San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-07-01


fretted it continually with the touch OF
his burning fnger But he hid it Gun
ningly from men and walked among you
with the mien of a spirit, mournful be-
cause so pure in a sinful world and sad
because he missed his heavenly kindred
Now, at the death hour, he stands W
before You! He bids you look again al
Hester's scarlet letter! He tells you
that, with all its mysterious horror. it is
but the shadow of what he bears on his
own breast, and that even this, his OWL
red stigma, is no more than the type OF
what has scared his Utmost heart
Stand any here that question Gods
Judgment on a sinner? Behold! Behold
dreadful witnessed It'll"
With a convulsive motion he tore
away the ministerial band from before
his breast. II was revealed! But il
were irreverent to describe that revela-
ton. For an instant the gaze of the
horror stricken multitude was concen.
trated on the CHASTITY miracle; while the
minister stood, with "a flush of triumph
in his face, as one who in the crisis Of
acutest pain had won victory. Then
down he sank upon the scaffold! Hester
partly raised him and supported his
head against her bosom. Old Roger
ChillingwOrth knelt down beside her,
with a blank, dull countenance, out Of
which the life seemed to have departed
Thou hast escaped mer' he repeated
more than once Thou hast escaped
mel'
May God forgive theer' said the min.
lister. Thou, too, hast deeply sinned.'
He withdrew his dying eyes from the
old man and fixed them on the woman
and the child.
My little Pearl" said he feebly-and
there was a sweet and gentle smile over
his face, as of a spirit sinking into deep
repose; nay, now that the burden was
removed, it seemed almost as if he
would be sportive with the child-"deaI
little Pearl, wilt thou kiss me now!
Thou wouldst not yonder in the forest!
But now thou Wilt"
Pearl kissed his lips. A spell was
broken. The great scene of grief, in
which the wild infant bore a part, had
developed all her sympathies; and as he
tears fell upon her fathers cheek, they
were the pledge that she would grow up
amid human joy and sorrow, nor for
ever do battle with the world, but be a
woman in it. Toward her mother, too,
PEARLS errand as messenger of anguish
was all fulfilled.
Hester" said the clergyman, fare
WE'LL"
"Shall we not meet again." whispered
she, bending her face down close to his.
Shall we not spend our immortal life
together Surely, surely, we have ran
somed each other, with all this woel
Thou lookest far into eternity with those
bright, dying eyes! Then tell me what
thou seest?'
Hush, Hester, hushr said he with
tremulous solemnity. THE law we
broke-the sin here so awfully revealed
let these alone be in thy thoughts!
fear, fearl 1t may be that when we
forgot our God-when we violated our
reverence each for the others soul-it
was thenceforth vain to hope that we
could meet hereafter in an everlasting
and pure reunion. God knows, and he |
is merciful. He hath proved his mercy
most of all in my Affections. By Civ
ing me this burning torture to bear
upon my breast! By sending yonder
dark and terrible old man to keep the |
torture always at red heat! By bring
ing me hither to die this death of tri- |
umphant ignominy before the people! |
Had either of these agonies been want |
ing, had been lost foreverl Praised
be his name! His will be done! Fare
wellw
That final word came forth with the
minister's expiring breath. The multi
tude, silent till then, broke out in a
strange, deep voice of awe and wonder,
which could not as yet find utterance,
save in this murmur that rolled so heav-
lily after the departed spirit.