Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1914-07-29
A
Trespasser
q, DWIGHT NORWOOD

One spring iboihne o avs
nre that first pale green OF the season
s,,b Is more delicate than any other
!. D heir many beautiful tints Miss NIL
saw party of children come
.,rch the gateway and go romping
., her grounds, They appeared to
rrder the care of a single person. a
indignant at this entry into her
.,n without permission. she strobe
w. the driveway to meet them.
.pardon me, sir. but did you not see
DE noticef . -,
secuted under penalty Of the law"
swell. then. why did you bring these
,aCdren in here?"
aRacause / knew they would be de-
urhted to be here.
s.nd you were willing to subject
,hsm TO prosecution"
NO. they are minors II any one Is
N he prosecuted 1t Is l."
.Apd you were willing to be prose-
uted yourselfT
SCertainly. so long as thereby give
r,easure to these children"
III you had asked permission might
have granted It"
THAT would have been more polite.
+ admit but politeness begins Mt home.
/ You have not put up notice that any
sne wishing to enjoy your grounds may
spply to yon for permission and you
will consider the application. You
have given warning that any one tres
passing on your grounds will be pros
euted under the law. accept the
terms OF this notice. ! bring these
children on to your premises. and 1t Is
your privilege to prosecute me-"
He handed her his card. turned away
and Joined the little ones. who were
racing about. laughing and shouting.
Miss Miller was astonished. outraged.
There seemed nothing for her to do
but act upon the notice she had put up
The young man had brought it all on
himself As for the children. she felt
quite relieved that they were minors
and the man was responsible for them
Returning TO the house. she ordered
out her pony cart and drove into the
village to see her attorney. He was
out Of town. but would return late that
night. She stated the case to a stu.
dent in his office. who told her that
she might swear out warrant for the
arrest OF the trespasser. Mr.. Gilbert
Chase. who WAS principal OF a school.
Miss Miller was loath to act without the
advice of a competent person. but she
was very angry. partly because her
notice had been set at defiance and
partly because the young man had sue
ceeded In placing himself In a very IA
vorabe position and her In a very I'M
favorable one. Acting on impulse. she
swOre out the warrant. and Mr.. Chase
was arrested as he was leaving her
grounds. He furnished bail to appear
the next day for trial and was per
mitted to go where he liked in the
meantime
The next morning Miss Miller ap-
peared against the accused. stating that
notice Was nailed to a tree near the
entrance OF her grounds giving warn
Ing to trespassers. The justice asked
the prisoner II he was represented by
counsel. to which he replied that he
would conduct his own case. Then he
added:
Il rpftlSs IN ancuor RI tbfa rha roe
on the ground that there Is no law Of
the land To- compel me to answer"
Miss Miller had left word for her at
tofney To come TO court In time to
conduct the case. and at this 1uncture
De entered As soon as he was In
formed concerning the matter. address
Ing the justice. he said:
My Client your honor. enters a
noIe prosequi."
WHATS that?" asked Miss Miller.
fon drop the case"
i drop the easel Indeed. | do no
such thing
The prisoner has stated the fact cor
fectly; there is no law to punish him
LOT uespassing on your premises.
No law! Well. what are all such
signs for thenr
Probably to frighten trespassers.
iney don't mean anything"
Inc lawyer was mistaken. but Miss
Miller did not learn that until later.
Miss Miller after paying the costs
,eit the court In company with her at
,Orhey Al the door they parted. the
iauy going TO her home The first thing
sue old after getting there was to carry
small ladder and hatchet with her
owh hands to the tree supporting the
nouce and. mounting the ladder.
gu smash the board with the Ratchet
Iuen throwing the Ratchet on the
siouhd she stalked to the house. ieav-
Jug her keeper to take away the frag-
uehts and the means of their destruc-
ton.
ine person who stood for Miss Mil
'er IN place OF parents was white
s :, old lady with benevolent face
ner grandchild having neglected to ask
y. .er advice in the first place. now that
.ue damage was done, went to her, con
uueo to her how she had been treated
!. Suu asked her how she might punish