The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1892-09-28

lacked the strength that could have
borne mp, as thine has, beneath burden
like thy scarlet letter. Oh. could
reveal goodly secretl But enoughi
What art can do have exhausted on
him. That he now breathes and creeps
about on earth is owing all to mel"
Better he had died ut oncei- said
Hester Prynne,
YEA, woman, thou sayest TRULY
cried old Roger Chillingworth, letting
the lurid fire Of his heart blaze out be-
fore her eyes. Better had We died at
oncel Never did mortal suffer what
this man has suffered. And all, all in
in the sight Of his worst eiieny He
has been conscious Of me. He has felt
an influence dwelling always upon him
like curse. He knew by some spirit
ual sense-for the Creator never made
another being so sensitive as this-he
knew that no friendly hand was pulling
at his heartstrings, and that an eye was
looking curiously into him which sought
only evil and found it. But he knew
not that the eye and hand were minel
With the superstition common to his
brotherhood he fancied himself given
over to fiend. to Ike tortured with fright
full dreams and desperate thoughts, the
sting Of remorse and despair of pardon.
as a foretaste of what awaits him be-
yond the grave. But it was the con-
slant shadow of my prescnce-tho closest
propinquity Of tho man whom he had
most vilely wronged-and who had
grown TO exist only by this perpetual
poison Of the direst revenge Yea. in
deed-he did not err-there was fend
at his elbowl A mortal man with once
ahuiyan heart has become fiend for
his especial torinentr
The unfortunate physician. while
uttering these words, lifted his hands
with look of horror. MS If he had he
held some frightful shape, which he
could not recognize, usurping the place
of his own image In a glass. 1t WAS one
of those noments-which sometimes oc-
cur only at tie interval Of years-when
mans moral aspect is faithfully re-
vealed to his minds eye. Not improba-
bly,, he had never before viewed himself
as he did now.
Hast thou not tortured him enoughy"
said Hester, noticing the old mans look.
HAS he not paid thee allr'
"No, mol He has but increased the
debt" answered the physician: and as
he proceeded his manner lost its fiercer
characteristics and subsidized into gloom.
"Dost thou remember Inc, Hester, as !
was nine years agone2 Even then was
In the autumn Of my days, nor was it
the early autumn. But all my life had
been made up Of earnest, studious,
thoughtful, quiet years, bestowed faith
fully for the increase Of mine own
knowledge, and faithfully. too, though
this latter object was bat casual to the
other-faithfully for the advancement
of human welfare. No life had been
more peaceful and innocent than mine;
few lives so rich with benefits conferred.
Dost thou remember me? Was | not,
though you might deem me cold, never
theless a man thoughtful for others,
craving little for himself-kind, true,
Just and of constant, if not warm affeo-
tions? Was not all thisY
"All this and more" said Hester.
"And what am | nowy' demanded he,
looking into her face and permitting
the whole evil within him to he written
on his features. IL have already told
thee what am! A fiendl Who made
me so7"
at was myselfr' cried Hester, shud-
dering. at was | not less than he.
Why hast thou not avenged myself ON
me?'
81 have left thee to the scarlet letter."
replied Roger Chillingworth. IF that
have not avenged me can do no moror'
He laid his finger on it with n smile.
ut has avenged theol" answered Hes
ter Prynne.
II judged no less," said the physician.
"And now, what wouldst thou with
me touching this mani"
IL must reveal the secret" answered
Hester firmly. "He must discern thee
in thy true character. What may be
the result. know not. But this long
debt of confidence. due from me to him,
whose bane and ruin | have been, shall
at length be paid. So far as concerns
the overthrow or preservation of his fair
fame and his earthly state, and per-
chance his life. he is in thy hands. Nor
do Whom the scarlet letter has dis
ciplined to truth. though 1t be the truth
of red hot iron entering into the soul
nor do perceive such advantage in his
living any longer life of ghastly empti-
ness that shall stoop to implore thy
mercy. Do with him as thou wilt
There is no good for him-no good for
memo good for theel There Is no good
for little Pearl! There is no path to
guide us out OF this dismal mazer'
Woman, could well nigh pity thee!r
said Roger Chillingworth. unable to re-
strain thrill Of admiration, too, for
there was a quality almost majestic in
the despair which she expressed. ''Thou
hadst great elements. Peradventure.
hadst thou met earlier with better love
than mine, this evil had not been. pity
thee for the good that has been wasted
In thy nature"
"And thee, answered Hester Prynne,
'.for the hatred that has transformed
wise and Just man to fiend! Wilt thou
yet purge It out Of thee and be once
more human II not for his sake, then
doubly for thine own. Forgive, and
leave his further retribution to the Pow
er that claims it. said, but now, that
there could be no good event for him. or
thee or me, who are here wandering to-
gether in this gloomy maze Of evil and