The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1893-06-09
IHE SCARLET LETTER.
By NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE
CHAPTER III.
THE INTERVIEW.


After her return to the prison, Hester
Prynne was found to be in a state of
nervous excitement that demanded con-
slant watchfulness. lest she should per
petrate violence on herself or do some
half frenzied mischief to the poor babe.
As night approached, it proving impos-
sible to queli her characterization by
rebuke or threats of punishment, Master
Bracket, the jailer, thought fit to intro
duce physician. He described him as
a man of skill in all Christian modes of
physical science, and likewise familiar
with whatever the savage people could
teach in respect to medicinal herbs and
roots that grew in the forest. To say
the truth. there was much need Of pro
Aessional assistance, not merely for Hes
FER herself, but still more urgently for
the child; who, drawing its sustenance
from the maternal bosom, seemed to
have drank in with it all the turmoil,
the anguish and despair which per-
yaded the mothers system. It now
writhed in commissions Of pain, and was
a forcible type, in its little frame, of the
moral agony which Hester Prynne had
borne throughout the day.
Closely following the jailer into the
dismal apartment appeared that indi-
vidual of singular aspect whose pres
ence in the crowd had been of such deep
interest to the wearer of the scarlet let
ter. He was lodged in the prison, not
as suspected of any offense, but as the
most convenient and suitable mode of
disposing Of him until the magistrates
should have conferred with the Indian
sagamores respecting his ransom. His
name was announced as Roger Chilling
worth The jailer after ushering him
into the room remained moment, mar
yelling at the comparative quiet that fol-
lowed his entrance; for Hester Prynne
had Immediately become as still as
death, although the child continued to
moan.
.'Prithee, friend, leave me alone with
my patient" said the practitioner.
Crust me, good jailer, you shall briefly
have peace in your house; and promise
you Mistress Prynne shall hereafter be
more amenable to just authority than
you may have found her heretofore"
Nay, if your worship can accomplish
that" answered Master Bracket, 81
shall own you for man of skill indeed
Verify, the woman hath been like a
possessed one, and there lacks little
that / should take in hand to drive
satan out of her with stripes"
The stranger had entered the room
with the characteristic quietude of the
profession to which he announced him
self as belonging. Nor did his demeanol
change when the withdrawal of the
prison keeper left him face to face witt
the woman, whose absorbed notice o.
him in the crowd had intimated so close
a relation between himself and her
His first care was given to the child
whose cries, indeed, as she lay writhine
on the trundlebed. made it of peremp
tory necessity to postpone all othe
business to the task Of soothing her. III
examined the infant carefully and thel
proceeded to unclasp a leathern case
which he took from beneath his dress
It appeared to contain medical prepare
tions. one of which he mingled with
cup of water.
my old studies in alchemy" observes
he, ''and my sojourn, for above a yea
past, among people well versed in tn
kindly properties of simples have mad
better physician of me than many tina
claim the medical degree. Here, woman
The child is yours, she is none of mine
neither will she recognize my voice c
aspect as a fathers. Administer thi
draft, therefore, with thine own hand.
Hester repealed the offered medicine
at the same time gazing with strongl
marked apprehension into his face.
"Wouldst thou avenge thyself on th
innocent babe?" whispered she.
"Foolish womanl" responded the phi!
stefan, half coldly, half soothingl.
s'What should all me, to harm this mi
begotten and miserable babe? II
medicine is potent for good; and were
nv child-yea, mine own, as we'll /;
thine-I could do no better for it. "
AS she still hesitated. being, in fac
in no reasonable state of mind, he toe
the infant in his arms and himself a.
ministered the draft. It soon proved /
efficacy and redeemed the leech's pledg
The means of the little patient subside
its convulsive tossings gradually cease
and in a few moments, as is the custo
of young children after relief from PAL
it sank into a profound and dewy slur
Der. The physician, as he had ia
right to be termed, next bestowed b
attention on the mother. With calm al
intent scrutiny he felt her pulse, look
into her eyes-a gaze that made n
heart shrink and shudder, because so
miliar and yet so strange and cold-al
finally, satisfied with his investigate
proceeded to mingle another draft
ST know not Lethe nor Nepenthe," l
marked he, ''but have learned maj
new secrets In the wilderness, and he
is one of them-a recipe that an Indi
taught me IN requital of some lessons
my own that were as old as Paracelsr
Drink It'll It may be less soothing tn
a sinless conscience. That cannot q
thee. But it will calm the swell a
heaving of thy passion, like oil throN
on theswayes of tempestuous sea.
He presented the cup to Hester, "
received it with slow, earnest look il
his face-not precisely look OF fe'
yet full Of doubt and questioning as
what his purposes might be. She LOOK
also at her slumbering child.
al have thought of death, said she
.sinave wished for it-would even Ia
PRAYED for it were it fit that such a.
should pray for anything. Yet if de-
be in this cup bid thee think again
thou beholdest me quaff it. Seel 1t
even now at my lips.
Drink, then, replied he, still W
the same cold composure. ''Dost tl