San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-07-01

his knees. Hester Prynne-slowly, as if
impelled by inevitable fate and against
her strongest will-likewise drew near
but paused before she reached him. At
this instant old Roger Chillingworth
thrust himself through the crowd-or,
perhaps. so dark, disturbed and evil w"s
his look, he rose up out of some neither
region-to snatch back his victim from
what he sought to do! Be that as il
might, the old man rushed forward and
caught the minister by the arm.
Mailman, hold! what is your pur-
poser" whispered he. Wave back that
woman! Cast off, this child! All shall
be WE'LL Do not blacken your fame and
perish in dishonor! | can yet save you!
Would you bring infamy on your sacred
profession
"Ha, tempter! Methinks thou art too
iate!" answered the minister, encoun-
tering his eye fearfully but firmly.
Thy power is not what it was. With
Gods help shall escape thee now"
He again extended his hand to the
woman of the scarlet letter.
Hester Prynner cried he, with
piercing earnestness, lin the name of
him so terrible and so merciful, who
gifes me grace at this last moment TO
do what-for my own heavy sin and
miserable agony withheld myself
from doing seven years ago, come
hither now and Irvine thy strength
about me! Thy strength, Hester, but
let it be guided by the will which God
hath granted me! This wretched and
wronged old man is opposing it with all
his might-with all his own might and
the fends. Come, Hester, come! Sup
port me up yonder scaffold!''
The crowd was in tumult. The men
of rank and dignity who stood more i'm
mediately around the clergyman were
so taken by surprise and so perplexed as
to the purport of what they saw, unable
to receive tine explanation which most
readily presented itself or to imagine
any other. that they remained silent and
inactive spectators of the judgment
which Providence seemed about to work.
They beheld the minister, leaning on
Hesters shoulder and supported by her
arm around him, approach the scaffold
and ascend its steps, while still the little
hand of the sin born child was clasped
in his. Old Roger Chillingworth fol-
lowed as one intimately connected with
the drama of guilt and sorrow in which
they had all been actors, and well en-
titled, therefore, to be present at its
closing scene.
'Hadst thou sought the whole earth
over" said he, looking darkly at the
clergyman, there was no one place so
secret-no high place nor lowly place
where thou couldst have escaped me
save on this very scaffold!"
Thanks be to him who hath led me
hither" answered the minister.
Yet he tr. mbled and turned to Hester
with an expression of doubt and anxiety
in his eyes, not the less evidently be-
trayed that there was a feeble smile
upon his lips.
is not this better" murmured he,
than what we dreamed of in the for
est"
- know not! know notr she hur-
riedly replied. Better? Yea; SO we
may both die, and little Pearl die with
ls?"
"For thee and Pearl, be it as God shall |
order," said the minister; land God is
nerciful! Let me now do the will |
which he hath made plain before my
sight. For, Hester, am dying man.
So let me make haste to take my shame
upon me!'
Partly supported by Hester Pryne, and
holding one hand of little Pearls, the
Reverend Mr.. Dimmesdale turned to the
dignifed and venerable rulers; to the
holy ministers, who were his brethren;
to the people, whose great heart was
thoroughly appalled,, yet overtiowing
with fearful sympathy, as knowing that
some deep life matter-which, if full OF
sin, was full of anguish and repentance
Gkewise-was now to be laid open tC
them. The sun, but little past its me-
ridian, shone down upon the clergyman
and gave a distinctness to his figure as
he stood out from all the earth to put in
his plea of guilty at the bar of eternal
justice.
People of New England" cried he,
with a voice that rose over them, high,
solemn and majestic-yet had always
tremor through it, and sometimes
shrek, struggling up out of fathom.
less depth of remorse and wOe-';ye that
have loved me!-ye that have deemed
me holy-behold me here the one sinner
of the world. At last-at last stand
upon the spot where seven years since J
should have stood; here with this WON.
an, whose arm, more than the little
strength wherewith | have crept hither.
ward, sustains me at this dreadful mo-
ment from groveling down upon my
face! Lo, the scarlet letter which Hes.
ter wears! Ye have all shuddered at it