The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1892-08-24
THE SCARLET LETTER.
By NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE
CHAPTER III.
THE INTERVIEW.

After her return to the prison, Hester
Prynne was found to be in a state of
nervous excitement that demanded con.
slant watchfulness, lest she should per-
petrate violence ON herself or do some
half frenzied mischief to the poor babe.
AS night approached it proving impos-
sible to quell her INSTRUMENTATION by
rebulIe or threats of punishment, Master
Bracket, the jailer, Thought fit to intro
| duce a physician. He described him as
man of skill in all Christian modes Of
physical science. and likewise familiar
with whatever the savage people could
teach in respect to medicinal herbs and
roots that grew in the forest. To say
the truth. there was much need Of pro
fessional assistance, not merely for Hes
ter herself, but still moro urgently for
the child; who, drawing its sustenance
from the maternal bosom, seemed to
have drank in with it nll the turmoil,
the anguish and despair which per.
vaded the mothers system. 1t now
writhed in ccavulsions of pain, md was
forcible type, in its little frame, Of the
moral agony which Hester Prynno had
borne throughout the day.
Closely following the jailcr into the
dismal apartment appeared that indi
| vidual of singular aspect whose pres
ence in the crowd had been of such deep
| interest to tho wcarer Of the scarlet let
ter. He was lodged In the prison, not
as suspected Of any offense, but rs the
most convenient Rnd suitable mode oil
disposing of him until the magistrates
should have conferred with the Indian
sagamores respecting his ransom, His
name was announced ms Roger Chilling
worth. The jailer after usbering him
into tho room remained moment, mar.
Yelling ut the comparative quiet that fol-
lowed his entrance; for Hester Prynne
had Immediately become as still as
death, although the child continued 10
moan.
"Prithco, friend, leave me alone with
my patient" said the practitioner.
Trust me, good jailer, you shall briefly
have peace in your house; and promise
you Mistress Prynne shall hereafter he
more amcnable TO just authority than
you may have found her heretofore"
"Nay, if your worship can accomplish
that" answered Master Bracket, II
shall own you for man of skill indeed!
Verify, the woman hath been like a
possessed ore. and there lacks little
that should take in hand to drive
satan out of her with stripes"
The stranger had entered the room
| with the characteristic quietude of the
| profession to which he announced him.
self as belonging. Nor did his demeanor
change when the withdrawal Of the
prison keeper left him face to face with
the woman, whose absorbed notice OF
him in the crowd had intimated so close
a relation between himself and her.
His first caro- was given to the child.
whose cries, indeed, as she lay writing
on the trundlebed. made it of peremp-
tory necessity to postpone all other
business to the task of soothing her. He
examined the infant carefully and then
proceeded to unclasp a leathern case,
which he took from beneath his dress
II Appeared to contain medical prepare
tons, one of which he mingled with a
cup OF water.
my old studies In alchemy" observed
he. land my sojourn, for above year
past, among people well versed in the
kindly properties of simples have made
better physician Of me than many that
claim the medical degree. Here, woman
The child is yours, she is none Of mine,
neither will she recognize my voice OF
aspect as fathers. Administer this
draft, therefore, with thine own hand.
Hester repealed the offered medicine,
at the same time gazing with strongly
marked apprehension into his face.
"Wouldst thou avenge thyself on the
innocent babey' whispered she.
Foolish womanr responded the ply
stefan, half coldly. half soothingly
"What should all me, to harm this mis-.
begotten and miserable babe? The
medicine is potent for good; and were il
my child--yea, mine own, as well as
thine-I could do no better for it.
AS she still hesitated, being. in fact
in no reasonable state of mind, he took
the infant in his arms and himself ad.
ministered the draft. 1t soon proved its
efficacy and redeemed the leech's pledge
The means OF the little patient subsidized
its convulsive tossings gradually ceased
and in few moments, as is the custom
Of young children after relief from pain
it sank into profound and dewy slum
Der. The physician. as he had fan
right to be termed, next bestowed his
attention on the mother. With calm and
intent scrutiny he felt her pulse. looked
into her eyes-a gaze that made hel
heart shrink and shudder, because 80 fa-
miliar and yet 80 strange and cold-and
finally, satisfied with his investigation
proceeded to mingle another draft
IL know not Lethe nor Nepenthe," ro
marked he, 'but have learned many
new secrets in the wilderness, and here
is one of them--a recipe that an Indian
taught me in requital of some lessons OF
my own that were as old us Paracelsus
Drink i'll 1t may be less soothing thar
sinless conscience. That cannot give
thee. But it will calm the swell and
heaving Of thy passion, like oil thrown
on the waves of tempestuous sea-
He presented the cup to Hester, who
received II with slow. earnest look int
his face-not precisely look Of fear
yet full of doubt and questioning as t.
what his purposes might be. She looked
also at her slumbering child.
IL have thought of DEATH" said She
have wished for it-would even hav,
prayed for 1t were it fit that such as
should pray for anything. Yet If dealt
be in this cup bid thee think again err
thou beholdest me quaff it. Seel 1t Il
even now ut my lips"
| ,sn,.inL than ,.opliad ha ofill will