San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-06-25

'teachers-stern and wild ones-and they
had made her strong, but taught hel
much amiss
The minister, ON the other hand, haG
never gone through an experience calcu
lated to lead him beyond the scope OF
generally received laws; although, in 8
single instance, he had so fearfully trans
crossed one of the most sacred of them
~ -
Thus we seem tie see that, as regarded
Hester Prynne, the whole.seyen years OF
outlaw and ignominy had been little
other than preparation for this very
hour. But Arthur Dimmesdale! Were
such man once more to fall, what plea
conld be urged in exclamation of his
crime? None; unless it avail, him some.
what, that he was broken down by long
and exquisite suffering; that his mind
was darkened and confused by the very
remorse which narrowed 1T; that, be-
tween fleeing as an avowed criminal
and remaining as hypocrite, conscience
might find it hard TO strike the balance:
that it was human TO avoid the peril Of
death and infamy and the inscrutable
Vaccinations of an enemy; that, finally,
to this poor pilgrim, on his dreary and
desert path, faint, sick, miserable, there
appeared a glimpse of human affection
and sympathy, new life and true one,
in exchange for the heavy doom which
he was now expiating. And be the stern
and sad truth spoken, that the breach
which guilt has once made into the hui
man soul is never in this mortal state re-
paired 1t may be watched and guarded
so that the enemy shall not force his
way again into the citadel, and might
even in his subsequent assaults select
some other avenue in preference to that
where he had formerly succeeded. But
there is still the ruined wall, and near it
the stealthy tread of the foe that would
win over again his unforgotten triumph
The struggle, if there were one, need
not be described. Let it suffice that the
clergyman resolved to flee and not
alone.
eff, in all these past seven years,
thought he, Il could recall one instant
of peace or hope, / would yet endure,
for the sake of that earnest of heavens
mercy. But now, since am irrevocably
doomed wherefore should not snatch
the solace allowed to the condemned
culprit before his execution? Or, if this
be the path to a better life, as Heste:
would persuade Inc, surely give up no
fairer prospect by pursuing it! Neither
can | any longer live without her com
so powerful is she to sus-
tain-so tender to soothe! o thou to
whom | dare not lift mine eyes, wilt
thou yet pardon me?'
Thou wilt gop said Hester calmly,
as he met her glance.
The decision once made, glow of
strange enjoyment threw its Pickering
brightness over the trouble of his breast
1t was the exhilarating effect-upon a
prisoner just escaped from the dungeon
of his own heart-of breathing the wild, |
free atmosphere of an unredeemed, un-
lawless region. His spirit
rose, as it were, with bound, and at
tanned nearer prospect of the sky than
all the misery which had
kept him groveling on the earth. Of a
deeply religl Gus temperament, there was
a tinge of the devotional in
his mood.
"Do feel joy again" cried he, won
dering at imself. ''Methought the
germ of it was dead in me! o Hester,
thou art my better angel! | seem to
have flung Llyself-sick, sin stained and
sorrow blackened-down upon these for
est leaves, and to have risen up all made
anew, and with new powers to glorify
him that hath been mercifull This is
already the better life! Why did 1--we not
find it sooner"
"Let us not look back" answered Hes
ter Prynne. 1.-The past is gone! Where
fore should we linger upon it now? See!
With this symbol / undo it all, and
make it as it had never beenw
So speaking, she undid the clasp that
fastened the scarlet letter, and taking it
from her bosom threw it to distance
the withered leaves. The mystic
token alighted on the hither verge of the
stream. With hands breadth farther
fight it would have fallen into the water
and have given the little brook another
woe to carry onward, besides the unin-
telligible tale which it still kept MUIR
muring about. But there lay the en-
broidered letter, glittering like lost
jewel, which some i'll fated wandero
might pick up, and thenceforth be
haunted by strange phantoms of guilt,
sinkings of the heart and unaccountable
misfortune.
The stigma gone Hester heaved a long,
deep sigh, in which the burden of shame
and anguish departed from her spirit.
Oh, exquisite relief! She had not known