Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1888-10-12
CHAPTER Xv.
Mr.. STYLES AND Nh. LAYMAN.

Mr. STYLES AND Nh. LAYMAN.
Helen Lakernan was \ truly converted
Christian. Being naturally Il rely
ious turn Of mind, and , " Chris
tan parents, she early embraced re-
igion and became . member of the
church. The neglect she had received,
her many trials and prosecutions. would
have made any other than q true Chris
tan hater Of mankind. To the disgrace
of church members mot churches) be
it said. most Of her prosecutions came
from them. Her parents were Presby-
terians. and she . member Of that
church. Her strong faith in Christ.
and sweet temper. saved her from Bit
terly Representing her prosecutors. and
the blessed promises in the Bible were
ever . consolation to her.
She found Mrs. Bridges. the jailer's
wife,. very kind woman. One not
altogether inoredulou - to what
every body said. and yet not ready to
believe - mon jailors. that every per-
sOn accused is a criminal. She had
heard Helen's story before she came to
the jail, and declared to herself:
II pity the poor child. who was strug.
Cling for her little brother, and she il
more to be pitied than blamed. even il
she took tho bracelet"
She greeted the downcast girl kindly
on her entrance to the house, giving
Helen the first real sympathy she had
received since her misfortune. Taking
both small hands in her own. and gazing
into the sweet faceand large blGe eyes.
Mrs. Bridges said:
There is some mistake here. Jack; ]
know there Is. This poor child neves
did wrong in her life"
Helen burst into tears, clasped her
arms about the neck Of the jailer's wife
and fell sobbing ON her bosom. It wa
20 sweet after receiving such cold. cruel
treatment, to find one warm. sympa-
thetic heart on which she could rely.
Mrs. Bridges consoled her, kissed away
her tears. and told her to trust in the
Lord and she would come triumphantly
out Of all her troubles in tho end.
Helen took her place - one Of the
jailer's family. and MIRA Bridges kept
her constantly 1t her side. When the
prisoner took down tho family Bible
and opening At Deuteronomy. fourth
chapter. thirtieth and thirty-first
vetses, she felt that the hand Of God
had surely directed her to the pleased
promise contained in those two verses.
when thou art in tribulation. and
all these things are come upon thee.
even in the latter days. if thou turn tc
tho Lord thy God and shall be obedient
unto His voice (for the Lord thy God
is merciful Cody; He will not forsake
thee, nor forget the covenant of thy
fathers, which he swore unto them"
Helen closed the Bible. and claspina
her hands remained for . moment in
silent prayer. How light and joyous
her heart st tAst moment 4 true
Christian can not be downcast aid sad,
for il death sweeps away every earthly
friend. they know they are only gone
to better land. II clouds Of darkness,
sorrow and suffering surround them,
they know that there il Heaven where
clouds. darkness, sorrow and suffering
never come. Helen was happy at thai
moment Her tears were dried and Z
sweet smile was upon her face. II che
were sent to the psnitentiary she would
60 cheerfully and pray God to have
mercy on the false witnesses who had
worked her ruin. She could forgive
even the ArnoldA She could pray God
to forgive than. and bless thim with
happiness Do Jon doubt this. rsade6
I II yen. do. you. know nothing Of 8
truly converted Christian heart. There
was no bitterness IN Hslsa's seul. 6he
Has CAEnlNks.
Il wss ON Monday. when Mr.. Styles.
the prosecuting attorney. came to see
her. Mr.. Styles was . man who IL.
ways went into case to win. regard
less Of the right or wrong he might do.
Here was . young girl. to be sure. one
who had many temptations. no doubt.
but who had violated tho law. He do
termlned 70 prosscuts her. IN course,
youth and beauty would b. in her "a
vOr. Then he would not insist ON .
long sentence. Two years for brace
Jet would do. but in order to obtain
clemency from Mr.. Styles she must
plead guilty.
Helen sat in silence and listened to
the shrewd lawyer. He begkh then .
series Of questions. which would have
entangled any ono less innocent than
herself. She answered him in straight
forward manner. giving him . history
Of her life.
Nov. Helen" said tho lawyer, be-
coming exasperated, ''you are very
shrewd. the shrewdest. in fact, l ever
met; but it will avail you nothing: We
have the proof solid against you.
Come. now. is it not better to oonfess
up and get only two years. than 70 to
trial and get temp"
"Mr. Styles" said Helen. Il viii not
confess TO = falsehood. though you sem
tence me to penal servituds for lifs."
Mr.. Styles went away scratching bis
head and declaring she was the shrswd-
est and most hardened criminal he had
ever seen. Wise, indeed. be must have
been to be unable to distinguish be-
tween unihtimidated innocence and the
brazen defiance Of crimeP
He was scarcely gone ere = light
vehicle ratified up to ths door Of The
Jail. and to her surpFisA Helen saw
Clarence and Rosa Sturat jump out.
Rosa. teas streaming 1swn her cheeks,
burst into the room where Helen wa.
and clssped her in her arms.
''Oh. Helen. Helen. my dear sister
TOR you should be my sister-how you
have suffered"