The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-01-10


senreu en- introduced uemeanor 60 the
world, for had she not been dead to him
for years? i had one short interview
with him, in which he expressed regret
at his inability to furnish me with any
details Of her life that would be of serv-
ice to me. She had left his roof without
word Of warning, and he was absolute
~ ignorant of her life from that day.
1t was evident I should have to look
to other quarters for assistance, and for
once in a way Dame Fortune favored
me.
found out that Henry Wray, an old
schoolfellow Of mine, was the rector of
Lamford - the parish in which the
duke s seat of Glenmore was situated
and to him I at once went. He had
known Lady Florence Mostyn for some
years previous to her disappearance,
and he told me all he thought would be
of use to me, The girl-for she was on
~ 90 when she left her fathers roof
was of happy disposition, and she was
a general favorite She was equally at
home in parish work, in the hunting
field and in the ballroom. She was ac-
complished and she was distinctly hand
some. AS might be we'll imagined, she
had many suitors, but she turned a deaf
ear to all until certain Mr. Arthur
Durant made his appearance, and on
this man, in many respects the least
suitable of her admirers, she did not
| look askance.
There was some mystery about this
Durant. He was a colonial, had made
his money in store-he did not conceal
| that-and he had returned to spend it.
Had he been rich Lancashire cotton
man, or an ironmaster of native growth,
| it might have been difficult for him to
have obtained the entree to the circle in
which Lady Florence Mostyn moved.
But to the rich American or colonial
most things are possible. He had hired
hunting box for the season, and, thanks
| to his splendid horsehesh, his own pre-
sentable appearance unstinted liberality
and genial disposition, he was soon
moving on equal terms with the men he
met in the field. He did not seem to
care for society, and this made his social
advancement all the easier. He was
soon invited everywhere. Some invita-
tions he accepted and some he refused,
and among the former were those of the
Duke Of Lundy.
From the very first he had evinced a
liking for Lady Florence, but though he
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 he done this
deliberately, and with set purpose, he
could not have played his cards better,
for she was just the woman to appreci-
ate self modification on her account. I
/ gathered that she eventually let him see
that she did not wish him to keep aloof,
| and that he was only too happy to pur-
sue his advantage.
The man was in love with her-that
was understandable enough. But it was
not quite SO easy to see why she cared
for him as she undoubtedly did, fer 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 be bad led was
more attractive to her than the cut and
dried forms she had hitherto met with.
At any rate DuTant was soon establish
ed as Lady Florence S attendant cavalier,
and whether i'll the hunting field or the
, drawing room he sought her side and
remained there with look of quiet,
unassuming proprietorship.
1t 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 peremptorily
J refused by that parsonage, who OH that
particular occasion came as near to los
ing his temper as ever he did in his life.
Durant was 10 longer asked to Glen
more, and Lady Florence's freedom was
henceforwatd 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:'' I asked
my friend.
''Oh. Durant! 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 wenI
away at the beginning of March. 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:''
Cant say. He disappeared entirely
: from our ken. Some say he returned t.
c Australia and others that he went tt
the bad. Anyway; he was never seer
u again in our country"
e "Have you any theory of your OWL
: about Lady Florence's disappearance?
! The rector hesitated, and then said:
"Well, to tell you the truth, have
: but it seems SO unsupported by evidence
: that it is nothing but theory, ant