Evening journal., 1892-09-07


minister advancing along the path en-
tirely alone and leaning on a staff
which he had cut by the wayside. He
looked haggard and feeble and betrayed
a neryeless dependency in his air
which had never so remarkably charac
terized him in his walks about the set
tloment, nor in any other situation
where he deemed himself liable TO no.
tice. Here it was woefully visible, ia
this intense seclusion of the forest
which OF itself would have been heavy
trial 10 the spirits. There was listless-
ness in his gait, as if he saw no reason
for taking one step farther, nor felt any
/ desire 60 do SO. but would have been
/ glad. could no be glad of anything, 20
/ 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 little hillock over his frame
no matter whether there We're life in 1t
or no. Death WINS too definite an object
10 be wished for or avoided.
To Hester's eye the Reverend Mr.
/ Dimmosdale exhibited no symptom OF
positive and yivacious suffering except
that, as little Pearl had remarked, he
kept his hand over bis heart
Slowly MS the minister walked, he had
almost gone by before Hester Prypne
could gather voice enough 10 attract his
observation At length she succeeded
arthur Dimmosdalew she said faint
~ at first; then louder. but hoarsely
Arthur Dimmesdalo"
"Who speaksm answered the minis
ter.
Gathering himself quickly mp he
stood more erect, like man taken 10y
rurpiise in q mood to which he was re-
luctant TO have witnesses. Throwing
his eyes anxiously in the direction Of the
voice. lac inGistinctly beheld form IN.
der the trees clad in garments SO som
Der and so little relieved from the gray
twilight into which tho clouded sky and
the heavy foliage had darkened the
noontide. that he knew not whether. il
were a woman or a shadow 1t may b,
that his pathway through life wa.
haunted thus by specter that haC
stolen out from among his thoughts,
He made a step higher and discovered
the scarlet letter.
Hester! Hester Prynner said Sc
ais it thou? Art thou in lifeg
Even sol" she answered. In sucl
ufe as has been mine these seven year
past and thou, Arthur Dimmesdale
dost thou yet liver
It was no wonder that they thus ques
! toned one another's actual and bodily
existence and even doubted Of their own
i. SO strangely did they meet in the din
wood chat it was like the first encounter
. in the world beyond the grave of TIVE
spirits who had been intimately con
nected in their former life. but nov
stood coldly shuddering in mutual dread
4 Is not yet familiar with their state, no
j. wonted to the companionship Of disem
n bodied beings. Each a ghost and awe
= stricken ut the other ghost! They wer
g awcstricken likewise at themselves be
cause the crisis flung back to them thci
Il consciousness and revcalcd tocach hear
its history and experience, as life neve
{ does except at such breathless epoch!
e The soul beheld its features in the mil
e ror Of the passing moment. twas wit
@ fear and TREMENDOUSLY, and, as it were
@ by a slow, reluctant necessity, that Al
q thur Dimmesdale put forth his hand
d chin as death, and touched the chi
n hand of Hester Prynne. The grasr
2. cold as it was, took away what wa
a dreariest in the interview. They no'
It felt themselves at least inhabitants c
10 the same sphere.
d Without a word more spoken-neithe
It he nor she assuming the guidance, bu
N with an unexprossed consent - the
"a glided back into the shadow of th
ie woods, whence Hester had emerged, an
o 81. down on the heap Of moss where sh
- and Pearl had before been sitting. Whe
sr they found voice to speak it was at fir.
81 only TO utter remarks and inquiries sue
as any two acquaintances might hay
x made about the gloomy sky, the threa
r. ening storm and next the health of eacl
10 Thus they went onward, not boldly, bJ
"a step by step into the themes that WEI
le brooding deepest in their hearts.
lie long estranged by fate and circun
IN stances, they needed something sligl
v. and casual 20 run before and throw ope
er the doors of intercourse, so that the
ly real thoughts might be led across Il
C. threshold
IS After awhile the minister fixed h
eyes on Hester Prynnes.
ID Hester said he, "hast thou four
NJ peacef"
It She smiled droarily, looking dow
be upon her bosom.
so "Hast thoug she asked.
Sc "None-nothing but despairl' he a
n swered what else coald look for, b
to ing what | am, and leading such Ii
he as mincg Were l an atheist-a man d
so void Of Conscience wretch with coar
as and brutal instincts might have foul
peace long ere now. Nay, l never shou
ID, have lost It'll But as matters stand wi
.e, my soul, whatever of good capacity the
ne originally was in me, all Of Gods gil
Ii that were the choicest have become Z
ng ministers Of spiritual torment Ieste
er am most miserabe"
gh "rho people reverence thee" SO
- Hester. "And surely thou workost go
nj among them! Doth this bring thee
- comforts"
nd .sNlore rlieerv. Uegterl-Only the mo