Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1891-01-24
HELEN LAKEMAN:
The Story of a Young Girls Strug-
gle With Adversity.


fatherly tone as he could command,
''you are young girl, ard perhaps
know nothing about law"
She bowed her head to receive the
advice, which she knew would come.
II feel sorry for you on account of
this trouble you have got into" the
sheriff said, land want to talk to you
as if you were my own daughter"
The carriage was rolling along over
smooth piece of wood, and the sheriff
knew every word the girl said by way
of confession could be heard by the
driver. provided she denied it after
ward. The sheriff determined TO work
up the case if possible. Helen was still
silent, and he continued:
You are young, thrown upon the
world without an adviser or friend, and
now if can help you any l would be
glad to do so. Your crime is a serious
one, to begin with. and, what is more,
you will be convicted of it. The proof
against you is overwhelming. and there
is no power-no lawyer on earth-that
can make jury believe you are inno-
cent"
He paused to see the effects of his
remarks upon the kind-hearted girl.
Helen was silent. Her face was no
paler than before. and there were no
visible evidences of an increase in her
emotions.
Feeling for you, rs l do, Helen. l
think it my duty to advise you to make
a clean breast of the whole thing. Own
up to it like woman. and throw your
self on the mercy of the court"
He paused, because the white face of
the fair prisoner was turned upon him
and her eyes were blazing with a strange
light. Her look was one of inquiry, ut
least so he determined to make himself
understood.
IL mean, Helen. that it is better for
you. when arraigned. to plead guilty,
admit taking the bracelet, and think
we can get you off easily"
For u moment the white face was up
turned to his, and then the sweet, sad
voice said:
would you have me admit lie?"
"Oh, no, no, no"' said the sheriff,
head, "but you see every body knows
it, You know. and every body will know
it. 1t makes no difference what you
say, they will believe it."
believe what?" said Helen, her eyes
having a light very unnatural :" can
not help what people say of me. l am
not the first girl who has been ruined
by the thoughtless or intentional SLAM
dcrs of people who have some claims tC
goodness; but I am innocent in the
sight of Heaven. l know the crime is
felony. 1t is what the lawyers cal
grand larceny and will be sent tt
the penitcntiary, but would not admit
II lie to save myself from all this dcgra
dation."
Mr.. Belc!,rr now discovered that b
had no ordinary person to dcS With
She was either innocent or the Tios
brazen criminal he had ever met
Never had he known one actually guilt,
to assume her manner and tone. Th,
sheriff thought: "Of course. she il
( guilty. Judge Arnold's family stant
too high in social circles to have mad,
false report on the girl, and the Judg
is too shrcwd to be mistaken. o
course she is guilty. Judge Arnold
can have no deep game to play in thi
|, matter" The girl was poor and friend
less, and he had expressed himself a
regretting that it had occurred. II
looked at Helen. She met his eyes wit
an uuwavcriug gaze. Her manne
said: Il have done nothing to meri
this, and can not be made to bow M
2 head in shame. You may punish me
you will, but you can not break m
= spirit"
;. "She is certainly case" though
!. the sheriff. turning his face toward IT,
= coach window. "Oh, l do wish sh
}. would plead guilty; she's foolish if sh
don't"
The last was muttcred loud enoug
for Helen to hear. She quickly II
sponded:
at may be foolish to plead nc
guilty. Mr.. Bclchrr, but it will be righ
1t is better to be right than to be wise.
The sheriff was silcnced. The villag
was soon reached. and the rockawa
drove up to the Office of the magis
trate.
Squire Buffers hail his Office in an oil
frame building on the ground floor, NJ
s. many rods removed from the pos
office, which was on the corner of Il
square. The justice of the peace was
AZ portly man, with gray hair, and a pa
Ill of spectacles upon his nose. He w;
m writing on his docket on the entranI
of the sheriff with his prisoner. II
old justice looked up and then pushe
his spectacles upon his forehead. \
sooner did his eyes rest upon the ia
prisoner, then he started. Squire Blu
ers was q man with a big, kind hear
and to see one so young and handsOn
- as Helen Lakeman fallen, touched hir
oL RElAlLE2 8