The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1914-10-13
A
Trespasser
BY DWIGHT NORWOOD


ler saw a party of children come
through the gateway and go rornping
over her grounds. They appeared to
be under the care of a single person, a
man. Indignant at this entry into her
domain without permission, she strobe
down the driveway to meet them.
Pardon me, sir, but did you not see
the notice?"
81 saw that trespassers would be
prosecuted under penalty Of the law
"Well, then. why did you bring these
children in here!"
Because knew they would be de-
lighted to be here
And YOU were willing to subject
them to prosecution:'
"No; they are minors. II any one is
to be prosecuted it is L."
"And you We're willing to be prose
cuted yourself?'
Certainly. so long as | thereby give
pleasure to these children"
"If you had asked permission might
have granted it,
'"Tbat would have been more polite.
admit but polteness begins at home.
You have not put up a notice that any
one wishing to enjoy your grounds may
apply to you for permission and you
will consider the application. You
have given warning that any one tres
/ passing on your grounds will be pros
ecuted under the law | accept the
terms OF this notice bring these
children on to your premises. and it 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 1t 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 a warrant for the
arrest of the trespasser. Mr.. Gilbert
| Chase, who was principal Of 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
vorable position and her i'm very un-
| 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
a 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:
II refuse to answer to this charge
on the ground that there is no law OF
the land to compel me TO answer"
Miss Miller had left word for her at
tOrney to come to court in time II
conduct the case, and at this juncture
he entered AS soon as he was in
formed concerning the matter, address
ing the justice, he said:
MY client, your honor, enters q
nolle proseQui."
whats that?" asked Miss Miller.
"You drop the case"
| II drop the case! Indeed, l do nc
such thing"
"'The prisoner has stated the fact cor
rectly; there is no law to punish hin
for trespassing on your premises"
mo law! Well, what are all sucf
signs for them"
Probably to frighten trespassers
They don't mean anything"
The lawyer was mistaken, but Miss
Miller did not learn that until later
y Miss Miller after paying the costs
left the court in company with her ct
torney. At the door they parted, the
lady going to her home The first thin,
she did after getting there was to carr!
small ladder and a hatchet with he
own hands to the tree supporting tn,
notice and, mounting the ladder
smash the board with the hatchet
Then throwing the hatchet on thu
ground she stalked to the house. leav
ing her keeper to take away the frag
ments and the means Of their destruc
tion.
The person who stood for Miss Nil
Ter In place Of parents was a whit
headed old lady with a benevolent face
Her grandchild having neglected to asI
her advice In the first place. now tina
the damage was DONE went to her, con
} fded to her how she had been treate,
and asked her how she might punisi
, the schoolmaster.
III you ask me, my dear what it 4
Incumbent on you to do to set your
self right will reply that you shoult
write him an apology. first. for object
Ing as you did to his bringing the chill
dren to enjoy the grounds and, second
for having him arrested"
This was bitter plll for Miss Mil