San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-06-23
THE SCARLET LETTER
By NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE

del1cate springs or Mr.. DlmmeSdale
nature.
Hester could not but ask herself
whether there had not originally been q
defect of truth, courage and loyalty OF
her own part in allowing the minister
to be thrown into q position where Sc
much evil was 10 be foreboded and
nothing suspicious to be hoped. He,
only justification lay in the fact that she
had been able to discern no method OF
rescuing him from blacker ruin than
had, overwhelmed herself, except by
acquiescing in Roger Cnillingworth's
scheme of disguise. Under that impulse
she had made her choice, and had chosen,
as it now appeared. the more wretched
alternative of the two. She determined
to redeem her error so far as it might
yet be possible. Strengthened by years
of hard and solemn trial. she felt her
self no longer so inadequate to cope
with Roger iChillingworth as on that
night, abase6 by sin and half maddened
by the ignominy that was still new,
when they had talked together in the
prison chamber. She had climbed her
way since then TO "a higher point. The
old man, on the other hand had brought
himself nearer to her level, or perhaps
below it. by the revenge which he had
stopped for.
In fine, Hester Prynne resolved to
meet her former husband, and do what
might be in her power for the rescue of
the victim on whom he had so evidently
set his grippe. The occasion was not long
to seek. One afternoon, walking with
Pearl in a retired part of the peninsula,
she beheld the old physician, with a
basket on one arm and staff in the
other hand, STOPPING along the ground.
in quest of roots and herbs to eoncoct
his medicines withal.
Hester babe little Pearl run down to
the margin of the water and play with
the shells and tangled seaweed, until
she should have talked awhile with yon-
der gatherer of herbs. So the child flew
away like bird, and making bare her
small white feet went pattering along
the moist margin of the sea.
Here and there she came to full
stop, and peeped curiously into a pool
left by the retiring tide as a mirror for
Pearl to see her face in. Forth peeped
at her out of the pool, with dark, glisten-
ing curls around her head, and an elf
smile in her eyes, the image of a little
maid whom Pearl, having no other play
mate, invited to take her hand and run
a race with her. But the visionary lit
tie maid, on her part, beckoned likewise,
as if to say: "This is better place.!
Come thou into the poolr' And Pearl,
stepping in midleg deep, beheld,her own
white feet at the bottom, while out of
still lower depth came the CLEAN of a
kind of fragmentary smile, floating to
and fro in the agitated water.
Meanwhile her mother had accosted
the physician.
Il would speak a word with you,"
said she; "a word that concerns us
much"
saba. and is it Mistress Hester that
has word for old Roger Chilling
WORTH answered he, raising himself
from his STOPPING posture. with all
my heart! Why, mistress, hear good
tidings of you on all hands! No longer
ago than yester eve a magistrate, wise
and godly man, was discoursing of your
affairs, Mistress Hester, and whispered
me that there had been question con-
corning you in the council. 1t was de-
bated whether or no, with safety to the
common veal, yonder scarlet letter
might be taken off your bosom. On my
life, Hester, made my entreaty to the
worshipful magistrate that it might be
done forthwith
SIT lies not in the pleasure of the
magistrates to take off this badge"
calmly replied Hester. "Were worthy
to be quit of it, it would fall away of its
own nature. or be transformed into
something that should speak different
purport."
may, then, wear it if it suit you bet
ter" rejoined he. "a woman must
needs follow her own fancy touching
the adornment of her person. The let
ter is gayly embroidered and shows
right bravely on your bosom!'
All this while Hester had been look
ing steadily at the old man, and was
shocked as well as wonder smitten to
discern what change had been wrought
upon him within the last seven years.
1t was not so much that he had grown
older, for though the traces of advancing
life were visible he bore his age well
and seemed to retain wiry vigor and
alertness. But the former aspect of an
Intellectual and studious man, calm and
quiet, which was what she best remem-
bered in hin, had altogether vanished
and been succeeded by an eager, search
ing, almost fierce, yet carefully guarded
look. 1t seemed to be his wish and pur.
pose to mask this expression with. a