The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1892-11-02

but the shadow of what he bears on his
own breast, and that even this, his own
red stigma, Is no more than the type Of
what has scared his inmost hearth
Stand any here that question Gods
judgment on sinner Behold Behold
a dreadful witness of it'll"
With a convulsive motion he tore
away tho ministerial band from before
/ his breast. 1t was revealed But it
were irrevercnt to describe that revela-
! ton. For an instant the gaze of the
| horror stri, IN multitude was concen-
trated on the CHASTITY miracle; while the
minister sto'yl, with a flush Of triumph
in his face, = one who In the crisis of
acutest pain had won victory. Then
down he sank upon the scaffoldl Hester
partly raised him and supported his
head against her bosom. Old Roger
Chillingworth knelt down beside her,
with blank, dull countenance, out of
which the life seemed 10 have departed
Thou hast escaped mer' he repeated
more than once. "Thou hast escaped
mer'
"May God forgive thee!" said the min
lister. Thou, too, hast deeply sinned."
He withdrew his dying eyes from the
old man and fixed them on the woman
and the child.
MY little Pearl" said he feebly-and
there was sweet and gentle smile over
his face, as OF spirit sinking into deep
repose; nay, now that the burden was
removed, it seemed almost as if he
would be sportive with the child-"dear
little Pearl, wilt thou kiss me now2
Thou wouldst not yonder in the forestl
But now thou wiltT'
Pearl kissed his lips. A spell was
broken. The great scene of grief, in
which the wild infant bore a part, had
developed all her sympathies; and as her
tears fell upon her fathers cheek, they
were the pledge that she would grow up
amid human joy and sorrow, nor for
ever do battle with the world, but be a
woman in it. Toward her mother, too,
Pearls errand Us a messenger of anguish
was all fulfilled.
Hester" said the clergyman, "fare-
well!'
"Shall we not meet again? whispered
she, bending her face down close to his.
"Shall we not spend our immortal life
together Surely, surely, we have ran
somed each other, with all this woel
Thou lookest far into eternity with those
bright, dying eyes! Then tell me what
thou seestY'
"Hush. Hester, hushT' said he with
tremulous solemnity. 1.-The law we
broke-the sin here so awfully revealed
let these alone be in thy thoughts! |
fear. fear! 1t may be that when we
forgot our God-when we violated our
reverence each for the others soul-it |
was thenceforth vain to hope that we
could meet hereafter in an everlasting
and pure reunion. God knows, and he
is merciful. He hath proved his mercy |
most of all in my Affections. By CIV
ing me this burning torture to bear
upon my breast! BY sending yonder
dark and terrible old man to keep the |
torture always at red heat! By bring
ing me hitler to die this death of tri- |
umphant ignominy before the people! |
Had either CT these agonies been want
ing. ! had been lost forever! Praised |
be his name! His will be done! Fare
wenr'
That final word came forth with the
minister's expiring breath. The multi
tude, silent till then, broke out in a
strange, deep voice of awe and wonder,
which could not as yet find utterance,
save in this murmur that rolled 80 heav-
lily after the departed spirit.