The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1899-11-08
COMPROMISED.

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"ies," said Miss Isidora Ives, ''the
Tower is mine still, and l intend to
keep it. Everything else they have
taken away from me, because some
loggerheaded old ancestor of mine
signed mis- name to deed John b.
Robinson instead of John G. Robin
SON. As If one letter of the alpha
bet could make any difference! I've
no patience Will, people The majesty
OF the law, indeedl Pshawl"
"But if the rest of the property be-
longs to your Cousin Robinson, so
does the tower" suggested Mrs. Mil
roy.
81 can't help that, said Mis- Isidora.
"Here / am, and here l mean to stay,
law or no law"
Mrs. Milroy opened her weak eyes.
Feeble as a kitten herself, she could
scarcely comprehend such valiant re-
solution in another.
"But if they come here with the
| sheriff, and n posse comitotus, and a
writ OF his habeas corpus?" she fall
tered.
Then" said Miss Isilora, they'll
have to clear ont again. Common
sense is common sense. The house is
mine, and mean to keep it. I've got
new bolts and bars to all the doors,
and keep kettle of boiling water
on the stove night and day, and my
friend, Mr.. Jeffreys, who is clerk in a
! law Office. has given me the hint never
to let in a man with bag"
why not?"breathlessly questioned
Mrs. Milroy.
Don't you see?" said Isidora, snap
pishly. because it will be full of
law papers. Writs and summonses,
and all that sort of thing"
'Ohp' said Mrs. Milroy.
The Tower was hers, and the tower
she meant to keep. And Rebecca,
her little maid, was stricken with
breathless admiration for her warlike
qualities.
"But, of course, ma'am," said
Rebecca, nobody can stald against
the law"
''Ill see whether they can or notr'
said Miss Isidora Ives. ''Be sure you
keep the kettles well filed, Rebecca,
and don't let the fires so out day OF
night"
And whenever she received through
the mail a letter with legal appear.
ance, or an envelope crested with the
firm address of Messrs. Tape & Str
ingham, her cousin Robinson s
lawyers, she invariably poked it be-
tween the bars of the CRATE, and
smiled vindictively to see the blaze.
"What are we to do with such 9
case as this?" said Tape, when he
heard all this.
"Put in a sheriff's officer at once, y
said Stringham. ''The woman is Q
trespasser, and has been all her life. "
'No, no. mol" said Mr.. Tape, bland
lily. "She's a woman. No harsh mea.
sures. 1t is Gideon Robinson's ex
press injunction that all courtesy bt
shown to the defendant. Well try
something else before we proceed tt
extremities.
And one pleasant October afternoon
when the air was all blue mist, ant
the setting sun shone as if through
medium of opaque gold, the landlorj
of the Toplady Arms came putting NJ
the hill with stout pleasant faced
gentleman, and rang the bell, whicl
echoed like double chime through
the tiny tower.
"Go away" said Miss Isidora, from
the window, spying the tops of tw'
hats.
'Oh. ma'amv" squeaked Rebecc,
over her shoulder. ''shall get tn
gun?"
81 beg pardon, ma'am," said the
stran ger, "but-"
$50 away, say!" sternly repeate,
Miss Isidora Ives. "Rebecra, brinl
in that kettlel I'll have you to under
stand that am not to be trifle'
with"
But by this time mine host of tn
Toplady Arms had simultaneously re
covered his breath and his presenc
of mind.
"Miss Ives" he puffed, stertorous
ly, don't be frustrated! It's onl
/ Israel jenkins"
, "Bless the mans heart!" said Mis-
. Isidora, ''why didn't he say SO before
And what on earth did you want here
Jenkins?"
SITS lodger, Miss Ives,' sal
, jenkins, who had married Miss Is
dora's old nurse, and somehow fel
himself to be connected with til
l family.
o "A-lodger?" repeated Miss Ives
Y "This isn't lodginghouse, ma
: alivev'
"Yes'm-I'm quite aware of that,
,, said Israel, meekly. "And where II
offense is intended, it's hoped q
5 none will be took. But, knowing a
A you was alone and unprotected d--''
81 don't know what you call III
protected" brusquely interrupte
. | Miss Ives ''I'ye rot n loaded on