Northern Weekly Gazette. — 1903-08-22 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

CHAPTER XXIV.  I shook the man's hand off my shoulder. "Are you mad?" I ex_ claimed angrily, "or is this your idea of a joke?" "Neither, sir. I bold a Warrant for your arrest. You can't very well call that a joke. So you must come along with me." "Surely there must be some rills. take about this," said Mortimer, white to the lips with agitation; "such a charge against my friend here is absurd—farcical."  "Absurd or not, sir," replied the constable, "I have got my duty to perform, and he'd far better come along quiet with me." "But," said I, still gasping with astonishment, "I have come here to be married. lam expecting the bride every moment. I know no more than the dead what this charge against me . means; and you must see, my good man, that it is quite impossible for me to go with you now." "Very sorry, indeed, sir, I truly am; but it can't be helped. You must come along with me at once. You can leave your friend here to explain it, somehow to the lady. A bit awkward, I know—but a good deal better than having a scene in the street, don't you think? We can slip down the passage here—and nobody much the wiser for IL"  Just then I saw the carriage containing Marcella sweeping round a corner in the distance. I looked at Mortimer in dismay.  "Yes," said he, Promptly, grasping the situation, "the man is quite right. You will have to go in any case—so avoid a scene, and go at once. Where are you taking him, constable?"  "To Putney Polioe Station, sir. The magistrate.s are sitting to-day, and issued the warrant about an hour ago." "Go with him, Ted, old mazi, and pull yourself together. It is terrible, I know. We didn't expect anything like this to happen to-day. But cheer up. They can't detain you long. It is sure to come out all right. I will on with you in the course of an hour or so. Now run in quick!" _ _ _ _  "But," I said, -still hesitating, "how can you explain it to Marcella ?"  "I don't know—somehow. But be quick; go—go. Don't, for heaven's snke, let her see you dragged away. In another second the carriage will be here."  I straightened myself up, though I felt a terrible sinking at my heart, and turned to the constable.  "I am ready," I said, "but don't put your hands on me in the street. For God's sake spare me that indignity. I shall give you no trouble, I assure you." We moved away at once, and as I turned at the corner and glanced across I saw the carriage sweep up to the church, and the sweet face of my love for one fleeting instant at the window, and then all my fortitude gave way. It seemed to me more than human flesh and blood could stand. The cruelty of the thing was unheard of--monstrous—unendurable. Yet here was I, impotent to resist, as helpless as a child, in the stern, relentless grip of the law, led ignominiously through the streets to answer I knew not what preposterous charge—for that I should be seriously accused of murdering my aunt was simply inconceivable; the thought was too grotesque for a moment's credence. I walked in silence beside the man until my emotions were sufficiently under control again to speak, and then I questioned him; but all to no purpose. Beyond the letter of the warrant, he knew nothing. He believed it was a poisoning case, but was nos, at all certain on the point. I would find out soon enough wben