Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1892-06-04

a race with her. But the visionary hit
tie maid, on her part, beckoned likewise,
as if to say: This is better place!
Come thou into the poolg' And Pearl,
stepping in midleg deep. beheid her own
white feet at the bottom, while out of a
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.
II would speak a word with YOU"
said she; "a word that concerns us
much"
aAha, and is it Mistress Hester that
has a 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 magistrate, a wise
and godly man, was discoursing of your
affairs, Mistress Hester, and whispered
me that there had been question con-
corning you in tho 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 bosomv'
All this while Hester had been look
ing steadily at the old man, and was
shocked as well as wonder snitten to
discern what a 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 him, 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
| imile. Dut the latter played him false
| and hickered over his visage so deri-
| sively that the spectator could see his
| blackness all the better for it. Ever
and anon, too, there came glare OF red
| light out of his eyes, as if the old mans
| soul were on fire and kept on smolder-
I ing duskily within his breast until, by
some casual puff of passion, it was blown
| into a momentary fame. This he re-
| pressed as speedily as possible and strove
1 to look as if nothing of the kind had
happened.
4 In word, old Roger Chillingworth
was striking evidence of mans faculty
of transforming himself into a devil if he
will only for reasonable space of time
undertake a devils office. This unhappy
4 person had effected such transforma-
ton by devoting himself for seven years
to the constant analysis of a 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
ruin, 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 were any tears bitter enough for
it." answered she. But let it passl 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 confdant. mot
| to hide the truth, Mistress Hester, my
| thoughts happen just now to be busy
l with the gentleman. So speak freely,
| and l will make answer"
"When we last spake together" said
| Hester, ''now seven years ago, it was
l 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 | 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
and waking. You search his thoughts.
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 truei"
what choice had you" asked Roger
Chillingworth. my finger pointed al
this man would have hurled him from
his pulpit into dungeon-thence, per
adventure, to the gallowsw
, ut had been better soF' said Hester
} Prynne.
what evil have / done the manY
. asked Roger Chillingworth again q
J tell thee, Hester Prynne, the richest fee
that ever physician earned from mon
! arch could not have bought such care a:
have wasted on this miserable priest
; But for my aid his life would have
burned away in torments within the frs
, two years after the preparation of hi
crime and thine. For, Hester, his spirif
| lacked the strength that could have
borne up, as thine has, beneath burden
) ike thy scarlet letter. Oh, could
: reveal goodly secret! But enough
? What art can do | have exhausted or
t him. That he now breathes and creepl
! about on earth is owing all to mel"
, Better he had died at oncel" said
Hester Prynne.
"Yea, woman, thou sayest truly?
3 cried old Roger Chillingworth, letting
{ the 1urid fire of his heart blaze out be
; fore her eyes. Better had he died a
! oncel Never did mortal suffer wha
this man has suffered. And all, all il
0 in the sight Of his worst enemy. ID
t has been conscious of me. He has fel
I an influence dwelling always upon hin
y like a curse He knew by some spirit
g ual sense-for the Creator never mad
b another being so sensitive as this-h
!, knew that no friendly hand was pulling