Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-03-15

| From the very first he had evinced
liking for Lady Florence, but though be
was never more animated or showed
himself to greater advantage than when
in her society, yet he did not obtrude
his presence upon her. Nay, he even
seemed to avoid her. Had be done this
deliberately, and with set purpose, he
could not have played his cards better.
Tor she was just the woman to appreol.
ate self modification on her account
gathered that she eventually let him see
that che did not wish him to keep aloof,
and that he was only too happy to pur-
sue bis advantage.
The man was in love with her-that
was understandable enough. But 1t was
not quite so easy to see why she cared
for him, as she undoubtedly did, for he
was by no means as we'll bred or even
as good looking as the majority Of the
men Of her own set. But it may be that
the unconventionality caused by the
rough and tumble life he had led was
more attractive to her than the out and
dried forms she had hitherto met with.
At any rate Durant was soon establish
ed az Lady Florence's attendant cavalier,
and whether in the hunting field or the
drawing room he sought her side and
remained there with look Of quiet,
unsssuming proprietorship.
It is not certain that Durant proposed
to Lady Florence, but it is certain that
he asked the duke for permission to do
so-permission that was peremptorlly
refused by that parsonage, who on that
particular occasion came as near to los
ling his temper as ever he did in his life.
Durant was no longer asked to Glen
more, and Lady Florence's freedom was
henceforward distinctly curtailed.
Then she vanished, absolutely and
completely, leaving no trace behind,
and she had never been heard Of again
by her family or her friends until her
Identification as the victim Of the South
Audley street murder.
"And what about Durant?" l asked
my friend.
"Oh, Duranti He staid his lease out.
He seemed much cut up at Lady Flor
ence's disappearance and went out
very little afterward. / did hear he
took to drinking heavily. He went
away at the beginning Of March. I re-
member the date particularly, for the
great robbery at Glenmore took place
Just before, and Durant's own place
was broken into as we'll.
"And what happened to him after he
left the district!'
Can say. He disappeared entirely
from our ken. Some say he returned to
Australia and others that he went to
the bad. Anyway, he was never seen
again in our country"
"Have you any theory Of your own
about Lady Florence's Disappearance"
The rector hesitated, and then said:
"Well, to tell you the truth, l have,
but it seems so unsupported by evidence
that it is nothing but theory, and
seemingly farfetched one, yet have
never been able to shake off my belief
in it. My idea is that Durant was In
some way implicated in her disappear
ance.
I'm what way?''
"There you have me. can't say. l
have not the slightest tangible evidence
for my suspicion, but l am firmly con-
vinced in my own mind that If Mr..
Arthur Durant is alive he could tell
you great deal more about that mys-
terry than we now know"
was somewhat disconnected to hear
this. had traced one person, only to
find that another was indispensable, and
the search for the second was probably
beset with the greater difficulties of the
two
With this rather discouraging infor-
nation l returned to town. l made it
my first buE,ness to engage a private de-
tective to trace Mr.. Arthur Durant, bu'
from the little knowledge we had o'
that gentleman, and the absolute igno,
rance we we're in as to his present where
a5cats, had little hope that we should
gain any information likely to be use
full on the fast approaching day Of the
trial.