San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-06-27

with thee!' cried Hester Prynne, who,
elf ,childS part AT other seasons, was
naturally anxious for a more seemly de-
pertinent now. Leap across the brook,
naughty,child, and run hither! Else i
must come TO theel"
But Pearl not a whit startled at her
mothers threats, any more than molli-
fled by her entreaties, now suddenly
hurst int0 fit of passion, gestieulating
violently and throwing her small figure
into the most extraxagant contnrtions.
She ACCOMPANIED this wild outbreak
with piercil-g shrieks, which the woods
reHerberated on all sides; so that, alone
as she was in her childish and unreason-
able wrath, it seemed as if hidden
multitude were lending her their SYM
patby and encouragement. Seen Mn the
brook once more was the shadowy&raith
of PEARLS image, crowned and ,girdled
with flowers, but stamping its foot,
wildly gesliculating, and in the midst of
all still pointing its small forefnger at
Hester's bosom!
'4I,see what ails the child - whispered
Hester to the clergyman, and turning
pale la spite of strong effort to conceal
her trouhle and annoyance. Children
will not abide any, the slightest, change
in the accustomed aspect of things that
are daily before their eyes. Pearl
misses something which she has always
seen me wear!
Il pray you answered the minister.
IF thou hast any means of pacifying the
child, do it forthwith! Save it Were the
leankered wrath of an old witch, like
Mistress Hibbins,'' added he, attempting
tesmile. Il know nothing that would
not sooner encounter than this passion
in B. child. In Pearls young beauty. as
in the wrinkled witch, it has prefer
natural effect. Pacify her, if thou lowest
me-
.Hester turned again toward Pearl.
with a crimson blush upon her cheek, a
conscious glance aside at the clergyman.
and then a heavy sigh: while, even be-
fore She had time to speak, the blush
yielded to a deadly pallor.
Pearl" said she sadly. "]ook down at
thy feeti There!-before thee!-on the
hither side of the brook"
The child turned her eyes to the point
indicated. and there lay the scarlet let
ter, so close upon the margin of the
stream that the gold embroidery was re-
fected in it.
Bring it hitherr' said Hester.
Come thou and take it up!" answered
Pearl.
WAS ever such childr' observed
Hester aside to the minister. ''Oh,
have much to tell thee about her!
But in very truth she is right as regards
this hateful token. must bear its tor
ture yet little longer-only a few
days longer-until we shall have left
this region, and look back hither as to
land which we have dreamed of. The
forest cannot hide it! The midocean
shall take it from my hand and swallow
it up foreyerr'
With these words she advanced to the
margin of the brook, took up the scarlet
letter and fastened it again into her
BOSOM Hopefully, but moment ago,
as Hester had spoken of drowning it in
the deep sea, there was a sense of inevi-
table doom upon her, as she thus received
back this deadly symbol from the hand
of fate. She had flung it into infinite
space-she had drawn an hours free
breath-and here'again was the scarlet
misery, glittering on the old spot! So it
ever is, whether thus typitied 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 if there
were 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,
child?" asked she reproachfully, but
with subdued tone. wilt thou come
across the brook and own thy mother,
now that she has her shame upon her
now that she is sadT'
Eyes: now will" answered the child,
bounding across the brook, and clasp
ing Hester in her arms. Now thou art
my mother indeed 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 too!