The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-09-01

I'd paper at the taule, auu
es&SS &SS&@S gently touched him on
the shoulder.
"That was the lady-that was Miss Iarpon,
said the old General.
"Wish had been informed so beforehand.
Would have looked at her, you know. Saw,
though, she was rather distingue; got that
much at a glance. Didn't you tell me she just
came over?"
From Chalons sur.Marne, yes. She came
day before yesterday, but this is the first I've
seen of her." -,
"And she is your most important witness ;"
A shade came to the Generals face, and for a
moment he looked away.
"Its very peculiar" he said. It's the most
peculiar case I've ever had, and Pm old in the
law. Miss Tarpon will not testify"
Lowering, who was something OF woman,
hater, put down the newspaper, and removed
his gold framed glasses.
"When woman decides not to do q thing she
will stick to her decision through thick and
thin. Do understand you to say, General,
that Miss Tarpon will show that she has Will
by refusing to testify in behalf OF your cllentf"
You so understand mo, though l did not
make the statement in SO many words. MISS
Tarpon will not testify"
"But the courts have powers -
"All their delegated power to open the
mouths of witnesses would not part the lips OF
Julia Tarpon," was the interruption. "she is a
woman Of nerve and resolution. She crossed
the ocean for the purpose of testifylng In TINS
remarkable case, and in favor OF my Client but
now she will not be sworn. 1 have stricken
her from my list of witnesses, and she is at
liberty to return to her charges at Chaions-sur-
Marne whenever she feels like doing So"
Gen. Van Dyck walked to his extensive
library and took down q volume. He was fol.
lowed by Lowering who wondered If he had
dismissed this very interesting and mysterious
subject in SO abrupt manner, and as the old
lawyer did not return to it, but on the con-
trary seemed immersed in the search for law
and precedent, he picked up his hat, and with
Q forced Good-morning, General" stole from
the Office and went down street.
Ten minutes later young man entered the
Office and was Immediately taken by Gen. Van
Dyck to the sanctum sanctorurn, where they
were soon seated side by side on the green
settee.
"Julia Tarpon has been here" said the old
attorney. II have had an hours talk with
her and-and l have stricken her from our
list of Witnesses
There was no reply for a moment. The per-
son who listened to the Generals words had
white face, and his hands trembled as they
rested one upon the other in singular man.
ner. He was perhaps 80, his figure was manly
grace, and his eyes gray and very penetrating.
he was the defendant in remarkable case
ABOUT 70 como up 10r grlal IN tuo NommOn
Pleas Court, then in session.
Everybody knew something about the case.
The public knew that some six months pre-
vious an old man named Nathan Oliver had
concluded to shuttle off the coil OF mortality,
and that before doing so had executed will,
which was now under dispute. Harold Jor-
dan. Oliver's nephew and the child OF dis
carded sister, had inherited under the will
found after the funeral, but the other heirs
were charging that it was forged will, while,
according to their averments, the true will had
been stolen and destroyed. These others had
brought suit to prevent Harold from inheriting
under the will offered for probate; more than
this, the young man had been arrested for
stealing one will and forging another, and at
the time of his visit to Gen. Van Dyek's office
was out on bail
The sympathy of the public seemed about
equally divided, and Harold was under cloud
which threatened to blast his future prospects.
II thought" said he at last in reply to his
lawyers startling words, II thought Julia
would testify in my behalf She lived in my
uncle's family nearly year before she went to
the Continent, and, then, her name is appended
to the will inherit under as witness What
does she say about that?"
"She says nothing She is as silent as the
Egyptian Sphinx
Harold looked at the General as If he had not
heard Alright.
"What," he cried, clenching his hands till
the veins sank. "You don't tell me that
Julia will not testify at all?"
"She will not Now look here, boy. You
can't move that woman. She came over to
give us lift-she admits that-but now she
will not testify. Indeed, she will start back
before the case can be called"
The young man, slightly unsteady in his
gait, went to the window, and Gen. Van Dyck,
readjusting his spectacles, looked at him in 81
IL a. 81. IL % In
easement, and all at once it was sweeping back
over the floor toward the settee.
"Wouldn't she say wby2" he asked, stop
ping in front of Van Dyck. "Didn't she tell
you why she seals her lips? Heavens! is that
woman going to blight my career by this bit Of
piquef"
Marne" was the reply.
Didn't she refer to anything past in our re-
lations IS friends2 Why. this is an unheard.
of act! Gen. Van Dyck, will see her myself"
"It will be useless You can't move her."
The young defendant left the Office and
walked to the first corner, where he took q
car. Ensconcing himself in one corner he was
borne on aud on until he alighted in front of a
small, unpretentious house at which he looked
searchingly before passing up the steps.
"She had friends here while she lived with
Urcle's family" he muttered. II must see
Julia, though something has occurred since
she went to Europe. She may have the feel.
ings of true woman. But, pshaw! what am
saying?"
He stood in darkened parlor waiting for
the sound of footsteps, and when the door
opened he went forward, but stopped suddenly,
for Julia Tarpon stood before him as stately as
. statue, her face looking CHASTITY in the morn
ing light and her hands as bloodless as her
brow.
They had not met for year, but as they had
=
ward; but sudden movement by the woman
caused him stop and recoil.
"You have come to ask me certain questions
which will not answer" she said. II refuse
to have anything to do with this case. We
may talk about other things, but will not
| converse on the merits of the case soon to come
before tho courts"
Youn0 Jordan Waa thundaratruck Thera