature sfcd is. 1 'She will never get a husband if she buries herself always,' said Lady Durnstone, with an assumption Df matronly wisdom that would have made her husband smile if he had not been weighted with that ourioua oppression which had fallen upon him since he bad left his olub

that afternoon. .. . <Oh I she will marry right enough one of these days,' he answered. 'As a matter ol fact, I had a proposal for her yesterday. That is to say, a kind of proposal,' Sir George added. , , , . . Dorothy looked round at her husband with wide-open eyes. 'Somebody ban proposedl for Seliqa!' she exclaimed. Oh! do tell me all aboot.it. Who was it? I had no idea there was anyone in love with her.' . ... 'This men has been in love with her for years,' answered George, 'but I beg of you not to speak of it to Selina again. She does not Bed the matter in the same way that 1 do; bat 1 am sure that if we leave her alone she will come round n good time, and see what a splendid fellow Michael Siloheßter is.' •Michael Silofaest«r!' ejaculated Dorothy, and then she laoehed. 'Why, of ooni'se, everybody knows that he was in love with Selina! She has treated him so badly. Jon't think she will ever marry him, and 1 must say it would be gather a dull lookout for her if she did. Do ; you mean to say,' added Lady Durnatone, with a quizzical expression, 'that you have never r f al,^ ed thot Michael was in love with ae-. lina until now?' *'l think I have been blind to a great many things,' answered George Durnstone, and be spolse with a little sadneßS. • •But where did you sea Michael? inquired Lady Duustone. 'You say that you saw him this' morning. D a he come to the house?' 'No,' answered Sir George. i tret him by chanoe in the park. Then he exnlained the little epiBode of the early morning. 'Oh!' said Dorothy, with a little sharp laugh. So that is why Selina always gets up so early and goes for her walk before anybody elsei is awake!' To herself she said, bhe is sly, and she looks so^frank. She makes such a boast of being so truthful. What a hypoorite!' 'lt was the flr>t time that she had met Michael,' said Sir George, a little coldly, tie understood the meaning of her little laugh. (To bo Continued.)