The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1892-10-12

uoCh Jnis ueduiy syuDOh trOlu Iu0 uduu
Of fate, She had flung 1t into infinite
space--she had drawn an hours free
breath--and here again was the scarlet
misery, glittering on the old spoti So it
ever is, whether thus typified 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 IL there
were q 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,
childT asked she reproachfully. but
with q subdued tone. "Wilt thou come
across the brook and own thy mother,
now that she has her shame upon her
now that she is sad7"
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 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 a throb Of
anguish-Pearl put up her mouth. and
kissed the scarlet letter tool
THAT was not kindr" said Hester.
when thou hast shown me little love.
thou mockest mel"
why doth the minister sit yonder?-
asked Pearl.
"He waits to welcome thee" replied
her mother. Come, thou, and entreat
his blessing! lie loves thee, my little
Pearl, and loves thy mother too. Wilt
thou not lose him? Come: he longs to
greet theer
doth be love usy' said Pearl. looking
mp with acute intelligence into her
mothers face. will he go back with
us, hand in hand. we three together. into
the town.;
mot now, dear child, answered Hes
ter. "But in days to come he will walk
hand in hand with us. We will have a
homo and fireside of our own, and thou
shalt sit upon his knee and he will teach
thee many things and love thee dearly.
Thou wilt love him, wilt thou not2"
"And will he always keep his hand
over his hearth inquired Pearl.
Foolish child, what a question Is
thatT exclaimed her mother. "Come
and ask his blessingT'
But whether influenced by the jeal-
ousy that seems instructive with every
petted child toward 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
series Of different aspects, with new
mischief in them, each and all. The
minister-painfully embarrassed, but
hoping that a 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
renamed apart, silently watching Hes
ter and the clergyman, while they talked
together and made such arrangements
as were suggested by their new position
and the purposes soon to be fulfilled.
And now this Hateful interview had
come to a close. The dell was to be left
q solitude among its dark, old trees,
which, with their multitudinous tongues,
would whisper long Of what had passed
there, and no mortal be the wiser. And
the melancholy brook would add this
other tale to the mystery with which its
little heart was already overburdened
and whereof it still kept up murmur-
Ing babble, with not whit more cheer
fulness Of tone than for ages heretofore
. x.r1r,r.