Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-03-16
TOUCHING A
CONSCIENCE
How q Crime Was Robbed
of Its Reward.
By EUNIcR BLAKE

4 By EUNlcE BLAKE I
*<$$$+++++++*++++++*s$+*+*
David Herrick and his wife had no
children. and as they were growing
old they decided to adopt some one to
be with them while they lived and to
enjoy after their death a snug prop
erty they had accumulated. There were
two persons from whom they were dis.
posed to select this companion and
heir, the one Julia Andrews. the daugh-
ter Of sister OF Mr.. Herrick; the 9th
er Kate Armitage, girl who had at
times been employed by them for va
rious purposes.
Mrs. Herrick let out the secret Of
their intention to q friend who told
It to Kate Armitage. The consequence
was that when Julia Andrews was
chosen Kate was much chagrined.
Quite likely. II she had not received
the information given her. this story
would never have been written.
Julia Andrews was lovely girl. very
sensitive and high spirited. She en-
tered upon her life as companion for
her uncle and aunt and resolved to do
all she could for their happiness. Not
long after she did so will was made
In her favor.
Kate Armitage found 1t impossible to
relinquish not only the comfortable
home, but the fortune. that would have
been hers had the decision been In her
favor and resolved to make an effort
to oust her successful rival that she
might step into her place. When a
person Is determined to ruin another.
II the work Is properly planned and
without any regard whatever to ruth
or justice, III many cases the effort will
be successful.
Kate Armitage's first object was to
get possession Of a specimen Of the
handwriting of the girl she was de-
sirous Of supplanting. She wrote Ju-
lia a note under an assumed name,
taking care even to disguise her hand.
telling her pitiful story Of a sick
mother and a lot Of starving children
and begging her to send her little
pecuniary assistance. Julia inclosed
a bill In a sympathetic letter and
thought no more about the matter.
Not long after this Mrs. Herrick re-
ceived an anonymous letter inclosing
one purporting to have been written
by Julia. IN which she said that she
was getting very tired waiting for the
old couple to die, and she wished they
would hurry up. The letter began My
dear and ended "Your loving julia
Therefore the identity Of the person
to whom it had been written was con-
cealed. The person who sent the let
ter-evidently wOman-declared that
she could not bear to see good wom-
an so basely deceived and had there
fore sent her the proof Of her niece's
ingrattude.
Mrs. Herrick was naturally very
much shocked. She recognized at once
Julia's handwriting. or supposed she
did, for she did not know that Kate
Armitage had practiced for weeks imi-
tating 1t. and 1t seemed to her that
there was no question as to her niece's
guilt. Her husband was not at home
then, and she could not wait till he re-
turned to charge Julia with her base
ness. Julia. who did not suppose she
had an enemy I'm the world. was thun-
derstruck. She denied having written
the letter, and when her aunt called
upon her for proof Of the fact. yielding
to her sensitive. high strung nature,
she walked out Of the room. put ON her
wraps and left the house.
When Mr.. Herrick returned and
learned what had occurred he was not
80 disposed as was his wife to believe
In his niece's guilt He explained to
his wife that the law was full Of pc
culiar checks that were intended to
protect persons accused Of crime, not
only from false evid, zee. but from the
taking Of steps calculated to place
them In false positions. He therefore
advocated recalling Julia and hearing
what she had to say In her defense.
His wife opposed this because. she
maintained. Julia had acknowledged
her guilt by going away.
Having failed In their first effort to
get some one to be comfort to them
and inherit their property. they decid'
ed to make another trial In the person
Of Kate Armitage. She was asked by
Mrs.. Herrick to conference which
resulted in her being invited to live
with the couple on trial. She quickly
assented and became member Of the
family. She proved more satisfactory
than Julia as helper. because what
Julia had done for her aunt and uncle
from choice Kate did TO make herself
solid with those from whom she hoped
10 inherit fortune. Nevertheless
there is a difference between true and
false affection which appears Mt times,
for It is a different matter for the
pretender to keep up the pretense. Mr..
Herrick regretted his niece and failed
to take any interest in Kate Armitage.
Kate proving eminently satisfactory
to Mrs. Herrick. the old couple decid'
ed to make will in her favor. Mr..
Herrick had accumulated the property,
and he willed the property to his wife,
who made will in favor OF Kate
The attorney who drew these Wills
recommended certain restrictions. II
Mrs. Herrick should be disabled from
making a subsequent will the one she
had made must stand. 1t was there.
fore possible for Kate to marry. leave
her benefactress and yet inherit the
property at the latter's death. A clause
was therefore introduced into Mrs
Herrick's will that in: case Kate mar
ried the will should be void. In sucf
event, there being no will, the property
would be distributed among the heirs
at-law.
Mr.. Herrick died when Kate hae
been living with them three years, ant
his wife followed him six months later
Kate had been told by Mrs. Herriel
that she had made will In her favor
but the restriction was not mentioned
After the old lady's death the lawye
who had drawn 1t and In whose car'
It had been ever since produced
and signified to Kate that he had de
posited Il with the surrogate. Sh'