Evening journal., 1892-08-31

Bracket. the iniler thought fit TO intro
duce physician lie described him as
a man Of skill in an Christian modes Of
physical science and likewise familiar
with whatever the savage people could
teach in respect to medicinal herbs and
roots that grew in tho forest. To say
the truth. there was much need OF pro
lesaiouai assistance, not merely for Hes
Ter herself, but still more urgently for
the child who. drawing its sustenances
from the maternal bosom, seemed 20
nave drank in with il all the turmoil
the anguish and despair which per
gaded the mothers system It now
writhed i'm eonvulsions Of pain. and was
forcible type, in its little frame, Of the
moral agony which Hester Prynne had
borne throughout the day
Closely following the jailcr into the
dismal apartment appeared that indi.
iidual Of singular aspect whose pres
iuce in the crowd had been of such deep
interest TO the wearcr Of the scarlet let
Ter lie was lodged in the prison, not
as suspected Of any offense, but as the
most convenient and suitable mode Of
iisposing of him until the magistrates
should have conferred with the Indian
sagamores respecting his ransom. His
name was announced as Roger Chilling
worth The jailer after ushering him
INTO the room remained a moment, mar
Yelling at the comparative quiet that fol
lowed his entrance; for Hester Prynne
had Immediately become as still as
death. although the child continued TO
moan.
'Prithee. friend, leave me alone with
my patient" said the practitioner
Trust me, good jailer, you shall briefly
have peace ia your house; and promise
YOU Mistress Prynne shall hereafter be
more amenable to just authority than
you may have found her heretofore"
Nay. if your worship can accomplish
that answered Master Bracket, Il
shall own You for man Of skill indeed
Verify, the woman hath been like a
possessed one. and there lacks little
/ that should take in hand TO drive
satan ont of her with stripes"
The stranger had entered the room
with the characteristic Quietude Of the
profession to which he announced him
self as belonging. Nor did his demeanor
change when the withdrawal Of the
prison keeper left him face TO face with
/ the woman. whose absorbed notice Of
him IN the crowd had intilnatcd 30 close
q relation. between himself and her
His first care was given to the child
whose cries, indeed, as she lay writing
on the trundlehed made it OF peremp
tory necessity to postpone all Other
business to the task Of soothing her liz
examined the infant carefully and thei
proceeded to unclasp a leathern case
which he took from beneath his dress
1t appeared to contain medical prepare
tions, one of which he mingled with
cup Of water
my old studies in alchemy" observes
he, land my sojourn, for above a yea
past, among a people well versed in th
! kindly properties of simples have mad
better physician Of me than many tina
claim the medical degree. Here, woman
The child is yours, she is none of mine
neither will she recognize my voice O
aspect as a fathers Administer TIN
! draft, therefore, with thine own hand.
Hester repealed the offered medicin,
p at the same time gazing with strongl
marked apprehension into his face.
"Wouldst thou avonge thyself on I'll
innocent babeg" whispered she
Foolish woman responded the ply
q stefan. half coldly, half soothingll
b what should all me. to harm this mi
begotten and miserable babe? I'll
medicine is potent for good; and were
my child-yea, mine own, as well Q
e thine could DO no better for it.
/ As she still hesitated, being. in fac
in no reasonable state of mind, he too
r the infant In his arms and himself az
p ministered the draft. 1t soon proved il
= efficacy and redeemed theleechs pledg
e The means of the little patient suhside'
/ It's convulsive tossings gradually cease
and in n few moments, as is the custoi
e of young children after relief from paii
e it sank into profound and dewy sluu
d Der The physician, as he had fa
right to DO termed, next bestowed b
: attention on the mother. With calm an
o intent scrutiny he felt her pulse, locke
+. into her eyes-a gaze that made h.
p heart shrink and shudder, because so f
n miliar and yet so strange and cold-ar
finally. satisfied with his investigated
!. proceeded to mingle another draft.
l. ii know not Lethe nor Nepenthe," I
d marked he, but | have learned mai
e new secrets in the wilderness, and he
/. is one Of them--a recipe that an lndi'
a taught me in requital of some lessons
my own that were as old as Paracelsr
# Drink i'll 1t may be less soothing thu
= a sinlcss conscience. That / cannot 81
II thee. But it will calm the swell al
i heaving of thy passion, like oil throw
S. on the waves of tempestuous sea.
D He presented the cup to Hester, W
Il received it with slow. earnest look III
.e his face-not precisely look Of fe;
Y yet full of doubt and questioning as
a what his purposes might be. She look
ID also at her slumbering child.
ie Il have thought Of death, said she
shave wished for it-would even ha
or PRAYED for il were it fit that such as
h should pray for anything. Yet if deo
r. be in this cup bid thee think again {
n thou beholdest me quaf it. See. 1t