Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1921-04-15
i, TsE IMpossIBE-continued.
Is.

C-0G--t 4
Yesterday: when ] tramped for hours
t,e streets where I had met and loved
and wooed you and as | thought. won
vonr love when at length l caught
eiebf of Carnehan and logged him
from har to bar. without his knowledge
rntiI finally he reeled into that infam-
o,,s place. and /. suspecting he might
have had You imprisoned there got
detail of police from the station
round the corner; when we broke in
and I found you half demented with
fear. and you saw me and came run
ming into my arms: when that hap
ppned-if you were and are not Leo
nora-how did you know who l was
how came you at. sight to cry out my
name. Mario?'
She begged his charity with clasped
hands.
"If you win only listen, can ex-
plain"
With curt nod he consented. turned
mis- back TO the fire folded his arms
His eyes held a sardonic CLEAN.
Il nm listening"
She made impulsively to speak. hut
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. It would only earn
his deeper scorn Tier eyes turned
blank. her face expressionless.
81 am waitiOg." he prompted
Outraged, 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 | tell you I'm
NOT your wife, not Leonora."
His eyebrows climbed. "Who, then,
am | to believe von are?'
"My name is Priscilla Maine, T."
Il know no person of that name"
mo- we never met"
"Still, you are well enough acduaint-
ed with me to use my Christian name
at FIRST sight of me-without even the
fOrmaity of. an introduction y
She confessed sullenly: 81 can't ex-
plain. It's impossible. But what
have told you is true: I am Priscil-
Ia Maine"
"And you. whom I 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: "As well as / know myself"
'At last he offered her an ironic
something I can believe ~
You can convince yourself" she
suggested 'if you viii 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 l talk with
her. Her replies viii prove am
Priscilla 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 thipk.
Would it do any good to tell him the
history of her dreams? Could she
herself be convinced against her will
by such story?
The answer came from Mario.
1T is useless he said YEARLY. "No:
DO not interrupt me. Say nothing
more"
But must make you understand,
must!"
mo, Leonora: I already understand
too we'll You do not love me; and
since you have found it difficult to
escape me, you invent this cock-and-
Dull yarn to spare my feelings. A
mistaken kindness. No matter: you
make your wish clear. l am to be-
ileve you think you are not my wife.
30 De it; Twill believe that, but i
can do so only at price"
Tell me what you mean"
II | am to believe that you be-
lieFe you are not Leonora, / must be-
lleve that you are mentally deranged."
lie pondered gravely: at is possible
terror and suffering have so worked
upon you"
Marloi" she pleaded-"you can find
Out the truth if you'n take me to the
nearest elephone-whether it's ten
""N' or nfty-now, tonight, in your
motor car"
1t is too late. These good people
heFeabouts go early to their beds.
ShaH I disturb them for no purpose
''ner than to humer a mad freakT'
Then let me go"
Alone?"
I'm not afraid"
but / am afraid for you. Remem.
Dsr now found you last night, in
peru Of your life. Shall I trust you
asain to run yourself into God knows
ha1 danger7 You need not ask that