Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1888-10-05

OTHER CHARMING STORIES.
CHAPTER XIII.
IN JAIL
Mr.. Belcher. TIM sheriff, had a kind
heart and did all he could to cheer
Helen.
II hope, Miss Lakeman, it'll not be
a. bad as you think. l hope you will
oome out all right
mo, no ~ said Helen, her face grow
ing more calm and pale, II know that
shame. ruin and death will come out of
this l am in the power Of persons bent
upon my ruin. and nothing on earth
can save me-"
who do you think is bent on your
ruin?"
"Mr. Arnold and family"
"Why, great goodness! why would
they want to ruin q poor girl like
you?"
Helen was silent She could not
answer this question, though she knew
the answer to it. She could not tell
him that the Arnolds had determined
10 have the educated and accomplished
Warren Stuart member of their fam
lily, and that the pretty face Uf the hired
girl was in the way. That Hales Lake
man, arrested and disgrsesA would
lese her beauty even in the eyes II her
infatuated lover. She dare not ten the
sheriff what her honest convictions
said were the living truths, for they
would not be believed. The sheriff
waited for her to speak. Belcher had
been an officer long enough to regard
every person arrested as n criminal.
OF course. this girl was guilty. He
!elt very sorry for her. She was young.
beautiful and intelligent. and she was
,ften tempted. He resolved, in his own
mind. to intcrcede with the court and
prosecuting attorney and have her pun.
shment rs light as possible. 1t would
% much lighter with her, he knew, il
The would own the thing right up and
make clean breast of it all. He re.
garded it as his duty to advise the Cir
y do SO.
"Helen." he said, in as Kind an
1atherly tone as he could command
you are young girl, and perhap
know nothing about law"
She bowed her head to receive tn
advice, which she knew would come
Il feel sorry for you on account @
this trouble you have got into." tn
sheriff said, ~and want to talk to 20
as if you were my own daughter"
The carriage was rolling along owe
a smooth piece of wood, and the sheril
knew every word the girl said by wa
of confession could be heard by tn
driver, provided she denied it after
ward. The sheriff determined to worl
up the case if possible. Helen was still
silent, and he continued:
'You are young, thrown upon tn
world without an adviser OF friend, an
now if l can help you any would b
glad to do so. Your crime Is q serion
one, to begin with, and, what is more
you will be convicted of It. The proc
against you is overwhelming, and Their
is no power-no lawyer ON earth-tha
can make jury believe you are limo
cent"
He paused to see the effects of hi
remarks upon the kind-hearted girl
Helen was silent. Her face was n
paler than before, and there were n
visible evidences Of an increase in he
emotions.
Feeling for you. rs 1 do, Helen.
think it my duty to advise you to max
clean breast of the whole thing. Owl
up to 1t like q woman, and throw your
self on the mercy of the court"
he paused, because the white face {
the fair prisoner was turned upon hir
and her eyes were blazing with strang
light. Her look was one of inquiry, 8
least so he determined 70 make himse
understood.
II mean, Helen. that it is better fe
you, when atraigned, to plead guilt!
admit taking the bracelet, and ! thin
we can get you off easily"
For . moment the white face was NJ
turned to his, and then the sweet, sa
voice said:
"Would You have me admit liea"
"Oh, no, no, nor said the sherii
''but you know"-and he scratched h
head. 'but you see every body know
It, you know. and every body win kno
T. It makes no difference what yc
~, they win believe It."
Believe WHAT" sid Halen, her q,
having a 'nghtvery Unnatural. IL ca
not help what peopl say Of me. l al
not the first girl who has been RUNE
By the thoughtless or intentional slal
ders of people who have some claims
goodness; but / an innocent in q
sight Of Heaven. Itnow the crime
. felony. It is what the lawyers ca
grand larceny and I win be sent
the penitentiary, but I would not adm
. lie TO save myself from all this degr'
daeion."
Mr.. Belchsr now discovered that
had no ordinary person to deal viii
She was either innocent or the MOI
braxen criminal he had ever me-
Never had he known one actually guilt
to assume her manner and tone. Th
sheriff thought: ''Of course. she
entity. Judge Arnold's family stan
too high in social circles to have mad
false report on thegirl, and the Judg
is too shrewd to be mistaken. O
course she il guilty. Judge Arnol,
can have no deep game to play in thi
matter" The girl was poor and friend
less. and he had expressed himself q
regretting that il had occurred. n
looked 1t Helen. She met his eyes wit
IN unwavering gaze. Her manne
said: Il have done nothing to meri
this. and can not Be made to bow m,
Aead in shame. You may punish me
You win. but you can not break m,
spirit"
''6he Is certainly . case" though
the sheriff. turning his face toward tn,
coach window. '4Oh, do wish sh,
would plead guilty; she's foolish if sh,
don't"
The last was muttered loud enough
tor Helen to hear. She quickly 70
sponded:
ut may be foolish to plead MOI
guilty. Mr.. Belcher, but it will be right.
1t is better to be right than to be wise. y
The sheriff was silenced. The village
was soon reached. and the rockaway
drove up to the Office Of the magis-
trate.