Evening journal., 1892-08-31
BY NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE.
BEGUN TUESDAY, AUGUST 50.

sald. anCcted them Ike the speech OF an
angel
Such was the young man whom the
Mr.. Wilson and the governor
had introduced SO openly TO the public
notice. bidding him speak in the hearing
of all men to that mystery of .Yoman's
soul, so sacred even in it's Hnution
The trying nature Of his posiSbn drove
the blood from bis cheek and made his
lips tremulous.
Speak to the woman, my brother,
said Mr. Wilson. 1T is Of moment to
her soul, and therefore, rs the worship.
full governor says, momentous TO thine
own, in whose charge hers is. Ezhort
her to confess the TRUTH
The Reverend Mr.. Dimmesdale bent his
head in silent prayer, as it seemed, and
then came forward.
Chester Prynne, said he leaning over
the balcony and looking down steadfast-
~ into her eyes, thou nearest what this
good man says and soest the accounta-
bility under which labor. If thou feel
est it to be for thy souls peace, and that
thy earthly punishment viii thereby be
made more effectual TO salvation,
charge thee to speak out the name of thy
fellow sinner and fellow sufferer! BE
not silent from any mistaken pity and
tenderness for him: for. believe me. Hes
ter, though he were to step down from
q high place and stand there beside thee
on thy pedestal of shame yet better were
it so than to hide a guilty heart through
.-e1 q Gov
except it tempt him-yea, compel him
as it were-to add hypocrisy to sin:
Heaven hath granted thee an open igno-
miny, that thereby thou nayest work
out an open triumph over the evil within
thee and the sorrow without. Take heed
how thou deniest to him-who perchance
hath not the courage to grasp it for him.
self-tho bitter but wholesome cup that
is now presented 10 thy lipsw
The young pastors voice was trent
ulously sweet, rich. deep and broken
The feeling that it so evidently mani
tested, rather than the direct purport Of
the words. caused it TO vibrate within
all hearts, and brought the listener.
into one accord Of sympathy. Even the
poor baby at Hester's bosom was af
fected by the same influence, for il
directed its hitherto vacant gaze toward
| MIR. Dimmesdale ana held up its littl,
arms with half pleased. half plaintiy,
murmur So powerful seemed the min
ister's appeal that the people could no
believe but that Hester Pryune woult
| speak out the guilty name, or else tina
the guilty one himself, in whateve
high or lowly place he stood, would b
drawn forth by an inward and inevita
Die necessity, and compelled to ascen'
the scafold.
Hester shook her head.
woman, transgress not beyond th
l limits of heavens mercyr' cried the Rev
erend Mr.. Wilson more harshly than be
fore THAT little babe hath been gifte,
with voice to second and confirm IN
| counsel which thou hast heard. Speal
ont the namel That and thy repentanc
may avail to take the scarlet letter Of
thy breast.
"Neverl" replied Hester Prynne, looh
ing not at Mr.. Wilson, but into the dee
and troubled eyes Of the younger clergy
man. 1T is too deeply branded y
cannot take it off. And would that
might endure his agony as well as minel
Speak woman said another voic
coldly and sternly, proceeding from th
crowd about the scaifold Speak, an
give Your child a fatherr
Il viii not speakr answered Hester
turning pale rs death, but responding I
this voice, which she too surely recog
nized. And my child must seek hea'
emily father; she shall never know a
earthly one"
"She win not speakw murmured Nj
Dimmesdale, who, leaning over the ba
cony with his hand upon his heart, ha
awaited the result Of his appeal Il
now drew back with long respiration
"Wondrous strength and generosity Of
womans heartl She will not speakl
Discerning the impracticable state {
the poor culprits mind the elder clerg.
man. who had carefully prepared hiInse
for the occasion. addressed to the multi
tude a discourse on sin in all its branche
but with continual reference to the ign
minious letter. So forcibly did he dive
upon this symbol for the hour or mo-
during which his periods were rollir
over the peoples heads that it assume
new terrors in their imagination, al
seemed TO derive its scarlet hue from Il
flames of the Internal pit.
Hester Prynne, meanwhile, kept h
place upon the pedestal Of shame, Wi
| glazed eyes and an air Of weary indiife
ence She had borne that morning d
; that nature could endure, and as b
temperament was not of the order tn
escapes from too intense suffering by
swoon, her spirit could only shelter itse
beneath a stony crust Of insensibilit
while the faculties Of animal life I
manned entire. In this state the voice
Q / the preacher Numbered remorselessl
! but unavailingly, upon her ears. ~
i infant, during the latter portion of h
5 ordeal, pierced the air with its wailin
l and screams; she stroye to hush it, n
@ chemically, but seemed scarcely to syn
. pathize with its trouble. With the SAL
9 hard demeanor, she was led back
, prison, and vanished from the pub
Q gaze within its iron clamped portal
Q was whispered by those who peered aft
| A.. IA L. 81 La