The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-01-20
street. peyonu.


there were few passersby. She won
dered what her fate would be if she
aroused their attention. Would they
come to her rescue? She had almost de.
cided to take this desperate step when
the door opened and Fitzgerald entered
Come down from there he said
harshly, land don't try that trick on
again, please, or I'll board the lot up. "
Then he added in his usual manner:
Lady very beautiful-must not excite
envy and admiration of neighbors. I'm
derstand?''
He stood gloating over her discom-
future for few seconds and then left
the room.
For q moment Mabel lost heart
Could che ever escape il she were SO
closely watched? With a weary sigh
she left the window, and her eye fell
on the boxes and hamper. The latter
was empty. So che lifted it down and
tried to open the box underneath, but it
proved unyielding. The lower one
seemed to be fastened by paddock, but
she soon found that, though the key had
been turned, the loop had not been
forced far enough down to catch the
bolt. She opened it easily and turned
over the contents-old newspapers,
curious. roughly drawn plans. bunch
of skeleton keys buried under odds and
ends of all descriptions. and few
books. She glanced over the latter, hop
ing they might help her through the
dreary hours, but they were not attract
i've They were chiefly racing calen-
OARS and guidebooks A prettily bound
volume at length caught her eye It
had lock to it, which had been
wrenched loose. She opened it with
curiosity, and an exclamation of sur
prise burst from her.
1t was diary, and on the fly leaf,
written in clear girlish handwriting,
was the name of Florence Mostyn!
| Mabel's heart beat with intense ex-
! element and her hands trembled go
that she could hardly hold the book. At
last she opened the diary of the i'll fated
girl. The first entry was on her eight
zenith birthday. but Mabel glanced
through it rapidly, turning the pages
with feverish haste, till her eye caught
Mr.. Durant's name. Then she read ev-
cry word.
Here are some of the entries:
"1SS8, Oct. 26.-There was quite a
crowd of men at Lady Morton's last
night, and among them was Mr.. Arthur
Durant, the new owner Of Abbinghall.
He is one of those wild men Of the west,
who have been to all sorts of impossible
! places and seen all sorts of wonderful
things. But papa says that, unlike most
travellers tales, Mr. Durant's are we'll
worth listening to, and that is high
praise for him. For myself / am not
I particularly taken with him, but that
is nothing. rarely am impressed by
people at first sight Mr.. Durant bids
fair to be popular. He keeps good horses
and rides straight. That may account
for it.
NOV. 29.-I observed Mr.. Durant
more particularly today, perhaps be-
cause he appeared to notice me. even
less than usual, if that were possible.
OF course, he is always polite, but he
probably does not consider me worth
more attention than is demanded by or.
binary courtesy. He has clear, penetrat-
ing gray eyes and a firm chin; his
heavy black mustache completely hides
his mouth, but can imagine it to bs
clever and capable. Isuppose his fore
head does recede little too much.
'sDec. 6.-Mr. Durant dined here to-
night. There was crowd Of people
but he was the most interesting of then
all, and because was his hosts daugh
ter suppose he felt obliged to be at
tentive. Wa had long talk together il
the drawing room-in fact, he scarcely
ever left my side.
''Dec. 11.-The hounds met at Brock
worth park today, and we killed a
Leighterton; the best run this season
MIR. Durant gave me splendid lead
He rides we'll and already knows ever.
inch Of the county.
| "Deo. Ill need not com plain agail
Of Mr.. Durant's lack Of interest. He i
delighted with my hospital scheme an,
has offered to help me.
"Dec. 19.-We dined at the Tower
tonight. Dinners there are general,
tedious ordeals. but tonight was differ
emit. Mr.. Durant took me in. Perhap
that accounts for it.
1889. Jan. THE Cottage hospita
scheme works splendidly. Mr.. Durant'
help is wonderful assistance and by tn
spring we hope it will be ready for tn
first patients
"Jan. 15.-It is week since l hav
written anything in my diary. hav
seen Mr.. Durant every day since. H
,was at the meet at Houndscroft, and W
: were in at the death at Dunkirk. The
he was at the Hoskins' dance, and too
me in at Lord Launton's dinner. III
8 was among the audience at the hospita
= .concert and on Sunday he was q