The patriot. [volume] (Indiana, Pa.) 1914-1955, 1915-03-13
TOUCHING A
CONSCIENCE
How a Crime Was Robbed
of Its Reward.
by EUNICE BLAKE

be with them while they lived and tC
enjoy after their death snug prop
erty they had accumulated There We're
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. Il girl who had at
times been employed by them for va
rious purposes.
Mrs. Herrick let ont the secret Of
| their intention TO a friend who told
| it to Kate Armitage. The consequence
was that when Julia Andrews was
chosen Kate was much chagrined.
Quite likely, If 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 Il will was made
in her favor.
Kate Armitage found it 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 GUST her successful rival that she
might step into her place. When d
person Is determined to ruin another.
If the work is properly planned and
without any regard whatever to truth
or justice. in many cases the effort will
be successful
Kate Armitage'S first object was I
get possession of II specimen nf T.
handwriting of the girl !. "-">
sirous of supplantin2. :"
lia Il note under an a>
taking care even to G;-
telling her pitifNn
mother and lot g.
and h"gglng her TO
pwunlary assistance.
bill IN a SymFatA
thought 40 more aboui
Not long after this Mis-.
rGiYed an anonymous lett. suvl,.,. ~
one purpOrting to have been writ,
by Julia. i'll which she said that Sn
WIS getting very tired waiting for th
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
20 whom it had been written was con-
c':aied. The person who sent the let
ter evidently woman-declared that
she could not bear to see u good wom-
an 50 basely deceived and had there
fore sent her the proof Of her niece's
ingratitude.
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 it. and it 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 in 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
so 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 evidence. 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 a 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 a conference which
resulted in her being invited to live
with the couple on trial She quickly
assented and became a member of the
family. She proved more satisfactory ,
than Julia as a 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 [
to inherit a fortune. Nevertheless
there is a difference between true and !
false affection which appears at times,
for 1t 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. I
Kate proving eminently satisfactory I
TO Mrs. Herrick. the old couple decid. /
ed to make a will in her favor. Mr.. :
Herrlck had accumulated the property.
and he willed the property to his wife. I
who made a will in favor Of Kate. 7
The attorney who drew these wills I
certain restrictions. If 9