The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1921-04-15
Il. THE ,mpossleE-continued.

know me so we'll? Wnen, SuSpectlng
the truth-but never how hideous 1t
vast followed you hack to New York
yesterday; when l tramped for hours
the streets where had met and loved
and wooed you and, as l thought, won
your love; when at length l caught
sight of Carnehan and logged him
from bar to bar, without his knowledge,
until finally he reeled into that infam-
Gus place, and I, suspecting he might
have had you imprisoned there, got
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 1 was,
how came you at sight to cry out my
name. Mario2"
She begged his charity with clasped
hands.
"If you will only listen, can ex-
plain"
With.a curt nod he consented, turned
his back to the fire, folded his arms.
His eyes held sardonic CLEAN.
81 am listening"
She made impulsively to speak, but
uttered never sound. Her heart mis-
gave her. The story she must tell, If
she were to explain, was even more
preposterous than that which he was
refusing to credit. 1t would only earn
his deeper scorn. Her eyes turned
blank. her face eXpressionless.
81 am waiting" he prompted.
She looked away, and dropped, dis
Outraged, respondent.
"FOrgiye me-" she said in weak
voice. "After all, hardly know how
to explain. I can only ask you to be
kind-believe me when tell you I'm
not your wife, not Leonora."
His eyebrows climbed. "Who, then
am 1 to believe you areT'
MY name is Priscilla Maine, L"
Il know no person of that name."
"No; we never met"
"StiIl, you are we'll 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 I
have told you is true: l am Priscil-
la Maine"
"And you, whom have never met
you tell me-you knew so much about
me that you knew 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
her?"
Overlooking the sarcasm, she de-
clared: Gas well as l know myself"
"At last Pie offered her an ironic
bow-"something I can believe!"
"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" -........-
"tShe will tell you her niece, Priscil-
la Maine, has been missing since last
night"
"And what, pray, will that proven
"You may listen while I talk with
her. Her replies will prove j 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 IT 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.
"It is useless" he said YEARLY "No: :
do not interrupt me. Say nothing
"But 1 must make you understand
/ must"
"No, Leonora: already understand
foo well. You do not love me; and
since you have found it difficult to
escape me, you invent this cock-and-
bull yarn to spare my feelings. A
mistaken kindness. No matter: you
make your wish clear. / am to be-
lieye you think you are not my wife.
So be it; I will believe that, but
can do so only at a price"
"Tell me what you mean"
'If / am to believe that you be-
Iieve you are not Leonora, must be-
Iieve that you are mentally deranged."
he pondered gravely: "It is possible
terror and suffering have so worked
upon you"
'MarioI !" she pleaded-"you can find
out the truth IL you'll take me to the
nearest telephone-whether it's ten
miles or fifty-now, tonight, in your
motor car"
cit is too late. These good people
hereabouts go early to their beds
Shall 1 disturb them for no purpose
other than to humor mad freak?"
"Then let me GO
"Aionef"
SIN not afraid"
'But l am afraid for you. Remem.
Der how / found you last night, in
peril Of your life. Shall / trust you
again to run yourself into God knows
what danger? You need not ask that
of me, Leonora."
"What am to do?" she cried, wiring
ing her hands.
Compose yourself. Go to your
: room, rest quietly for tonight. In the
morning, possibly, you will feel better,
or possibly you will see how futile it
is to try to deceive me: you will want,
perhaps, to tell me the truth"
81 have told you nothing else!"
"Then confess to the whole truth !: