San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-06-24

tr ial to the spirits. There was a listless.
ness in his gait, as if he saw no reason
for taking one step farther, nor felt any
desire to do so, hut would have beer
glad, could he be glad of anything, 70
fling himself down at the root of the
nearest tree and lie there. passive for.
evermore. The leaves might bestrew
him and the soil gradually accumulate
and form a little hillock over his frame,
no matter whether there were life in il
or no. Death was too definite an object
to be wished for or avoided.
To Hester's eye the Reverend Mr.
Dimmesdale exhibited no symptom OF
positive and vivacious suffering except
that, as little Pearl had remarked, he
Kept his hand over his heart.
Slowly as the minister walked, he had
almost gone by before Hester Prynne
could gather voice enough to attract bis
observation. At length she succeeded
arthur Dimmesdaler' she said faint.
ly at first; then louder, but hoarsely,
ARTHUR Dimmesdaler'
'sWho speaksr answered the minis.
ter.
Gathering himself quickly up. he
stood more erect, like a man taken by
surprise in mood to which he was re.
luctant to have witnesses. Throwing
his eyes anxiously in the direction of the
voice, he indistinctly beheld a form tun
der the trees clad in garments so SOM
Der and so little relieved from the gray
twilight into which the clouded sky and
the heavy foliage had darkened the
noontide, that he knew not whether ii
were a woman or a shadow. 1t may be
that his pathway through life was
haunted thus by specter that had
stolen out from among his thoughts.
He made step higher and discovered
the scarlet letter.
''Hesteri Hester Prynnew said he.
sis it thou? Art thou in lifeY'
even so!' she answered. "IE such
life as has been mine these seven years
past! And thou, Arthur Dimmesdale,
,dost thou yet liver"
1t was no wonder that they thus ques-
toned one another's actual and bodily
existence and even doubted of their own.
So strangely did they meet in the dim
wood that it was like the first encounter
in the world beyond the grave of two
spirits who had been intimately con.
nected in their former life. but now
stood eoldly shuddering in mutual dread,
as not yet familiar with their state, nor
wonted TO the companionship of disem-
bodied beings. Each ghost and awe.
stricken at the other ghost! They were
awestricken likewise at themselves be-
cause the crisis flung back to them their
consciousness and revealed to each heart
its history and experience, as life never
does except at such breathless epochs.
The soul beheld its features in the mir
ror of the passing moment. 1t was with
fear and TREMENDOUSLY, and, as it were,
by slow, reluctant necessity, that Ar
thur Dimmesdale put forth his hand,
chill as death, and touched the chill
hand of Hester Prynne. The grasp,
cold as it was, took away what was
dreariest in the interview. They now
felt themselves at least inhabitants OF
the same sphere.
Without word more spoken-neitheI
he nor she assuming the guidance, but
with an unexpressed consent = they
glided back into the shadow of the
woods, whence Hester had emerged, and
sat down on the heap of moss where she
and Pearl had before been sitting. When
they found voice to speak it was at first
only to utter remarks and inquiries such
as any two acquaintance might have
made about the gloomy sky, the threat.
ening storm and next the health of each.
Thus they went onward, not boldly, but
step by step into the themes that were
brooding deepest in their hearts. So
long estranged by fate and circum.
stances, they needed something slight
and casual to run before and throw open
the doors of intercourse, so that their
real thoughts might be led across the
threshold.
After awhile the minister fixed his
eyes on Hester Prynne's.
Hester" said he, 'hast thou found
peace?"
She smiled drearily, looking down
upon her bosom.
"Hast thou?" she asked.
"None-nothing but despair" he an
swered. what else could look for, be-
ing what | am, and leading such life
as mine? Were l an atheist-a man de.
void of conscience-a wretch with coarse
and brutal instincts-I might have found
peace long ere now. Nay, never should
have lost it! But as matters stand with
my soul, whatever of good capacity there
originally was in me, all of Gods gifts
that were the choicest have become the
ministers of spiritual torment. Hester,
am most miserable!'
"The people reverence thee" said
Hester. 'And surely thou workest good
tharnl Oath thic b,-i.,cr +loo NJ,