Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1899-03-17
3Csntiuued from Feb. 1Oth.)

e-sEan1in ehe ever escape it she were so
tesziauae1y watched? With weary sigh
rsiAE left the window, and her eye fell
s>;14. ahe boxes and hamper. The latter
~sxns*empty. So che lifted it down and
z-skE.aE TO open the box underneath, but it
;aenved nnyielding. The lower one
.4kse1aed so be fastened by paddock, but
,ztEA.s, soop found that, though the key had
DsaeH turned. the loop had not been
A1sresd: Ear enough down to catch the
aaat. She ,opened it easily and turned
essm sims contents-old newspapers,
,sareiozs aoughly drawn plans. bunch
IL skslston keys buried under odds and
.lenais 81 all descriptions, and few
:aGalzs- She glanced over the latter, hop
34g ;sney might help her through the
s8es They we're chiefly racing oalen-
.4llssw: and guidebooks. A prettily bound
x.Dsume at length caught her eye. Il
::aksfs dock to it. which had been
1:sse=enched loose. She opened it with
snriosity, and an exclamation of sur
ssass',sf hurst from her.
Er,was a diary, and on the fly leaf,
Rz.;tsel in a clear girlish handwriting,
sx2zt5 "a. name of Florence Mostyn!
tyIa els heart beat with intense ex-
aIss,e,>> II, and her hands trembled so
~aks1aa>r LIE could hardly hold the book. At
3a!s1 lie op6',zsd the diary CT the i'll fated
Fl The z:rst entry was on her eight
r s<su.a broshday, but Mabel glanced
s:szs7 s,eh II rapidly, turning the pages
Enr
:. r.: 1ns~ant's name. Then she read ev-
srE word.
Tar are some of the entries:
$50. Oct. 2G.-There was quite
.5rxt>'il or men at Lady Morton's last
a2ht, and among them was Mr.. Arthur
3aa1ant. the new owner Of Abbinghall.
"a OLE Of those wild men of the west,
->zsyl,o have been to all sorts of impossible
.,s34aoes and seen all sorts of wonderful
:.2zs2ngs. But papa says that, unlike most
z>v':iers' tales, Mr.. .Durant's are we'll
~zHarrn listening to, and that is high
%SsJas:e, Sc Gor him. For myself I am not
<33ssrtlcularly taken with him, but that
i: nothing. I rarely am impressed by
3setp,e at first sight. Mr.. Durant bids
,. St>r to be popular. He keeps good horses
: 1.zl, rides straight That may account
:Er it.
Nov. al observed Mr.. Durant
~Hsor: particularly today. perhaps be-
~.sctas he appeared to notice me even
'S*=:ss than usual, if that were possible.
IF" course he is always polite, but he
35Stb badly does not consider me worth
Eaore attention than is demanded by or
2s1iary courtesy. He has clear, penetrat-
a1S gray eyes and firm chin; bis
18soTy black mustache completely hides
4;s mouth, but can imagine it to be
|:.iever and capable. I suppose his fore
8f,Ad does recede little too much.
Dec. 6.-Mr. Durant dined here to-
sight. There was a crowd OF people,
ssEut he was the most interesting of them
HI, and because was his hosts daugh-
scr suppose he felt obliged to be at
nEntiye. We had a long talk together in
soe drawing room-in fact, he scarcely
@ver left my side.
*'Dec. l1.-The hounds met at Brock
worth park today, and we killed at
Eeighterton; the best run this season.
~Ax. Durant gave me- splendid lead.
He rides we'll and already knows every
:1nch of the county.
'Deo. Ill need not complain again
1T MIR. Durant's lack of interest. He is
Ss:!1ghted with my hospital scheme and
,aas offered to help me.
Dec. 19.-We dined at the Towers
.sd'night. Dinners there are generally
tedious ordea]s, but tonight was differ
Wy IT. Ii,,ra ~,
THAT accounts for it.
@168A, Jan. 1.-THE Cottage hospital
sscheme " orks splendidly. Mr. Durant's
Aelp is wonderful assistance and by the
spring we hope it will be ready for the
6Est patients.
Jan. 5.-It is q week since have
written anything in my diary / have
sRen Mr. Durant every day since. He
WAS at the meet at Houndscroft. and we
r. 7s'ere in at the death at Dunkirk. Then
= he WAS at the Hoskins' dance, and took
:aae in at Lord Launton's dinner. He
was among the audience at the hospital
snoncert, and on Sunday he was at
rza1nrch. Yesterday he walked with me
-drom the other eud of the village. I had
saeen ITO see old Hanks when met him.
He was riding, but he dismounted and
walked with me to the south lodge I
Am afraid be would be very miserable,
- walking all that distance in riding boots
Jan 22.-Today have refused Lord
Winter again for the third time Why
ea1rnot he take NO for an answer?
1FoRaer If Mr.. Durant ever cared enough
gEor any one to propose three times?
Ian. 27.-Today the most wonder
fnl thing mas happened-Arthur Durant
has asked me to be his wife! I can
lf:hardly realize it yet Only when close
; 1.n,g *syes and again SEQ his gazing into
/ ana;4ae il coan hear his words, almost
~h1spered In their intensity. 4 love
you, he said. Il worship you. have
bowed you from &the moment saw you
H<-avoided you because felt was not
xwortisy to touch the ground on which
zycn<@alked. But surely my love has
zaisea sne so that I dare plead with you
10 let me try to teach you to love me q