Evening journal., 1892-09-07

PASTOR AND pARIsnloxER

PASTOR AND PARIsHIoNER
Hester Pryune remained constant in
her resolve to make known to Mr.. Dim.
mesdale, at whatever risk of present pain
or Interior consequences, the true char
acter of the man who had crept into his
intimacy. For several days however,
she. vainly sought an opportunity OF ad-
dressing him in some Of the meditative
walks which she knew him to be in the
habit Of taking along the shores Of the
peninsula or on the wooded hills Of the
neighboring country There would have
been no scandal, indeed, nor peril to the
holy Wilderness Of the clergyman's good
fame had she visited him in his own
study; where many n penitent, Gro now.
had confessed sins Of perhaps as deep a
dye as the one betokened by the scarlet
letter. But, partly that she dreaded the
secret or undisguised interference Of old
Roger Chilhngworth, and partly that
her conscious heart imputed suspicion
where none could have been felt, and
partly that both the minister and she
would need the whole wide world to
breathe in while they talked together
for all these reasons Hester never
/ thought Of meeting him in any narrower
/ privacy than beneath the open sky.
At Last, while attending in a sick
chamber, whittier the Reverend Mr..
Dimmesdale had been summoned to
make prayer, she learned that he had
gone the day before to visit the Apostle
| Eliot among his Indian converts. lie
would probably return by n certain
hour in the afternoon Of the morrow
Betimes, therefore. the next day Hester
took little Pearl, who was necessarily
the companion Of all her mothers expe
ditions, however inconvenient her pres
ence, and set forth.
The road. after tho two wayfarcrs had
crossed from tho peninsula to the main
land, was no other than q footpath II
struggled onward into the mystery Of tn,
primeval forest. This hemmed it in Sc
narrowly and stood so black and dens,
on either side, and disclosed such i'm
perfect glimpses Of the sky above, that T,
Hester's mind it imaged not amiss tht
moral wilderness in which she had s,
long been wandering. The day wa.
chill and somber.
| Overhead was q gray expanso Of cloud
slightly stirred, however, by breeze
so chat n CLEAN Of hickering SUNSHINE
might now and then be seen at its soil
tary play along the path. This Hittini
choerfulness was always at the farthe
extremity Of some long vista through
the forest. The sportive sunlight
feebly sportive at best in the predomi
nant pensiveness Of the day and scene
Withdrew itself as they came nigh, ant
left the spots where it lad danced til
drearier because they had hoped to fin
them bright
Mother, said little Pearl, "the sun
shine does not love you. 1t runs ava
and hides itself because it is afraid @
something on your bosom. Now, see
There it is, playing, a good way of
Stand you here, and let me run an
catch ii. am but a child. 1t win nc
flee from me, for wear nothing on m
bosom yet.
"Nor ever viii, my child, hope.
, said Hester
"And why not, mother" asked Pear
stopping short, just at the beginning @
her race. "Will not it come of its ow
r accord. when l am woman grown
"Run away, child" answered he
mother, "and catch the sunshinel
e win soon be gone"
Pearl set forth az q great pace, and, 3
e Hester smiled 10 perceive. did actual
/ catch the sunshine, and stood laughin
in the midst Of it. all Frightened hy il
+ splendor and scinhllating with the Y
d vacity excited by rapid motion.
4 When her elf child had departe'
! Hester Prynne made step or two t.