Selina's Love Story.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8250, 3 October 1906, Page 2

Selina's Love Story.

CHAPTER XXVIII.—-Continued. 'lf yuur words are intended to suggest that 1 have prejudiced George against Mr Delaval, you do me a great wrong, Dorothy. George introduced the subject to me himself. It was the first time he had spoken to me about Mr Delaval at all, aud it surprised me very much to find that he bad so pronounced a dißlike for this man.' Dorothy laughed a little satirically. 'I don't think George's dislike will hurt Mr Delaval very much. He is strong enough to stand against a thing of that kind. But I don't believe yoa,' was Dorothy's next remark. 'I begin to see how sly you ate, Selina. I hate hypocrisy. Al though you have pretended to be so nioe with Mr Delaval, I shan't be a bit suypised to hear that you put the idea iuto George' mind to dislike him.' Selina turned uivay. Troubled »3 she was, this peevishness on Dorothy's part, this rudeness, hart her sharply. 'I am afraid you are not inclined to be very just to me these days, Dorothy,'she said, sadly, 'and yet lam not a bit changed. You knew me well at the convent; did you fiud me sly then?' 'How can one judge a sohoolglrl?' said Dorothy, scornfully. 'What you were and what you are are two different things—-two very different things.' yelina moved towards the door; and then she turned back again. 'it Is no use,' she said, halfbrokenly. 'For somo reason or other you are determined to see nothing but bad in me. 1 cannot staod this treatment, Dorothy. I have heaps of fruit*, but I am not ft hypocrite, and so, although you begged me la a t night not to do this, I shall go away." I really can't go on living as we aio now. It makes me moat unhappy.' •Oh, dear,' said Dorothy, fretfully, how tiresome you are' You lose your temper the first opportunity. What have I said to anony you?' 'lhia made Selina laugh a bitter and sad laugh. 'lf you cannot reoall what you said,' bhb answered, 'you aan leave it uuroiuoinbered. That will not ohauge mo. There are many reasons why 1 shall not xernain in London. You have your husband, and 1 am unnecessary. I shall go down to the """to House this afternoon.' '*by looked annoyed. ' B ed herself, reoklessly. The she ti*.. - Relieve yon are 'Then go! 1 • muoh batter right. We shall bfl apart.. You do nothing bun ci.--ciae cie, and I brieve yoa would 6Qd by Seating, deoi>g& from me if yon had the chance. Yes, go!' Selina left the room and went She could not reprega Ihe tears. , , She went ibto hbt brofchfefc'S study, and cried quietly fto* & Httlo while; then she took tab morning paper and began t'o read. "I woW't lei George see that I am upset. Ob, dear! oh dear! how crooked lita is going! And the worst of it is I can do nothing to straighten it!' She glanced at the clock. 'A quarter past nine? Surely, George ought to be home boou. Ho went nut at eight u'clook. 1 I Sir George had, indeed, risen early. Like Selina, he found sleep impossible to woo. It was a relief to get up and bathe and dress. Dorothy had bought one or two horses since she had been in Hnd one of them she had declared was to be hia particular possession. Sir George hati seen the animal in the stables the day before, and had declared that it was to be saddled and brought round for an early uanter. Something of his oppression and trouble slipped fr»m him as he swung himself into the sadole and felt the beautiful nervous creature respond to the slightest turn of the hand. A well-known society judge of horses had been responsible for this purchase, and once ngain his judgement had been proved absolutely 'correct. 'lf I see Lorimer to-day,' SirGeorge mused, '1 shall tell him I am delighted with this animal.' There were only a few people riding in the park when he passed in, and he almost immediate!*' put his horse to the cnoter. Nothing could have been more perfect than the stride of tho animal. 'The price oiasfc have been btg,' said Sir George to himaelf; and then he sighed. All this luxury, that might have been so pleasant to another man, was very painful to him. It seemed to make a barrier between himself and his wife. Not once, but a hundred times j a day, did he find himself wißhing I that Dorothy had been a poor girl. The fact that she was rich had a miserable significance to George Durnstoue, for it was wealth that uame from a tainted eource, and the Durnsfcones had ever been a proud race. As he drew rein at Hyde Furl? Comer he found himself accosted by another man on horsetack, and. turning with n frown, he saw St. John Delaval. The younger man smiled in a curious fashion. 'Good-morning, Sir George. I am lucky,' fco saß, 'for 1 wanted to speak to you.' Durnstone just beut his head. 'What have you to say to me, Mr Delaval? Bat Delaval was looking at the horse the other man rode. 'By Jove!' ho said, 'what a splendid creature! what autionj That's the finest animal I've seen for a long time, Durnstone.' Sir George received this In silence and then repeated his question. 'Oh!' aaid St. John Delaval. 'Well, I am not quite sure that this is the place to say all that 1 have to

By Eftie Adelaide Rowlands. Author of "An Inherited Feud," "Brave Barbara **IA SplendidlHcart"Temptation of Mary Barr," "The Interloperetc.* etc.

say; still, circumstances force me into speaking rather sooner Lhan I expected to. What I have to say is this, Sir George: I love your sister. Inm honoured by her love in return. 1 deisre to ask her hand in marriage. Sir George had turned very white. 'I regret, Mr Delaval,' he said, 'that I am unable to receive this proposal of marriage in the way, no doubt, that you imagined it would be received. My sister Selina is scarcely more than a child. I hope she will not marry for some time.' 'I will not misunderstand you, Sir George,' said Delaval, quietly, though his eyes had taken that strange glow. 'You find me objectionable aa a husband for your sister. 'Yon put it very strongly,' said Sir George, 'but, I suppose, aa a matter of fact, it cojoea to that. 1 do gobjeat to you as a for my sister, and there are many reasons why I should so object, which J will give you if you liKe.' 'Thanks,' said Delaval, with a drawl; 'they ar© unnecessary. Well!' he laughed, 'I hav« spoken frankly; 1 nave tols you that 1 love Mies Durnstone, I have told you that she loves me in return. Doubtless you will not credit this, but it is the truth. I speak with fall assurance. lam a strange man, Sir George, and one of my peculiarities is that 1 never permit opposition. Though you refuse to sanction my [marriage with your sister, 1 intend to marry her, just the same.' Durnstone turned on him and his horse sweated under his nervous hand. 'How dare you speak to me like tbis 1* be asked, and again Delaval laughed. 'Dare? Was ever such a word used to me, I wonder?' As he spoke casually, he movod his horsa nearer to Sir George, and he pushed a short stick that he held against the flank of the horse the other man bestrode. 'lt is regrettable,' he said, and be seemed to lean an instant on the stick, 'but ' The sentence was broken, for Kir George's horse started violently, as if it had been touobed with a sp«jr, and as Sir George tried to quiet the animal, which seemed strangely excited, Delaval had raised his hat aud ridden quickly away. 'lnsolent devil!' Sir George said to himself. 'I must take steps to get Selina out of London. It grieves 010 to part her from Dorothy,' especially as Dorothy seems to want her, but this man may annoy ber very much, aud I oen't permit that' The horse was fretting all the time and trembling. Sir George had turned, and was passing clung , '—irds tho upper nart of the tow I the park, , Some qu% he Mai that 'moment ahd waved a band to nlm. He took of his bat, though not without difficulty, and at the vaiy moment of bo doing bia llOi'flG began to start and shivei'j then to rear, aud finally, with or» extra ordinary sound, it started forward at a terrific pace, and before thoso who were watuhins oculd anticipate what waa going to happen, George Durnstone bad been thrown violently from the saddle, and lay against one of the trees, motionless, like one deal.

CHAPTER XXIX. SELINA IMPARTS SAD NEWS. Selina sat waiting in her brother's study. More that ouce tho butler came to her and asked her if she woold not like to have her break fast, but she always' shook her bead. '1 would rather wait,' she answered; 'and I am nota bu hungry.^ Maxtin looked at her now and then, not without sympathy. tie was otill a little puzzled as to what could have happoned last nightwhy Miss Selina should have claimed his protection. Had it been another young woman plaoed in her position, Martin might have jumped to the conclusion that her meeting with Mr Delaval was a chance thing, but he very quickly convinced himself that when Selins had gone out of the house in the evening|she had gone with the lntentioa of having a little fresh air, and for no mysterious reason. He could hardly explain why, but ho felt sorry for tho girl this morning. She> looked troubled. Though Martin had mentally given Dslaval a bad reputation, he knew nothing against this gentleman in a definite way; indeed, there were few men who camo to the bouse whom he appreciated so mush. (To be Continued.)