The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-03-04
MY LOST SELF
cspyxxht rses ". Marckmoaa
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By A. ". MARCHMONT

Cantfnued.
 Mv s1ucerfty appeared to have some sheet upon her. She laid down the aaExer and looked at me very steadily and with renewed curiosity oon.s understand you. What has occurred to work such a change in Beppo Serrano toward megv
 eyou appear to know me well. Do yhn mean that you know me by the name you have now spoken tnree tilneszs
 She made a gesture of impatience' ,sNho else do you pretend to Der
 The mystery was deepening HOW conid she know me. Cuthbert Dalrym- ple. by such q name and as an ItaitanY 7 And then some giimmering of the truth began to break in upon my bewiidered wits. The blow had received in the Italian quarter must have destroyed my memory. The growth of my beard had proved that a long intervai naa @ eiapsed since the attack; and in the meantime something must have occurred which had led to my being mistaken for this Italian Beppo Seranno' tns name by which she knew me now
 What could have occurred in the ln- terval to cause such a mistakeI Tne thought appalled, me. staggered pacE against the wall and put my hand to my head in utter desoiation and be- Nwilderment If what she said were 2he truth, I must indeed have been mad. I must have been different man altogetherss some scroundrelly Italian whose mere presence had been enough to steep her very soul in dread and loathing of me. :.
 "You, do not answer my question, she said, breaking the long silence.
 Her voice recalled me. I would at least learn from her so much as she could tell me; but would hold my se- cret from her until I knew more. answered her this time in Italian. ''I make no pretence. What place Is 8hisTs
 "so you have not quite forgotten your own tongue" she said. That part oE fhe pretence is over at any ratn, Her tone was one of scornful disdain. DO you admit that you are Beppo serFanoy"
 .'Whatever vou declare to be the truth l will admit What house is thiA~
 '.xou do not know that it is cot- &age on my estate? You have never seen me before. you said; you do not know therefore that am Masita Cor reggie; that l was brought here to- night on the pretence that my brother was in danger; that the magistrate. Eignor Vicino, was here when you and the others arrived; that you with them
 
 with your own hands bound me and ordered me under pain of death to keep silent.
 listened with such amazement as may be imagined. T have received a blow on the head and my memory has suffered. remember nothing of what you say. I do not even know where khe estate is of which you speak"
 'sAh, 1t is infamous. It is but a part Of your evil cunning" she burst out wfth great heat. sYou will pretend you do not know we are in Sicily; that you have never heard of Carlo Beltano. the leader of your band; nor of Molta. his sister, and your afiianced wife; nor Of Giuseppe, nor Of Ahmet, the Turk, nor Breva. nor Pepita. You know nothing of course. You have never been on Beltano,s island, I suppose? Such lies would be worthy of you. You have some motive for them all. Say what your fresh purpose is with me and carry 1t out You have at least the reputation of courage--the courage of wild beast. maybe: but yet enough to let you tell the truth and let me know the worst"
 With what profound dlsmay list. ened as she reeled off these facts in the form of indignant questions cannot describe Every reference was of course utterly strange to me, and the mention of them stirred no answering memory. Tbat she was speaking the truth. or what she believed to be the truth, was without question. I did not doubt her for moment, although her story showed that while had lost my