Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1921-03-24
II. THE IMPoSSlBE-continued.


the truth-but never how hideous it
was-I followed you back to New York
yesterday; when | tramped for hours
the streets where I had met and loved
and woOed you and, as thought, won
your love; when at length | caught
sight of Carnehan and logged him
from bar to bar, without his knowledge,
until finally he reeled into that infam-
Gus place, and l, suspeCting he might
have had You imprisoned there, got
a detail of police from the station
round the corner; when we broke in,
and l found you half demented with
fear, and you saw me and came run
ming into my arms: when that hap
pened--if you were and are not Leo
nora-how did you know who | was,
how came you at sight to cry out my
name, Mario?"
She begged his charity with clasped
hands.
'If you will only listen, can ex-
plain"
With curt nod he consented, turned
his back to the fire, folded his arms.
His eyes held a sardonic CLEAN.
81 am listening"
She made impulsively to speak, but
uttered never a sound. Her heart mis-
gave her. The story she must tell, if
she We're to explain, was even more
preposterous than that which he was
refusing to credit. It would only earn
his deeper scorn. Her eyes turned
blank, her face eXpressionless.
81 am waiting" he prompted.
She looked away, and dropped, dis
cOuraged, Respondent.
''FOrgive me-" she said in weak
voice after all, | hardly know how
to explain. I can only ask you to be
kind-believe me when I tell you I'm
not your wife, not Leonora."
His eyebrows climbed. "Who, then,
am I to believe you are?"
my name is Priscilla Maine, /"
81 know no person of that name"
"NO; we never met"
"Still, you are well enough acquaint
ed with me to use my Christian name
at first sight of me-without even the
formality of an Introduction !"
She confessed sullenly: 81 can't ex-
plain It's impossible. But what
have told you is true: I am Priscil-
la Maine"
"And you, whom have never met
you tell me-yOu knew so much about
me that you knew l had gone to New
York, promising to return in time for
dinner leaving my wife alone with
the servants; you knew she had dis
appeared Perhaps you knew even
herr"
Overlooking the sarcasm, she de-
clared: "As we'll as I know myself"
"At last he offered her an ironic
bow-"something | can believed"
"You can convince Yourself" she
suggested, "if you will get New York
on long distance, call Murray Hill two
three-six-one, and ask for Mrs. Trow-
bridge"
"Well. what then?"
"She will tell you her niece. Priscil-
la Maine, has been missing since last
night"
"And what, pray, will that prove?"
"YOu may listen while | talk with
her. Her replies will prove l am
Priscilla Maine"
He shrugged. "But you know very
well there is no telephone within ten
miles of this camp"
In CONSERVATION she dropped back
into her chair and sat trying to think.
Would 1t do any good to tell him the
history of her dreams? Could she
herself be convinced against her will
By such a story?
The answer came from Mario.
ut is useless" he said YEARLY. "No
do not interrupt me. Say nothing
Euore---"
"But I must make you understand,
7 must!'
mo, Leonora: already understand
too well. You do not love me; and
since you have found It difficult to
escape me, you invent this cOck-and-
hull yarn to spare my feelings. A
mistaken kindness. No matter: you
make your wish clear. I am to be-
lave you think you are not my wife.
So be it; l will believe that, but l
can do so only at a price"
Tell me what you mean"
IF | am to believe that you be-
lleve you are not Leonora, / must be-
lleve that you are mentally deranged."
He pondered gravely: ut is possible
terror and suffering have so worked
mario" she pleaded-'you can find
out the truth if you'll take me to the
nearest NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. it's ten
miles or ffty-now, tonight, in your
motor car"
at is too late. These good people
hereabouts go early to their beds
Shall / disturb them for no purpose
other than to humor a mad freak7"
"Then let me go"
"AloneW
"I'm not afraid"
"But / am afraid for you. Remem.
Der how l found you last night in
peril Of your life. Shall / trust you
again to run yourself into God knows
what danger2 You need not ask that
of me. Leonora"