The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1893-07-14

| 1eTC Dy the retiring tide as a mirror for
Pearl to see her face in. Forth peeped
at her out of the pool, with dark, glisten-
ing curls around her head, and an elf
smile In her eyes, the image of a little
maid whom Pearl, having no other play
mate, invited to take her hand and run
race with her. But the visionary lit
| tie maid, on her part, beckoned likewise.
as if to say: This is a better placei
Come thou into the poolI'' And Pearl,
stepping in midleg deep, beheld her own
white feet at the bottom, while out of a
still lower depth came the CLEAN of a
kind of fragmentary smile, floating to
and fro in the agitated water.
! Meanwhile her mother had accosted
the physician.
81 would speak word with you"
said she; ''a word that concerns us
much.'
''Aha! and is it Mistress Hester that
has a word for old Roger Chilling
worth?" answered he, raising himself
from his STOPPING posture. with all
my hearth Why, mistress, hear good
| tidings of you on all handsi No longer
ago than yester eve q magistrate, wise
and godly man, was discoursing Of your
|
me that there had been question con-
corning you in the council 1t was de-
bated whether or no, with safety to the
common veal, yonder scarlet letter
might be taken off your bosom. On my
life, Hester, made my entreaty to the
worshipful magistrate that it might be
done forthwith
sit lies not in the pleasure of the
magistrates to take off this badge"
calmly replied Hester. ''Were worthy
to be quit of it, it would fall away of its
own nature. or be transformed into
something that should speak different
purport.'
''Nay, then, wear it if it suit you bet
| ter" rejoined he. ga woman must
needs follow her own fancy touching
the adornment of her person. The let
ter is gayly embroidered and shows
right bravely on your bosomI'
All this while Hester had been look
ing steadily at the old man, and was
shocked as well as wonder smitten to
discern what change had been wrought
upon him within the last seven years.
1t was not so much that he had grown
older, for though the traces of advancing
and seemed to retain a why vigor and
alertness. But the former aspect of an
intellectual and studious man, calm and
quiet, which was what she best remem-
bered in him, had altogether vanished
and been succeeded by an eager, search
ing, almost fierce, yet carefully guarded
look. It seemed to be his wish and pur-
pose to mask this expression with a
smile, but tho latter played him false
and fickered over his visage so deri-
sively that the spectator could see his
blackness all the better for it. Ever
and anon, too, there came a glare of red
light out of his eyes, as if the old mans
soul were on fire and kept on smolder-
ing duskily within his breast, until, by
some casual puff of passion, it was blown
into a mOmentary flame. This he re-
pressed as speedily as possible and strove
to look as if nothing of the kind had
happened.
In a word, old Roger Chillingworth
was striking evidence of mans faculty
of transforming himself into a devil if he
will only for reasonable space of time
undertake DEVILS Office. This unhappy
person had effected such a transforma-
ton by devoting himself for seven years
to the constant analysis of heart full
of torture and deriving his enjoyment
thence, and adding fuel to those fiery
fortunes which he analysed and gleated
over.
The scarlet letter burned on Hester
Prynne's bosom. Here was another
ruin, the responsibility of which came
partly home to her.
''What see you in my face" asked the
physician, "that you look at it SO ear
nestly?"
Something that would make me weep
if there were any tears bitter enough for
it, answered she. But let it passi It
is of yonder miserable man that l would
speak"
''And what of himT' cried Roger Chill
lingwOrth eagerly, as if he loved the
topic and were glad of an opportunity
to discuss it with the only person of
whom he could make a confdant. mot
to hide the truth, Mistress Hester, my
thoughts happen just now to be busy
with the gentleman. So speak freely,
and will make answer"
''When we last spake together" said
Hester, "now seven years ago, it was
your pleasure to extort a promise of
secrecy as touching the former relation
betwixt yourself and me-. As the life
and good fame of yonder man were i'll
your hands, there seemed no choice to
me save to be silent in accordance with
your behest. Yet it was not without
heavy misgivings that thus bound my
self, for, having cast off all duty toward
other human beings, there remained a
duty toward him, and something whis-
pered me that l was betraying it in
pledging myself to keep your counsel
Since that day no man is so near to him
as you. You tread behind his every
footstep. You are beside him, sleeping
and waking. You search his thoughts.
You burrow and rankle in his heart.
Your clutch is on his life, and you cause
him to die daily living death, and still
he knows you not. In permitting this
have surely acted false part by the
only man to whom the power was left
me to be trueI'
what choice had your asked Roger
Chilingworth. my finger pointed at
this man would have hurled him from
his pulpit into a dungeon-thence, per-
adventure, to the ga1lowsl''
cit had been better soF' said Hester