Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-01-26
CHAPTER XIV.
SAA<hA &NAs -
MIR. STYLES AND MIR. I.AYMAN.


Christian. Being naturally of a relig-
ious turn of mind, and having Chris
tian parents, she early embraced re-
ligion and became member of the
church. The neglect she had received,
her many trials and prosecutions, would
have made any other than n true Chris
tan hater of mankind. To the disgrace
of church members (not 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
tcrly reproaching her prosecutors, and
the blessed promises in the Bible were
ever q consolation to her.
She found Mrs. Bridges, the jailer's
wife, very kind woman. One not
altogether incredulous as to what
every body said, and yet not ready to
believe as men jailors, that every per-
son accused is q 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 is
more to be pitied than blamed, even if
she took the 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 face and large blue eyes,
Mrs. Bridges said:
| There is some mistake here, Jack; l
know there is. This poor child never
did wrong in her life"
Helen burst into tears, claspcd her
arms about the neck of the jailer's wife
and fell sobbing on her bosom. 1t was
so sweet after receiving such cold. cruel
treatment, to find one warm, sympa-
thctic 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 the end.
Helen took her place as one of the
iailer's family, and Mrs Bridges kept
her constantly ut her side. When the
prisoner took down the family Bible
and opening at Deuteronomy, fourth
chapter, tl,irticth and thirty-first
verses, she felt that the hand of God
had surely direct Il her to the blessed
promise contained in those two verses.
"Whcn thou art in tribulation, and
all these things are come upon thee,
even in the latter days, if thou turn to
the Lord thy God and shall be obedient
unto His voice (for the Lord thy God
is n mcrriful GotO; He will not forsake
thee, nor fOrr"t the covenant of thy
fathers, which he swore unto them"
Helen closed the Bible, and clasping
her hands remained for moment in
silent prayer. How light and joyous
her heart at that moment. A true
Christian can not be downcast and sad,
for if death sweeps away every earthly
friend, they know they are only gone
to better land If clouds of darkness,
SORROW and suffering surround them,
, they know that there is a Heaven where
4 clouds, darkness, sorrow and suffering
. never come. Helen was happy at that
!. moment. Her tears were dried and q
: sweet smile was upon her face. If she
were sent to the pcnitentiary she would
go cheerfully and pray God to have
mercy on the false witnesses who had
worked her ruin. Sho could forgive
even the Arnolds. She could pray Goo
to forgive them, and bless them with
happiness. Do you doubt this, reader!
If you do, you know nothing of :
truly converted Christian heart. There
was no bitterness in Helen's soul. Sht
was Christ-likc.
1t was on Monday when Mr. Styles
the prosecuting attorney, came to SCI
her. Mr.. Styles was man who al
5, ways went into n case to win, regard
e less of the right or wrong he might do
y Here was a young girl, to be sure, on
:, who had many temptations, no doubt
IL but who had violated the law. He de
u termined to prosecute her. OF course
= youth and beauty would be in her ia
vor. Then he would not insist on
long sentence. Two years for brace
let would do, but in order to obtail
clemency from Mr.. Styles she mus
plead guilty.
Helen sat in silence and listened t
- the shrewd lawyer. He began then
series of questions, which would hav
entangled any one less innocent tina
u herself. She answered him in a straight
forward manner, giving him q histor
of her life.
"Now, Helen" said the lawyer, be
coming exasperated, "you are yer
shrewd, the shrewdest, in fact, eve
met; but it will avail you nothing. W
> have the proof solid against yoI
Come, now, is it not better to comics
up and get only two years, than go
trial and get temp"
"Mr. Styles" said Helen, 81 will nj
confess to falsehood, though you sci
-, tence me to penal servitude for life"
y Mr.. Styles went away scratching h
he head and declaring she was the shrewC
est and most hardened criminal he ha
,st ever seen. Wise, indeed, he must hay
been to be unable to distinguish b.
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