Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1921-06-04
n. THE lmposslBE-continued.

was-I followed you back TO New York
yesterday; when ] tramped for hours
the streets where 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 reeed 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 | 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, MarioT
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 sardonic CLEAN.
II am listening"
She made impulsively to speak, but
uttered never a 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 II would only earn
his deeper scorn. Her eyes turned
blank, her face expressionless.
Il am waiting" he prompted
She looked away, and dropped, dis
couraged, Respondent
Forgive me-" she said in a weak
voice. AFTER all, l hardly know how
TO explain. 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 to believe you are?"
MY name Is Priscilla Maine, +"
Il know no person Of that name"
mo: 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: Il can't ex-
plain. It's impossible, But what /
have told you is true: 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
herr"
Overlooking the sarcasm, she de-
clared: "As well as know myself"
AT last r'--he offered her an ironic
bow" something l can believed"
you can convince yourself" she
suggested, III you will get New York
on long distance, call Murray Hill two
three six-one, and ask for Mrs. Trow-
bridge"
swell, what then?"
"She viii tell you her niece, Priscil-
la Maine, has been missing since last
night"
"And what, pray, will that proven"
you may listen while | talk with
her. Her replies will prove am
Maine"
He shrugged. "But you know very
we'll 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 story2
The answer came from Mario.
ut is useless" he said YEARLY. mo:
do not interrupt me. Say nothing
"But ! must make you understand,
] must
mo, Leonora already understand
too well. You do not love ne; and
since you have found 1t dieicuH to
escape me, you invent this ockvand-
bull yarn to spare my feelings. A
mistaken kindness. Nv matter: you
make your wish clear. ! am to be-
lleve you think you are not my wife.
So be 1t; will believe that, but !
can do so only at a price,"
"Tell me what you mean"
"If i am to believe that you be-
Iieve you are not Leonora, must be-
Iieve that you are mentally deranged."
he pondered grayely: 1T is possible
terror and suffering have SO worked
upon you--"
mario !" she pleaded-"you can find
put the truth If you'll take me to the
nearest telephone--whether It's ten
miles or fifty--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 mad freakT
"Then let me 60"
"AIoneT
"Im 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 danger? You need not ask that
Of me, Leonora.'
"What am to do?" she cried, wiring
Ing her hands
~Csmposn yourself Go 70 your