A Song of a Single Note: A Love StoryBarr, Amelia E.
General
A Song of a Single Note: A Love Story
Barr, Amelia E.
Fiction; Love stories
Then Neil told her all that had happened, and when he described John
Bradley's open recognition of his son she smiled proudly and said, "That
was like father. If I had been there I would have done the same. It is a
long time," she said, looking anxiously at Neil. "Will father soon be
home?"
"I expected to find him here. I will go to the court now; the trial
ought to be over."
But complications had arisen in what at first seemed to be a case that
proved itself. Harry was not easily managed. He admitted that he had
been in America for more than three years, but declared that his father
had been totally ignorant of his presence. When asked where he had dwelt
and how he had employed himself during that time, he gave to every
question the same answer, "I refuse to tell."
Then the saddle found in his boat was brought forward, and he was asked
from whom he received it and to whom he was taking it. And to both these
questions there was the same reply, "I refuse to tell."
"It is indisputably a Bradley saddle," said the assistant magistrate,
DuBois. "Let John Bradley identify it."
Bradley came forward, looked at the saddle, and answered, "I made it;
every stitch of it."
"For whom? Mr. Bradley?"
"I should have few saddles to make if I talked about my patrons in this
place. I refuse to tell for whom I made it."
"The court can fine you, sir, for contempt of its requests."
"I would rather pay the fine than bring my patron's name in question and
cause him annoyance."
There was considerable legal fencing on this subject, but nothing
gained; a parcel also found in the boat was opened and its contents
spread out for examination. They consisted of a piece of damasse for a
lady's gown, some lace, two pairs of silk stockings, two pairs of
gloves, some ribbon, and a fan that had been mended. Everything in this
parcel was obviously intended for a woman, but Harry was as obdurately
noncommittal as he had been about the saddle. Nothing could be gained by
continuing an examination so one-sided, and the next witness called was
Captain Quentin Macpherson. He came forward with more than his usual
haughty clangor, and was first asked if he had ever seen the prisoner
before.
"Yes," he answered, "for about half an hour yesterday evening, say,
between half-past seven and eight o'clock."
"Did you have any conversation with him?"
"Very little. When I began to question him about his residence he rose
and went away."
"Who else was present?"
"Miss Bradley and Miss Semple."
"Tell the court what occurred when the prisoner left."
"Miss Bradley went to the gate with him, Miss Semple remained with me. I
noticed that she was anxious, and found my company disagreeable; and
suddenly she excused herself and left the room. As she did so a pebble
was thrown through the window, it fell at my feet; a note was wrapped
round it, and I read the note."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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