Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1892-09-12

WOmanl Cast on TINS cmldl All shall
be WELT Do not blacken your fame and
perish in dishonorl can yet save you'll
Would you bring infamy on your sacred
professionf"
"Ha, tempterl Mcthinks thou art too
late" answered the minister, encoun-
tering his eye fearfully but firmly.
sThy power is not what it was. With
Gods help 1 shall escape thee now"
He again extended his hand to tho
woman OF the scarlet letter.
Hester PTynnel" cried he, with q
piercing earnestness, ''in the name OF
him so terrible and so merciful, who
gives me grace at this last moment to
do what-for my own heavy sin and
miserable agony-l withheld myself
from doing seven years ago, come
hither now and Irvine thy strength
about mel Thy strength, Hester, but
let it be guided by tho viii which God
hath granted mel This wretched and
wronged old man is opposing it with all
his might-with all his own might and
the tiends. Come, Hester, comet Sup
port me up yonder scafoldl"
The crowd was in tumult. The men
Of rank and dignity who stood more i'm
mediately around the clergyman were
so taken by surprise and SO perplexed as
to the purport of what they saw, unable
to receive the explanation which most
readily presented itself or to imagine
any other. that they remained silent and
inactive spectators of the judgment
which Providence seemed about TO work
They behold the minister, leaning on
Hester's shoulder and supported by her
arm around him. approach the scaffold
and ascend its steps, while still the little
hand of the sin born child was clasped
in his Old Roger Chillingworth fol-
lowed as one intimately connected with
.he drama Of guilt and sorrow in which
they bad all been actors, and well en-
titled. therefore. 70 be present at its
closing scene
"Hadst thou sought the whole earth
over said he, looking darkly at the
clergyman, there was 10 one place so
secret-no high place nor lowly place
where thou couldst have escaped nc
save on this very scafoldr
Thanks be to him who hath led me
hither. answered the minister.
Yet no trembled and turned 70 Hester
with an expression OF doubt and anxiety
in his eyes, not the less evidently be-
trayed that there was a feeble smile
upon bis lips.
els not this BETTER" murmured he,
than what we dreamed of in the for
est"
Il know noti know mott" she hur-
Eicdly replied. Better? Yea; so We
may both die. and little Pearl die with
ASP
"Tor thee and Pearl, DO It as Cod shall
order caid tho minister; ''and God is
meTcifull Let me now do the viii
which he hath made plain before my
sight For. Hester, am a dying man.
So let mo make haste 10 take my shame
upon me"
Partly supported by Hester Pryne, and
holding one hand Of little PEARLS, the
Reverend Mr.. Dimmesdale turned to tn,
dignihed and venerable rulers; to the
holy ministers, who were. his brethren
to the people, whose great heart wal
thoroughly appalled,, yet OVERLOOKING
with fearful sympathy, as knowing thai
some deep life matter-which, if full Of
sin, was full Of anguish and rcpcntanc,
ukewise-was now to be laid open {,
them. The sun, but little sast its me
ridian. shono down upon the clergyman
and gave a distinctness to his figure a.
he stood out from all the earth to put il
his plea Of guilty at the bar Of eterna
Justice.
people Of New Englandw cried he
with a voice that rose over them, high
solemn and majestic-yet had always
tremor through it, and sometimes
Shrek, struggling up out Of fathom
less depth Of remorse and woe-''ye tina
have loved mel-yo that have deeme,
me holy-bohold mo here tho one slime
Of the worldl At last-Gt last-I stan,
upon the spot where seven years since
should have stood; here with this WON
an, whose arm. more than the it'll
strength wherewith have crept hither
ward. sustains me at this dreadful mo
ment from groyeling down upon m,
face! 10, the scarlet letter which Hes
ter wears! Ye havo al shuddered at il
Wherever her walk hath been-wher
ever, so miserably burdened, she ma.
have hoped to find reposc-it hath cast
lurid CLEAN of awe and horrible repug
nance around about her But ther
stood one in tho midst Of you at who's
brand Of sin and infamy ye have no
shudderodw
Il seemed at this point as if the min
lister must leave the remainder OF hi
secret undisclosod. But he fought bac
tho bodily wealSness-and, still more
tho faintncss of hcart-that was striy
ing for tho mastery with him. He thro'
off all assistance and stepped passionatel
forward pace before the woman an
tho child
1T was on him" he continued, with
kind Of ferceness, so determined was h
to speak out the whole. Goods eye bc
held To- The angels were forever point
ing at i'll The devil knew it well an
frctted it continually with the touch q
his burning dngerl But he hid it cur
ningly from men and walked among yo
with the men d n spirit. mouruful b
cause so pure in q sinful world and sa
because he missed his heavenly kindred
Now. at the death hour, he stands u
before youl He bids you look again Q