Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1892-06-18
JOB WORK.
OF every description, plain or color
a., promptly done at lowest
rates, such as:
FOSTERS,
PAMPHLETS,
BILLHEADS,
CIRCULARS,
LETTERHEADS
SALE BILLS, &C.
.sNeatness taste and despatch" is
our motto. Call and ascertain rates.

pertinent now. Leap across the brook,
naughty child, and run hitherl Else I
must come to thee!"
But Pearl, not whit startled at her
mothers threats, any more than moli-
fed by her entreaties, now suddenly
burst into fit of passion, gesticulating
violently and throwing her small figure
into the most extravagant contortions.
She accompanied this wild outbreak
with piercing shrieks, which the woods
reverberated ON all sides; so that, alone
as she was in her childish and unreason-
able wrath, it seemed as if hidden
multitude We're lending her their SYM
pathy and encouragement. Seen in the
brook once more was the shadowy wrath
of PEARLS image, crowned and girdled
with flowers, but stamping its foot.
wildly gesticulating, and in the midst OF
all still pointing its small forefinger at
Hester's bosoml
Il see what ails the child" whispered
Hester to the clergyman, and turning
pale in spite Of strong effort to conceal
her trouble aud annoyance. Children
will not abide any, the slightest, change
in the accustomed aspect of things that
are daily before their eyes Pearl
misses something which she has always
seen me wearin
~ pray you" answered the minister,
"if thou hast any means of pacifying the
child, do it forthwith Save it were the
cankered wrath of an old witch, like
Mistress Hibbins," added he, attempting
to smile, Il know nothing that would
not sooner encounter than this passion
in child. In Pearls young beauty, as
in the wrinkled witch, it has a prefer
natural effect. Pacify her, if thou lowest
mel"
Hester turned again toward Pearl,
with a crimson blush upon her cheek,
conscious glance aside at the Clergyman.
and then heavy sigh; while, even be-
fore she had time to speak, the blush
yielded to deadly pallor.
Pearl, said she sadly, "look down at
thy feetl Therel-before thee!--on the
hither side of the brookl"
The child turned her eyes to the point
indicated, and there lay the scarlet let
ter, so close upon the margin of the
stream that the gold embroidery was re-
fiected in it.
Bring it hither!" said Hester.
"Come thou and take it upr answered
Pearl.
"Was ever such child!' observed
Hester aside TO the minister "Oh, l
have much to tell theo about herl
But in very truth she is right as regards
this hateful token. must bear its tor
ture yet a little longer-only a few
days longer-until we shall have left
this region, and look back hither as 10
land which we have dreamed Of. The
forest cannot hide III The midocoan
shall take il from my hand and swallow
il up forever
With these words she advanced 90 tho
margin Of the brook, tool, up the scarlet
letter and fastened il again into her
bosom. Hopefully. but a moment ago,
as Hester had spoken Of drowning it in
the deep sea, there was a sense Of incvi-
table doom upon her, as she thus received
back this deadly symbol from tho hand
OF fate. She bad flung II into infinite
space-she had drawn an hours FREQ
breath-ahd here again was the scarlet
misery, glittering ON the old spoti So II
ever Is. whether thus tEpificd or no, that
an evil deed invests itself with the char
acter of doom. Hester next gathered up
the heavy tresses OF her hair and con-
fined them beneath her cap. As if thcro
were a whitening spell in the sad letter,
her beauty, the warmth and richness Of
her womanhood, departed like fading
sunshine and gray shadow seemed to
fall across her.
When the dreary change was wrought
she extended her hand TO Pearl
"Dost thou know thy mother now,
childY' asked she reproachfully, but
with a subdued tone. "Wilt thou como
across the brook and own thy mother,
now that she has her shame upon her
now that she is sad?'
Eyes; now will!' answered the child,
bounding across the brook and clasp
ing Hester in her arms. Now thou art
my mother indeedl And am thy little
Pearlr
In a mood of tenderness that was not
usual with her she drew down her
mothers head and kissed her brow and
both her cheeks. But then-by kind
of necessity that always impelled this
child to alloy whatever comfort she
might chance to give with throb Of
anguish-Pearl put up her mouth, and
kissed the scarlet letter too!
THAT was not hndi" said Hester.
"When thou hast shown me little love,
thou mockest mel"
why doth the minister SIT yonderY"
asked Pearl.
HE waits to welcome thee" replied
her mother. Come, thou, and entreat
his blessingl lie loves thee, my little
Pearl, and loves thy mother too. Wilt
thou not love him? Come; he longs to
greet theef'
Doth he love usY said Pearl, looking
up with acute intelligence into her
mothers face. "WiIl he 20 back with
us, hand in hand, we three together, into
the town."
Not now, dear child, answered Hes
ter. But in days to come he will walk
hand in hand with us. We viii have
home and fireside Of our own, and thou
shalt sit upon his knee 500 he will teach
thee many things and love thee dearly.
Thou wilt love him, wilt thou not?'
''And viii he always keep his hand
over his hearth inquired Pearl.
Foolish child, what question Is
thatf' exclaimed her mother. Come
and ask his blessingl"
But whether influenced by the jeal-
ousy that seems instructive with every
petted child toward a dangerous rival or
from whatever caprice Of her freakish
nature, Pearl would show no favor to the
clergyman. 1t was only by an exertion
OF force that her mother brought her up
to him, hanging back and manifesting
her reluctance by odd grimaces; Of
which, ever since her babyhood, she had
possessed singular variety, and could
transform her mobile physiognomy into /
a series Of different aspects, with new
mischief in them, each and all. The
painfully embarrassed, but
hoping that kiss might prove talisman
to admit him into the child's kindlier
regards-bent forward and impressed
one on her brow.
Hereupon Pearl broke away from her
mother, and running to the brook
stopped over it and bathed her forehead
until the unwelcome kiss was quite
washed off and diffused through long
lapse Of the gliding water. She then
rorna.rod ar.arf ssfIo,-4fJx- &ff,s-sr. H..