The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1893-06-16

hands, but whether from pride or resig-
nation, or feeling that her penance
might best be wrought out by this un-
utterable pain, she resisted the impulse
and sat erect, pale as death, looking
sadly into little PEARLS wild eyes, Still
came the battery of flowers, almost in
variably hitting the mark and covering
the mothers breast with hurts for which
she could find no balm in this world.
nor knew how to seek it in another. at
last, her shot being all expended, the
child stood still and gazed at Hester,
with that little, laughing image Of
iend peeping out-or, whether it peeped
or no, her mother so imagined it from
the unsearchable abyss of her black eyes.
''Child, what art thouT' cried the
mother.
'Oh, l am your little PearlI' answered
the child.
But while she said it Pearl laughed
and began to dance up and down with
the humorsome gesticulation of a little
| imp, whose next freak might be to fly up
the chimney.
cart thou my child. in very TRUTH
asked Hester.
Nor did she put the question altogether
idly, but for the moment with portion
of genuine earnestness, for such was
PEARLS wonderful intelligence that her
mother half doubted whether she was
not acquainted with the secret spell of
her existence and might not now reveal
herself.
eyes, am little Pearll'' repeated the
child, continuing her antics.
''Thou art not my child Thou art no
Pearl of miner said the mother half
| playfully, for it was often the case that
sportive influence came over her in the
midst of her deepest suffering. Tell
me, then, what art thou and who sent
thee hither."
''Ten me, motherI' said the child seri-
ously, coming up to Hester and pressing
herself close to her knees. do thou
tell meP'
"Thy Heavenly Father sent theer' an
swered Hester Prynne.
But she said it with hesitation that
did not escape the acuteness of the child.
Whether moved only by her ordinary
freakishness or because an evil spirit
prompted her, she put up her small fore
| finger and touched the scarlet letter.
''He did not send mer' cried she posi-
lively. ~ have no Heavenly FatherV'
''Hush, Pearl, hushI Thou must not
talk SOP answered the mother, sup
pressing groan. "He sent us all into
this world He sent even me, thy
mother. Then. much more theel Or.
if not, thou strange and elfish child.
whence didst thou conner"
"Tell mel Tell mer repeated Pearl,
no longer seriously, but laughing and
capering about the floor. "It is thou
that must tell mel"
But Hester could not resolve the
query, being herself in dismal labyrinth
of doubt. She Observation-Disclosures a
smile and shudder-the talk of the
neighboring townspeople who, seeking
vainly elsewhere for the child's pater-
nifty, and observing some of her odd
attributes, had given out that poor little
Pearl was demon offspring.
Hester Prynne went one day
to the mansion of Governor Bellinghan
with a pair of gloves, which she had
fringed and embroidered to his order,
and which were to be worn on some
great occasion of state, for, though the
chances of popular election had caused
this former ruler to descend a step or
two from the highest rank. he still held
An honorable and influential place among
the colonial magistracy.
Another and far more important
reason than the delivery of pair of en-
broidered gloves impelled Hester at this
time to seek an interview with a per-
sonage of so much power and activity in
the affairs of the settlement. It had
reached her ears that there was design
on the part of some of the leading in
habitants cherishing the more rigid
order of principles in religion and gov
eminent to deprive her of her child.
On the supposition that Pearl, as al
ready limited, was of demon origin, these
good people not unreasonably argued
that Christian interest in the mothers
soul required them to remove such a
stumbling block from her path. If the
child, on the other hand, were really
capable of moral and religious growth,
and possessed the elements of ultimate
salvation, then surely it would enjoy
all the fairer prospect of these advan-
tages by being transferred to wiser
and better guardianship than Hester
Prynne's. Among those who promoted
the design Governor Bellingham was
said to be one of the most busy.
AA "a COACCAAis OOO 81 COA-
scious of her own right that it seemed
scarcely an unequal match between the
public on the one side and a lonely wo-
man, backed by the sympathies of ma
ture, on the other, Hester Prynne sci
forth from her solitary cottage. Little
Pearl, of course, was her companion.
She was now of an age to run lightly
along by her mothers side, and con
stantly in motion from morn till sunset
could have accomplished much Longer
journey than that before her. Often
nevertheless, more from caprice thar
necessity, she demanded to be taken or
in arms; but was soon as imperious tt
be set down again, and frisked onward
before Hester on the grassy pathway
with many harmless trip and tumble
We have spoken of PEARLS rich and
luxuriant beauty: a beauty that shon'
. with deep and vivid tints: bright com
plexioh, eyes possessing intensity both o.
depth and glow, and hair already Of (
deep, glossy brown, and which In aftel
years would be nearly akin to black
There was fire IN her and Throughout
her; she seemed the unprecedented of
shoot Of a passionate moment. He.
mother, IN contriying the child's garb
J, had allowed the gorgeous tendencies o
her iTnza1iDafS00 their fIf1 NAV zrraviuS