San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-06-23

pressed.as speedily as possible and strove
to look as if nothing of the kind had
happened.
In s.vord, old Roger Chillingworth
was a striking evidence of mans faculty
of transforming himself into devil if he
will only for a reasonable space,of time
undertake DEVILS Office. This unhappy
| person bad effected such transforma-
ton by devoting himself for seven years
totthe constant analysis of heart full
of torture and deriving his enjoyment
thence, and adding fuel to those fiery
fortunes which he analysed and gloated
over.
The scarlet letter burned on Hester
Prynne's bosom. Here was another
rzlin, the responsibility of which came
partly home to her.
What see you in my face" asked the
physician, that you look at it SO ear
nestly?"
Something that would make me weep
| if there We're any tears bitter enough for
| it, answered she. But let it pass! 1t
is of yonder miserable man that would
| speak"
.And what of him?' cried Roger Chill
lingworth eagerly, as if he loved the
topic and were glad of an opportunity
to discuss it with the only person of
whom he could make aconfdant. Not
to hide the truth, Mistress Hester, my
thoughts happen just now to be busy
with the gentleman. So speak freely
and | will make answer"
when we last spake together" said
Hester, NOW seven years ago, it was
your pleasure TO extort a promise of
secrecy as touching the former relation
betwixt yourself and me. AS the life
and good fame Of yonder man were in
your hands, there seemed no choice to
me save to be silent in accordance with
your behest. Yet it was not without
heavy misgivings that ! thus bound my
self, for, having cast off all duty toward
other human beings, there remained a
duty toward him, and something whis-
pered me that l was betraying it in
pledging myself to keep your counsel.
Since that day no man is SO near to him
as you. You tread behind his every
footstep. You are beside him, sleeping
You burrow and rankle in his heart.
Your clutch is on his life, and you cause
him to die daily living death, and still
he knows you not. In permitting this
have surely acted false part by the
only man to whom the power was left
me to be truer'
What choice had your asked Roger
Chillingworth. my finger pointed at
this man would have hurled him from
his pulpit into dungeon-thence, per-
adventure, to the gallows!'
1T had been better so!' said Hester
Prynne
"What evil have l done the man?'
asked Roger Chillingworth again. 81
tell thee, Hester Prynne, the richest fee
that ever physician earned from mon
arch could not have bought such care as
have wasted on this miserable priest!
But for my aid his life would have
burned away in torments within the first
two years after the preparation of his
crime and thine. For, Hester, his spirit
lacked the strength that could have
borne up, as thine has, beneath burden
j
reveal goodly secret! But enough!
What art can do ! have exhausted on
him. That he now breathes and creeps
about on earth is owing all to mel"
Better he had died at once! said
Hester Prynne.
"Yea, woman, thou sayest trulyg'
cried old Roger Chillingworth, letting
the lurid fire of his heart blaze out be-
fore her eyes. Better had he died at
once: Never did mortal suffer what
this man has suffered. And all, all in
in the sight of his worst enemy! He
has been conscious of me. HeIhas felt
an influence dwelling always upon him
like curse. He knew by some spirit
ual sense-for the Creator never made
another being so sensitive as this-he
knew that nc friendly hand was pulling
at his heartstrings, and that an eye was
looking curiously into him which sought
only evil ard found it. But he knew
not that the eye and hand were mine!
With the superstition common to his
brotherhood he fancied himself given
over to tiend, to be tortured with fright
full dreams and desperate thoughts, the
sting of remorse and despair of pardon
as foretaste of what awaits him be-
yond the grave. But it was the con-
slant shadow of my presence-the closest
propinquity of the man whom he had
most vilely wronged-and who had
grown to exist only by this perpetual
poison of the direst revenge! Yea, in
deed-he did not err-there was fiend
at his elbow! A mortal man with once
ahuman heart has become fend for
his especial tormentp
Tho upfortupofa p,u,,o;or ,-l:1z