Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-04-06
PLAINTIFF AND DEFENDANT.

PLAINTIFF AND DEFENDANT.
Why they called it "The Tower" would
have puzzled an archulogist. For it was moi
a tower, never had been a tower, and in all
probability had never been intended for O
tower.
1t was cottage, one-storied, struggling
and comfortable, with a semi circular parlol
in front, which topped of with a comical i'm.
itation of wooden battlements, was half GOV.
cred with waving sprays of woodbine and
clinging sheets Of ivy.
But The Tower" it had always been en-
titled, and after the lawsuit came up it ac-
quired sort of celebrity under the old ia
miliar name.
Eyes" said Miss Isdora Ives, "The Tow
er is mine still, and intend to keep it. Ev-
erything else they have taken away from me,
because some old loggerheaded ancestor OF
mine signed his name to q deed John B.
Robinson instead of John G. Robinson.
As if one letter of the alphabet could make
any difference I've no patience with peo-
pie The majesty of the law, indeed
Pshaw :"
"But if the rest of the property belongs
to your Cousin Robinson, 80 does The Tow
er, suggested Mrs. Milroy.
II can't help that, said Miss Isidora.
Here am and here l mean to stay, law oil
no law"
Mrs. Milroy opened her weak eyes. Fee
BILE as kitten herself, she could scarcely
comprehend such valiant resolution in an
other.
"But if they come here with sheriff and
posse cOmitottus and a writ of hd6edS cor
p1ts p she faltered.
Then" said Miss Isdora, they'll have
to clear out again. Common sense is com
mon sense. The house is mine and mean
to keep it. I've got new bolts and bars on
all the doors and keep kettle Of boiling
water on the stove night and day and my
friend, Mr.. Jeffrys who is clerk in a law
office, has given me the hint never to let in a
man with q bag"
"Why not p breathlessly questioned Mrs,
Milroy.
Don't you see p said Miss Isdora, snap
pishly because it will be full of law pa
pers Writs and summonses, and all that
sort of thing"
"Oh," said Mrs. Milroy.
Thus, acting upon the hint, Miss Isidora
turned the plumbers man away, and reso-
utely declined to have anything to say to the
book agent and the tract distributor. She
considered herself in state of siege, took
her mornings milk into the window with a
tin pail aud a chain, communicated with the
tradespeople from behind two square inches
Of doorway, and took everybody she did not
know for an enemy The Tower was hers
and The Tower she meant to keep. And
Rebecca, her little maid, was stricken with
breathless admiration of her mistress war
like qualities.
"But, of course, ma'am," said she, mo
body can stand against the law"
I'm see whether they can or not, said
Miss Isidora Ives "Be sure you keep the
kettles well filled, Rebecca and don't let the
fire 60 out, day or night.
And whenever she received through the
post letter with legal appearance, or ar
envelope crested with the frm-address ot
| Messrs. Tape x Stringham, her cousin Robin
sons lawyers, she invariably poked it be
tween the bars of the CRATE, and smiled vim
| diotively to see it blaze
what are we to do with such q case a.
this ?" said Mr.. Tape, when he heard all this
"Put in sherif's officer at once, sale
Stringham. ''Ihe woman is 8 trespasser
and has been all her lfe."
mo, no, no." said Mr.. Tape blandly
"She's woman. No harsh measures. It i
Gideon Robinson's express injunction tina
| all courtesy be shown to the defendant. We
will try something else before we proceed tc
extremities"
And one pleasant October afternoon, wher
the air was all blue mist, and the setting sui
shone as if through a medium Of opaqu
gold, the landlord of the Toplady Arms came
putting up the hill with a stout pleasant
faced gentleman, and rang the bell, which
echoed like a double chime through the tiny
| Tower.
go away" said Miss Isidora from thu
window, spying the top of two hats.
"Oh my, ma'sm" squeaked Rebeoca
over her shoulder. "Will get the gum"
81 beg pardon, ma'am, said the stranger
"but-"
go away, 1 say" sternly repeated Mis-
Isidora Ives. "Rebecca, bring in that ket
tie! I'll have you to understand that l an
not to be triAed with"
But by this time mine host of the Topla
dy Arms had simultaneously recovered hi
breath and his presence of mind.
Miss Ives ~ he pulled stentorously
don't be Illustrated! It's only Israel Jer
kins."
"Bless the mans heart !" said Miss Isidora
why didn't you say before And what Of
earth do you want here, Jenkins p
"It's q lodger Miss Ives" said jenkins
who had married Miss Isidora's old nurse
and somehow felt himself to be connecte
with the family.
"A-lodgerI" repeated Miss Ives. "Thi
isn't lodging-hous man alive"
| "Yesm-Pm quite aware OF that, sal
Israel meekly. "And where no offence is il
tended it's hoped as none will be took. Blu
knowing as you was all alone and unprotec
ed"
81 don't know what you call unprotected,
brusquely interrupted Miss Ives 'Ive g
loaded gun and a six-gallon kettle of boi
ing water mere, and"
"And, mildly went on Israel jenkins, 18th
ere gentleman, Mr.. Marshall of Alabama
wanted pleasant lodging in the neighbo
hood, where meals could be took at the To-
lady Arms-though our apartments is all o
cupied with the gentry as come to fish an
shoot, through October and November-ar
it might be a consolation to you, Miss I've
TO have a gentleman about the premises al
l could particular recommend him to you
very quiet and decent"
'Good Gracious !" said Miss Isdor
"Why don't the man speak up for himsel
Is he deaf and dumb ?"
'It would be a great kindness, ma'am
said Mr.. Marshall of Alabama at this dire
appeal.
Miss Ives hesitated.
"Well," she said at last 81 don't knC
that I've any objections. Rebecca, unbt
and unchain the door"
And 80 the Tower garrison was strengthen
. by an addition of one.
/ OF course, Miss Isidora Ives told Mr.. Mi