The Jasper news., 1920-11-18

the doorway.
He leaned beck at ease and quietly
took In the tasteful 1npretentIousneas
OF his surroundings. Ellen continued /
her search through the thick piles q
music In tho cabinet. She had 'nado
three or four sfiections and wna ioolN I
ing for others when the munied, bro
ken murrnur Of womans voice came
to Clinton through the narrow openiRg
Of the door. He was not n \ pos,ti.m
to see through the crack, but there
could be no doubt that Mrs. Kirkland
was at q telephone some distance
away, probably at the end Of q narrow
passage.
Only disjolnted fragments Of hes
talk were audible:
"Amy alonef How
shall ! tell youi this afternoon
looks splendid, but not VIII
Not the slightest remembrance
must not despair Yes. I'm GER
tain, IL anyone can cure him
be prepared believes himself
Clinton"
As he realized that he was listening
to talk that had reference to himself.
the young man thrust out his hand to
close the door. The sound attracted
the attention Of Ellen. She looked
about at the guest, the corners Of her
perfect mouth dropping.
She bent ever the keyboard and be-
gan to play something soft and low
that ran into eeria minor notes. He
stood at the corner of the piano gaz-
ing down at her with look of frank
enjoyment. She was undoubtedly
beautiful and she played well.
When she looked up her eyes were
suffused with tears. but there was ea-
ger expectancy in her glance. In his
eyes was only the politely reserved ad.
miration of a stranger. Her lips be-
gan to quiver. A tenr overiowed and
ran down her white cheek. She
bowed forward with her face In her
hands. sObbIng IN an uncomfortable
outburst Of grief.
He was overcome with cOnsterna-
ton. Miss Kirklandi I-what can
have donef Believe me. / would not
for anything"
'Tt's-it's n-not what you've done 7"
she sobbed. "It's what y-you've not
done r.
"What I've not donel" he asked. "II
only you'll tell mel"
"You don't even remember It-our
favoritei" she cried.
"You mean-surely you cannot ex-
pect me to remember something
| nauar zee uof v1noelhia NON ~fiiI ho.
lieve that ! am not myself"
"But it'5-it's you who deny It; you
who" She looked up at him, her
tear-streaming eyes full Of pitiful en-
treaty. "Oh. whit won't you pleass
try to remember who you aref"
"Miss Kirkland. pray be calm. i 40.
sure you that am Richard Clinton.
! cnn easily prove thnt T."
Look I" she interrupted. holding up
her slender left hand. on which spar
kled the diamond Of a single ring
Try to thinki You must remember
you cannot have forgotten about
A rosy blush swept down over her pale
face-"about when you put II there
deari"
About her slender neck was a hnC
, gold chain, from which an oval lockel
hung pendant on her heaving bosom
She caught up the locket and touched
the spring. The jeweled front Of the
} locket opened. Within was . mInia
2 ture painting.
/ "Who is this-tell me. who Is thlsT
. she asked.
: To see the miniature II was neces
j. sary that he should bend down clos'
( to the blushing girl. His own fac'
: flushed with embarrassment. but h
r seated himself on the end of the bencl
e and leaned over with his square jaw
beside her rounded white shoulder
4 Had ne looked only at the girl 4
would not have been surprising.
r AS II Glanced, however. the yOunI
b. man glanced first at the miniature. A
I once the incredulity Of his expression
n gave place to surprise and perplexity
e He leaned over for a closer look. hi
:. cheek only a few inches from tn
e cheek of the girl. Except for a Get
4 tain pInched look about the nose tn
e absence of the mustache and marke'
Q thInness Of jaw and cheek. the fac
IN the miniature was his own--it wa
IS his face as II might look In III health
The young man drew back. his fac
/" clearly expressive Of his astoDIshmenl
l. cit Is a-most remarkable resem
" blance, Miss Kirkland. ! no lOnge
% wonder that you were deceived at IN
first, and this continued delusiOn o
e your part can, no doubt, he accOunte
"A for nv thu intensity Of that 6rst In