The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1896-07-09
THE BRICK OFFICE.

In the Old and remote village of Ed
dex stood small brick building.
Formerly it had been the law office
OF Judge Branham, remembered as a
man Of great learning ard ability.
And during the years that followed
his death, an old justice of the peace
was won't to say, who will have the
audacity to hang lawyers sign in
front of the judges temple of wisdom?''
This remark was repeated until every
man in the village claimed 1.-THE
green grocer and the cobbler. Fin
ally it was agreed that no one should
summons the sensele courage
this was the way it was put in the
village-to occupy the little dingv
office once SO ably filled by the jurist
The old tin sign hung there until
it was blown away during summer
hailstorm, and after that the bat
tered post stood holding out it's
naked arm. The property changed
hands but the Office remained vacant
In the columns of the village news
paper it was offered for rent, and the
young lawyers, taught to revere the
great, SHE'D at the announcement.
But one morning the villagers were
startled:tto see new sign swinging
from the old arm "a G Jonnett,
at Law" IN bright green
letters, was plain to every gaze and,
of course, an insult to the memory
held warmly dear.
1T is an outrage!'' declared the
old iuufina hovtpu hactsty arr,val
IN his shirt sleeves. "It is intended
as an insult and ought to be pulled
down. Why I've lived in this town
sixty odd years this spring, and l
never saw the like before. Hop up some
Of you and pull off that tin bias
phemy."
Hold on" interposed the mayor.
Let us proceed with more deliber
alton. Of course this office is sacred
to us Lut it is nov owned by com
parative stranger and has doubtless
been rented by stranger. And
surely when we have had a talk with
him he will be willing to take some
other place. Go slow boy. See who is
inside"
A young fellow made the announce
ment that the Office was locked.
"Ahu' said the justice. His con
science has smitten him and he has
,neaked off. But you are right Mr..
Mayor. 1t is better to proceed with
just that moment the tavern bell
.ang for breakfast No matter what
The people OF a remote village may be
loing or what question the wise and
ancient heads eff the municipal may be
the ringing of the tav-
,rn bell calls an instant halt. 1t is
he voice announcing the crawl rath
,r than the flight of time, and in
/ village the fact that one hour
oas succeeded another hour is great
hing to know.
The Justice and the mayor went home
10 breakfast, and afterward when they
returned to renew their inyestiga
lions they found the office open. The
mayor was the first to enter, and he
1ad advanced but few steps beyond
The threshold when he staggered
pack against the Justice, close upon
lis heels. And then the two men
food gaping in establishment. AT
he desk sat handsome young woman.
We've are looking for A. G.
)onnett, the mayor stammered, Il am
hat person, replied the young woman
Using and sweetly smiling. What
he Justice gasped. "You don't mean
% say that you are a lawyer!
don't only near to say it, do say IL:
But | never heard of such thing:
: Perhaps not, and there are doubtless
many other things you never heard
IT,"
81 don't know about that Miss.
but there are great many things
have heard of, and one of them is
IN honored Judge, whose memory
"That will do, )" she interrupted,
aising her hand / have heard
# the Judge, and respect his memory
ar more than you do. l have read
lis books and admire the keenness
f his mind. Have you read his book
N the fallacies of circumstantlal
yidence?'' "Didn't know he wrote
me. /" -.
"Ithought not. Did you wish to
ee me on any other business
II believe not" said the mayor.
Ie turned toward the door his friend
moving with him, but halted, faced
DOut anu Sdlb, lob
,ean that YOU are going to practice
nv in this town. Eyes; that's
~ business. -,
i'But the people here never heard OF
UGH thing as a woman lawyer, and
on might stay here for forty years
nd never get a case.
"Well, III try IL 40 years. and al
he end Of that time / may be able to
ecide whether or not to settle
ere perm anently.
"Gosh, but you've got nerve"
And laughing at him she replied
Gosh. / need it"' II reckon
ou do. But, he added, giving ms
an odd wink. 'even II IL
las common for women TO practice
I the bar you are too pretty Tor
awyer. F" ,.; criminals
han la wyers, she replied. smiling.
he two men strobe away. The report
hat the new lawyer was woman was
nread about. and SO large crowd as
ION collected about her door that the