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

with ray of sunshine that was attract
ed thitherward as by a certain sympathy.
In the brook beneath stood another
child--another and the same-with like
wise its ray of golden light. Hester felt
herself, in some indistinct and tantaliz.
ing manner. estranged from Pearl: as II
the child. in her lonely ramble through
the forest, had s aged out of the sphere
in which she and her mother dwelt to
gether, and was now vainly seeking to
return to it.
There was both truth and error In the
impression; the child and mother were
estranged, but through Hester's fault,
not Pearls. Since the latter rambled
from her side another inmate had been
admitted within the circle of the moth.
er's feelings, and so modified the aspect
of them all that Pearl, the returning
wanderer, could not find her wonted
place, and hardly knew where she was.
81 have strange fancy" observed the
sensitive minister, 'that this brook is
the boundary between two worlds. and
thou canst never meet thy Pearl again.
Or is she an elfsh spirit. who, as the
legends Of our childhood taught US. is
forbidden to cross a running streami
Pray hasten her. for this delay has al
ready impaired tremor to my nerves.
"Come, dearest childr' said Hester on
couragingly, and stretching out both
her arms. "How slow thou artl When
hast thou been so sluggish before nowi
Here is friend of mine, who must be
thy friend also. Thou wilt have twice
as much love henceforward as thy
mother alone could give thee! Leap
across the brook and come to us. Thou
canst leap like a young deerr'
Pearl, without responding in any man.
ner to these honey sweet expressions, re-
manned on the other side of the brook.
Now she fixed her bright. wild eyes on
her mother, now on the minister, and
now included them both in the same
glance, as IL to detect and explain to
herself the relation which they bore to
one another. For some unaccountable
reason. as Arthur Dilnmesdale felt the
child's eyes upon himself, his hand
with that gesture 30 habitual as to have
become Neutrality-suspicious. over his
heart. At length. assuming singular
air Of authority, Pearl stretched out her
hand, with the small forefnger extend.
ed and pointing evidently toward her
mothers breast. And beneath, in the
mirror Of the brook, there was the flower
girdled and sunny image of little Pearl
pointing her small forefnger too.
Thou strange child, why dost thou
not come to mer' exclaimed Hester.
Pearl still pointed with her forefnger,
and frown gathered Oh her brow--the
more impressive from the childish, the
almost babylike aspect Of the features
that conveyed it, AS her mother still
kept beckoning to her. and arraying her
face in holiday suit of unaccustomed
smiles, the child stamped her foot with
yet more imperious look and gesture.
In the brook again was the fantastic
beauty of the image, with its reflected
frown, its pointed finger and imperious
gesture, giving emphasis to the aspect of
little Pearl.
Hasten, Pearl, or | shall be angry
with theeT cried Hester Prynne, who,
however Injured to such behavior on the
elf child's part at other seasons, was
naturally anxious for more seemly de-
pertinent now. Leap across the brook,
child, and run hither! Else
must come to thee"
But Pearl, not a whit startled at her
mothers threats, any more than molli-
fed by her entreaties, now suddenly
burst into fit of passion, gesticulating
violently and throwing her small figure
into the most extravagant contortions
She accompanied this wild outbreak
with piercing shrieks, which the woods
reverberated on all sides; 80 that, alone
as she was in her childish and unreason-
able wrath, 1t seemed as IL hidden
multitude were lending her their SYM
pathy and encouragement. Seen in the
brook once more was the shadowy wrath
Of PEARLS image, crowned and girdled
with flowers, but stamping it's foot,
wildly gesticulating, and in the midst of
al still pointing its small forefnger at
Hester's bosomi
81 see what ails the child" whispered
Hester to the clergyman. and turning
pale in spite Of strong effort to conceal
her trouble and annoyance. "Cnlldren
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 wearr'
81 pray you, answered the minister,
IF thou hast any means Of pacifying the
child, do it forthwith Save it were the
cankered wrath of an old witch, like
Hibbins." added he, attempting
10 smile. 81 know nothing that would
not sooner encounter than this passion
In a child. In PEARLS young beauty, us
In the wrinkled witch, 1t has prefer
natural effect. Pacify her. If thou lowest
mel" ~
Hester turned again toward Pearl.
with crimson blush upon her cheek, a
glance aside at the Clergyman.
and then heavy sigh; while, even be-
lore she had time to speak. the blush
Yielded to deadly pallor.
pearl" said she sadly. "look down at
Thy feetl Therei-before theei--on the
hither side of the BROOKE"
The child turned her eyes TO the point
and there lay the scarlet let
;er, 30 close upon the margin Of the
stream that the gold embroidery was re-
iected in It,
"Bring 1t hitherT' said Hester.
"Come thou and take 1t upl" answered
Pearl.
WAS ever such childr' observed
Hester aside TO the minister. "Oh,
rave much to tell thee about heri
But in very truth she In right as regards