Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1892-06-04

.. his elbow, A mortal man with once
n human heart has become Is fiend for
his especial torment"
The unfortunate physician, while
uttering these words, lifted his hands
with a look Of horror, as if he had be-
held some frightful shape, which he
could not recognize, usurping the place
of his own image in glass. 1t was one
of those moments-which sometimes oc-
cur only at the interval of years-when
a mans moral aspect is faithfully re-
vealed to his minds eye. Not improba-
bly. he had never before viewed himself
as he did now.
ssHast thou not tortured him enoughg@
said Hester. noticing the old mans look.
HAS he not paid thee alp
mo! no, He has but increased the
debt.a answered the physician; and as
he proceeded his manner lost its fiercer
characteristics and subsidized into gloom.
"Dost thou remember me, Hester, as [
was nine years agone? Even then Twas
in the autumn of my days, nor was it
the early autumn. But all my life had
been made up of earnest, studious.
thoughtful, quiet years, bestowed faith
fully for the increase Of mine own
knowledge, and faithfully, too, though
this latter object was but casual to the
other-faithfully for the advancement
of human welfare. No life had been
more peaceful and innocent than mine;
few lives so rich with benefits conferred.
Dost thou remember me? Was l not,
though you might deem me cold, never
theless a man thoughtful for others,
craving little for himself-kind, true.
lust and of constant, if not warm affec-
tons? Was not all this?'
eAll this and more said Hester.
"And what am l now?" demanded he,
looking into her face and permitting
the whole evil within him to be written
on his features. 81 have already told
thee what am! A fiendl Who made
me sog'
at was myselfy' cried Hester, shud-
dering. ut was / not less than he.
Why hast thou not avenged myself ON
me?"
II have left thee to the scarlet letter.
replied Roger Chillingworth. If that
have not avenged me can do no more4'
He laid his finger on it with a smile.
at has avenged theew answered Hes
ter Prynne
Il judged no less, said the physician
"And now, what wouldst thou with
me touching this mann
81 must reveal the secret, answered
Hester firmly. He must discern thee
in thy true character. What may DO
the result, know not. But this long
debt of confidence, due from me to him,
whose bane and ruin have been, shall
at length be paid. So far as concerns
the overthrow or preservation of his fair
fame and his earthly state, and per-
chance his life, he is in thy hands. Nor
do Whom the scarlet letter has dis
ciplined to truth, though it be the truth
of red hot iron entering into the soul
nor do perceive such advantage in his
living any longer life Of CHASTITY empti-
ness that shall stoop to implore thy
mercy. Do with him as thou Wilt
There is no good for him-no good for
memo good for theel There is no good
for little Pearll There is no path to
guide us out of this dismal maze"
''Woman, could well nigh pity thee!'
said Roger Chillingworth, unable to re-
strain thrill of admiration, too, for
there was a quality almost majestic in
the despair which she expressed Thou
hadst great elements. Peradventure.
hadst thou met earlier with better love
than mine, this evil had not been. pity
thee for the good that has been wasted
in thy nature"
sAnd thee, answered Hester Prynne,
lot Lao N,.o,, 81 al n,
wise and just man to a fiendl Wilt thou
vet purge it out of thee and be once
more human? If not for his sake, then
doubly for thine own. Forgive, and
leave his further retribution to the Pow
er that claims it. | said, but now, that
there could be no good event for him or
thee or me, who are here wandering to-
gether in this gloomy maze of evil and
stumbling at every step over the guilt
wherewith we have strewn our path.
1t is not sol There might be good for
thee, and thee alone, since thou hast
been deeply wronged, and hast it at thy
will to pardon. Wilt thou give up that
only privilege? Wilt thou reject that
priceless benefit"
'Peace, Hester, peaeep replied the
old man, with gloomy sternness. ut is
not granted me to pardon. l have no
such power as thou tellest me of. My
old faith, long forgotten, comes back to
me and explains all that we do and all
we suffer. BY thy first step awry thou
didst plant the germ Of evil, but since
that moment it has all been dark
necessity. Ye that have wronged me
r..I -, rtr,1 If fksaf
illusion; neither am | fiendike, who
have snatched fiend's Office from his
hands. 1t is our fate. Let the black
flower blossom as it mayl Now go thy
ways, and deal as thou wilt with yonder
man."
He waved his hand and betook him
self again to his employment Of gather
ing herbs.
'tBe it sin or no" said Hester Prynne
bitterly, as she still gazed after him, II
hate the man"
She upbraided herself for the senti-
ment, but could not overcome or lessen
it. Attempting to do SO she thought OF
those long past days in distant land,
when he used to emerge at eventide from
the seclusion of his study and sit down
! in the freight Of their home and in the
light Of her nuptial smile. He needed
to bask himself in that smile, he said, in
order that the chill Of 50 many lonely
hours among his books might be taken
| off the scholars heart. Such scenes had
once appeared not otherwise than happy,
but now, as viewed through the dismal
medium Of her subsequent life, they
/ classed themselves among her ugliest
remembrances. She marveled how such
scenes could have been. She maryeled
| how she could ever have been wrought
upon TO marry him. She deemed it her
crime most TO be repented of that she
had ever endured and reciprocated the
lukewarm grasp of his hand, and had
suffered the smile of her lips and eyes TO
mingle and mek into his own. And it
seemed fouler offense committed by
Roger Chillingworth than any which
| had since been done him that, in tho
time when her heart knew no better, no
had persuaded her to fancy herself happy
by his side.
eyes, | hate himT repeated Hester,
more bitterly than before. ''He be-
trayed me. He has done me worse
wrong than | did hinf'
Let men tremble TO win the hand Of
woman, unless they win along with it
the utmost passion Of her hearth Else it