Selina's Love Story.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8259, 12 October 1906, Page 2

Selina's Love Story.

CHAPrER XXXII. -Continued. She only Fhared in the general 'opiuion when she declared that Selina was an angel to her sistor-in-law, and the girl's love and care for . ber brother'a child touched some hidden cord in Mrs Silobestor's heart ahd brought them i-loser together. And so the summer hnd wound itself away. Dorothy had rushed home for a week or two, but she was restless, full of engagements end excifceinanr. She was iuvitod to stay in Scotland. to go abroad, to yacht; there was nothing apparently that was not possible to her. She had grown more beautiful, but she seemed to have drifted very far away from the quiet atmosphere of tho Gate Mouse. Even her toy was not much of an attraction. It was true she exclaimed with -delight when ehi* saw how sturdy the little fellow's limbs had become, and how handsome he was growing, but she wias chilled because the little follow clung to Selina, and would have nothing to say to herself. "Oh! you tako him,' she said, half crossly, half impaliently; 'he is your ch Id, and I never know what to say to babies!' And theu she had flashed away again, and had been lost to sight and almost to recollection for a month or two, for she was an indifferent correspondent. And tho nntnmn dnys were growing chilly, nud little Sir George was beginning to walk, whoi one day Miobael came to tho Gate House with a heavy shadow on his iaoe. Ah lusk would have it, ho met Mary Laacombe alone. Almoßt the moment sbe looked at him, she snirt: 'You have something to tell uh; it is bad nows.' '1 have something'' to tell you,' said Michael Silchester. 'God knows how it ia going to be told to her!' Lie caught hia breath, and then ho said in a low voice, 'Lady Durnstone was} married two dajs ago to St. John Dalavali'

CHAPTEI* XXXIII. ' THE STOLEN CHILD. If these two faithful, loving hearts could have sparnd Selina the shock and the suffering thnt tho uows Michael hail brought entailed upon her, there was no aacriflco they could not have been capable of undertaking to achieve 80 much. But this blow was bound to fall. Indeed, she came in while Michael wag speaking to Miss Lasoombe, and in an instant she grasped that eomeflhfns important had happened. She sat so quietly, with such a white, drawn faoe, after she had heard what Michael had to tell, that both of them looked at her, unable to speak, nervous, indeed, of obtruding themselves iii a moment of 6uuh overwhelming sorrow. Suddenly she looked up and spoke. '1 will tqll you,' sho said, 'why this is so toii'ibla to me. It is because George lovud her as few women are loved; because only the tery day before he died, he had told me that he had reason to know that this man was not fit to approach any woman. If ho can see her now, will not it menu a suffering worso thau his death to know that this oreature he loved, tho mother of his child, is iu tho hands of sncn a man?' 'Try not to let it fret you too much, dearest,' Maty Lasoombe snid, and Sc-lina gave her a smile. 'I will promise ycu to try, Polly, but I am not sure how this is going to work out.' Her fUoe convulsed suddenly with tears. ™ 'You know he is ray enemy,' alio said, in a low voice. 'He will take the child from me.' Both , Miss Lasnnmbe tind Michael started. * They bad not seen this side of the question. Fear gained with Selina. Sho sat and tortured herself W'th all sorts of pictures. 'Must 1 iet him eo?' she asked, piteously,nnd Michael was obliged to answer, reluctantly: •He belongs to his mother. If she claims him, I am afraid you may Le compelled to'give him up.' Miss Lnscoinbo rosy and wont out of the room, but she saw Selina turn, and, with a ory, stretch her hands out to the man standing beside her. Mary Luecombe stumbled as she went up the stairs. Lor eyes were full of tears. Like Selino, sho immediately began to sketch out the future, and (ho mora she thought about it tho more she realized that heart suffering could not be spared the giri. Left nloue together, Selina was scarcely a-sare that Michael was hold ingher hands and lncrmurSug caressing words. 'Mulp inn!' she said to bim oucf; and he turned pale to the lipa as he answered: 'I will!' And then Selina tnoke rloini and cried: 'Oh, Michael help mo to keep my brother's boy! Ynu do not kuow how 1 fear this man. Many ft time during tho last 'aw months J have bnon haunted by the remembrance of his face, tmrl by all that he has said to inu. How foolish I hava been to suppose tbnt ho will forget. He will never forget. He will nlways exact payment.' Then Minimal spoke, far more firmly I bun he folf. 'You are going to leave* this matter iu my Imude. Tr.u lire going to trust me, Selim*. Tlicio can bo no

By Efiie Adelaide Rowlands. Author of "An Inherited Feud," "Brave Barbara t( A Splendid Heart," (i Temptation of Mary Barr," "The Interloperetc.* etc.

such happiness possible to ma as to know that you trust me.' •Whom else should 1 trust if not you?' Selina asked, with passion in her voice. t'or answer, he stooped and pressed his lips to her hand; and, c:ld and fenr-strioken as her heart was, the girl thrilled as she felt bis kisses, as she realized the worth of this man, who she knew n«w loved her beyond all that the world could give him, and who bad never onoe forced that love upon her. j 'Dear Michael!' she' said—'my brother Michael!' And Michael looked suddenly into her eyes. 'No, my dear one, uot yoar brother —unless, indeed, it is for your happiness that I should call myself this. it is not the moment in whioh to apeak of myself —and forhupa yon know already all levant to say—but, still, it is not a moment in which to play at false pretenses. 1 love you, tioliua, and iu this dark hour of utirmv it is to me you must leave the settlement with this man. He drew apart fronj her. Selina rose, and, with an indescribably touching movement, went up to him and laid her head upon his breaet. 'And I love you, Michael,' she said. 'looking buck, it seems to me that I have always loved you, perhaps, even when I was most cruel to you, and seemed so far away. Indeed, I will trust all to you. Yet'—she clung to him a little -'I beein to eee his power. 1 am afraid for you.' M'chnel held her to him very closely, and then stouped and kissed her. 'Ah.® he said, 'there is uot suoh a word as fear in the world for me when I kuow that you hold me so dear.' They stood a while, he with bis arms wrapped about her, and she, with closed eyes, half dreaming; and then Michael roused himself. 'Now, dea;est,. 1 am going to l«ave you,' he said. '1 am going to London.' 'What are you going to do?' asked Selina, m a low voice. (To ba Continued.)