Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1908-11-20
DIANA FAIR.
BY Author of "BarbAra Fate doctor Cynha ee of the
Mix P op." Etc


teur as though he were at once with
drawing himself-his real self--from the
inspection of the outer world.
We'll, Napoleons" seemed, to Diana's
sensitive eye, to be written plainly ON
his mouth.
We meet again minus the incognito,''
he said, when Dr. Sanderson had put
brief question or two What an heroic
person you arei"
I learnt independence early" she said
calmly.
"And so the great-uncle is worse
again." commented the doctor. 'Wen.
we will be off to him at once, obliyious
of my stolen leisure and shortened din
ner"
So later" asked Diana sympatheticallv.
"Yes-I was at Bottiscombe till z.
Well, Martha, what is it now?"
"a man at the surgery door has cut
ms head, sir, terribly, and wants you at
once''
DIR. Sanderson frowned.
What want Of thought" he said.
well, | viii follow you, Miss Fayrer,
as soon as | have patched up this indi-
vldual. Mcclure is going your way, and
will look after you. Better get home
and set Uncle Mats nerves at rest with
the news that am coming"
He hustled away, leaving Diana look.
ing after him, and Claud Mcclure smiling,
into the fire.
You won't prove your independence 20
he asked carelessly.
NO. she said 81 shall be glad of
your escort"
Bnt for some reason or other neither
of them found a word to say to each
other till the park gates were reached.
Diana was wondering how far she had
misjudged this man of many moods, and
specializing curiously as to the meaning
of the words she had inadvertently
heard from the doctors lips.
Nine years dreary probation! What
did it meanf How had he suffered
alones
"You treat your escort to most un-
friendly silence he remarked half
mockingly. Il might as well have let
you walk alone"
ooh, mol" she said quickly. II should
have felt so different without you Now
I am secure and happy"
"You show your happiness oddly" he
said, while an inexplicable sense of pleas
ure thrilled his veins at her assertion.
II am not talkative person." she re-
piled. "oh, Mr.. Mcclure, what was
thati"
| Involuntarily she drew nearer to him
as a sudden shadow deepened the black
ness of the wayside, dragged itself like
some couchant creature across the road,
and melted into the somrbe depths of
the tall hedge.
"a fox" replied he, knowing it was
not.
She sighed, smiling family in the
darkness.
heart beat faster at such shock ~
"No, I think not"
"And yet l am reckonel brave"
"And /, a coward"
"0h, don'tl" she said passionately.
They came TO the gates of Combe
Crockett, and she held out her hand.
eve haven't yet bearded all the lions.
I shouldn't think of leaving you here"
ooh please don't trouble further-it is
quite superfuousl"
IT must contradict you" he said light
". Don't let US stand quarreling while
Mr.. Crockett is storming The avenue
holds all sorts of unknown mysteries"
She gave way reluctantly, and they
entered the park together.
/ AS they neared my Lady's Glade" the
moon came slowly out. ard shone down
upon the mist -enwrapped park and silent
giades. She filed the lonely landscape
with mysterious shadows.
Chose are men there" Diana said
"two of them!"
"Or the fruit of brilliant imagina-
ton"
'Look, there is another-a third Oh,
what can they be doing here ?"
Looking after the game which Mr..
Crockett so generously leaves to their
tender mercies."
"Poachers, thenf''
"Yes. We can do no good by showing
them we see them They have been too
long winked at here. Walk On my other
side"
She obeyed silently, and they dropped
into the hollow of the park, where the
underground flung itself in tangled lux
uriance across the unused carriage way
and the faint moon shed no radiance.
Presently across silver square, a
figure with limp came towards them.
1t was Peters, the ancient and half
witted keeper who had been crippled ten
years earlier in a poaching fray, and who
was now returning from a visit to a dy-
ing SON in law. Suddenly he stood still
gazing around, then wheeled about, his
finger on the trigger of the gun he al
ways carried, his face towards the shad.
ows on the hill.
Diana's hand went instinctiyely to Nc
Cures arm,
"SeeI He viii fre-poor mad old
Petersl And there are three to onew
A shot rang through the misty still
ness
"Fooll" said Mcclure between his
teeth, and Diana's hand fell from his
arm as he sprang across the daPpled
slopes.
%Stay where you arei' he called to
Diana.
But even at that very instant FIVE
shots burst out in rapid succession, and
/ both Mcclure and Diana were within the
deadly range.
Mcclure put up his hand to his head
and ran on.
The feeble old man behind him stood
gazing dazedly up the glade.