The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1893-06-30

stone Of departed worthy-perhaps of
Isaac johnson himself-she began to
dance upon it. in reply to her mothers
command and entreaty that she would
behave more decorously, little Pearl
paused to gather the prickly burrs from
tall burdock which grew beside the
tomb. Taking handful of these, she
arranged them along the lines of the
scarlet letter that decorated the mater
nal bosom, to which the burrs, as their
nature was, tenaciously adhered. Hes
ter did not pluck them off.
Roger Chillingworth had by this time
approached the window. and smiled
grimly down.
"There is no law, nor reverence for
authority, no regard for human ordi-
nances or opinions, right or wrong, mixed
up with that child's composition" re-
marked he, as much to himself as to his
companion. 81 saw her the other day
bespatter the governor himself with
water at the cattle trough in Spring
lane. What, in heavens name, is she?
Is the imp altogether evil? Hath she
affections? Hath she any discoverable
principle of beingY
"None-save the freedom of broken
law" answered Mr.. Dimmesdale in
quiet way, as if he had been discussing
the point within himself. Whether
capable of good know not"
The child probably overheard their
voices, for looking up to the window,
with a bright but naughty snile of
mirth and intelligence, she threw one
of the prickly burrs at the Reverend Mr..
Dimmesdale. The sensitive clergyman
shrunk with nervous dread from the
light missile. Detecting his emotion,
Pearl clapped her little hands in
the most extravagant ecstasy. Hester
Prynne likewise had involuntarily
looked up, and all these four persons,
old and young, regarded one another in
silence, till the child laughed aloud and
shouted: Come away, mother! Come
away, OF yonder old black man will
catch you'll He hath got hold of the
minister already. Come away, mother,
or he will catch you'll But he cannot
catch little Pearll"
So she drew her mother away, skip
ping, dancing and frisking Enthusiastically
among the hillocks of the dead people,
like creature that had nothing in COM
mon with a bygone and buried genera
ton, nor owned herself akin to it. 1t
was as if she had been made afresh, out
of new elements, and must perforce be
permitted to live her own life and be
law unto herself, without her eccentrici-
ties being reckoned to her for Il crime.
There goes a woman, resumed ROg-
y Chillingworth after a pause, "who,
be her dement's what they may, hath
none of that mystery of hidden sinful
ness which you deem so grievous to be
borne. Is Hester Prynne the less mis-
cradle, think you, for that scarlet letter
on her breast?''
81 do verify believe it," answered the
swer for her. There was look of pain
in her face which l would gladly have
been spared the sight of. But still, me-
thinks, it must needs be better for the
sufferer to be free to show his pain, as
this poor woman Hester is, than to cover
it all up in his heart"
There was another pause, and the ply
stefan began anew to examine and ar
range the plants which he had gathered.
"You inquired of me, little time
agone," said he at length, my judg-
ment as touching your health.
81 did," answered the clergyman,
land would gladly learn it. Speak
frankly, pray you, be it for life or
death?"
Freely, then, and plainly" said the
physician, still busy with his plants, but
keeping wary eye on Mr.. Dimmesdale,
''the disorder is a strange one: not so
much in itself, nor as outwardly mani
fested-in so far at least as the symp-
toms have been laid open to my obser-
walton. Looking daily at you, my good
sir, and watching the tokens of your as
pect now for months gone by, should
deem you man sore sick it may be,
yet not so sick but that an instructed
and watchful physician might well hope
to cure you. Butt know not what to
say-the disease is what seem to know
yet know it not"
''You speak in riddles, learned sir, !"
said the pale minister, glancing aside
out of the window.
''Then, to speak more plainly" con-
tinued the physician, land 1 crave par
don, sir-should it seem to require par
don-for this needful plainness of my
speech. Let me ask-as your friend-as
one having charge, under Providence, Of
your life and physical well being-hath
all the operation of this disorder been
fairly laid open and recounted to me?'
Glow can you question it?' asked the
minister. Surely, it were child's play
to call in physician and then hide the
soreI''
'You would tell me then that l know
all?" said Roger Chillingworth deliber-
ately, and fixing an eye, bright with in
tense and concentrated intelligence, on
the minister's face. ''Be it sol But
againl He to whom only the outward
and physical evil is laid open lnoweth
oftentimes but half the evil which he is
called upon to cure. A bodily disease,
which we look upon as whole and entire
within itself, may after all be but a
symptom of some ailment in the spirit
ual part. Your pardon once again, good
sir, if my speech give the shadow of
offense. You, sir, of all men whom
have known, are he whose body is the
closest conjoined and imbued and iden-
titled, so to speak, with the spirit where
of it is the instrument"
ssThen ! need ask no further" said
the clergyman, somewhat hastily rising
from his chair. "You deal not, take
it. in medicine for the soul?''