what!"

"Let me ask you, then, why you volunteer to prosecute?"

"Because I must do so. But tell me, do you think what I have advanced
trivial and unimportant?" asked Miriam, in a hopeful tone, for little
she thought of herself, if only her obligation were discharged, and her
brother still unharmed.

"On the contrary, I think it so important as to constrain my instant
attention, and oblige me to issue a warrant for the apprehension of Mr.
Thurston Willcoxen," said Colonel Thornton, as he wrote rapidly, filling
out several blank documents. Then he rang a bell, that was answered by
the entrance of several police officers. To the first he gave a warrant,
saying:

"You will serve this immediately upon Mr. Willcoxen." And to another he
gave some half dozen subpoenas, saying: "You will serve all these
between this time and twelve to-morrow."

When these functionaries were all discharged, Miriam arose and went to
the magistrate.

"What do you think of the testimony?"

"It is more than sufficient to commit Mr. Willcoxen for trial; it may
cost him his life."

A sudden paleness passed over her face; she turned to leave the office,
but the hand of death seemed to clutch her heart, arresting its
pulsations, stopping the current of her blood, smothering her breath,
and she fell to the floor.

* * * * *

Wearily passed the day at Dell-Delight. Thurston, as usual, sitting
reading or writing at his library table; Paul rambling uneasily about
the house, now taking up a book and attempting to read, now throwing it
down in disgust; sometimes almost irresistibly impelled to spring upon
his horse and gallop to Charlotte Hall, then restraining his strong
impulse lest something important should transpire at home during his
absence. So passed the day until the middle of the afternoon.

Paul was walking up and down the long piazza, indifferent for the first
time in his life to the loveliness of the soft April atmosphere, that
seemed to blend, raise and idealize the features of the landscape until
earth, water and sky were harmonized into celestial beauty. Paul was
growing very anxious for the reappearance of Miriam, or for some news of
her or her errand, yet dreading every moment an arrival of another sort.
"Where could the distracted girl be? Would her report be received and
acted upon by the magistrate? If so, what would be done? How would it
all end? Would Thurston sleep in his own house or in a