The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-08-25

over application to study. she IS
threatened with severe nervous disorder.
perhaps paralysis. perhaps insanity" was
DR.. Cofman's decision.
He attended her last winter. HI warned
her against the danger OF catching cold
He forbade dancing He positively pro-
hibited study He guarded so prosaic q
thing as her diet.
AS the spring found her again her raj
dant self she was conscious OF a warm
gratitude for her physician. And ne
found his professional interest deepening
into something more purely personal.
II was time for warning word. but no
one said IT, No one heard the distant
Josie and the doctor. and they did not
frown the sprite away. Perhaps con-
science did some stern clamoring. but
hearts are insurgent things. more troub-
lescme than couseiences.
When the wild rose-bloon returned TO
Josie's cheeks the doctor continued his
calls. The neighbors wondered q. this.
especially as ne and his patient SAT- on
the veranda in the shade Of the June
roses and chatted and laughed right mer-
rily. There was nought OF nostrUms in
this cure that DR.. Cofman had wrought
Upon this point they were agreed Il
was not until one evening when she walk
ed TO the gate beside him and he. car
rled way by the spell OF the rose-cented
air and the starlight and the beautiful
face before him, and forgetful OF the
nei dbors, dared 70 lift her hands to his
lips.
The neighbors could not sleep for ex-
element az their discovery. and the next
day the little town OF 900 souls was agog
with the story.
With the roar OF thscity in your ears
it is easy 70 forget 50 nght-as-sir 2 trtfe.
Midst country calm It IS as disturbing
as the fall Of a bomb.
1t might have been natural for the VII
Iage doctor to forget his invalid, middle
aged wife in thecharms of the village
belle but It was monstrousIy wicked.
nevertheless. thought the villagers. It
might have been natural for Hester Pry-
mes heart TO go out 60 her young pas
tor in those Puritan times. but the village
gossips pronounced their story a breath
from hell.
AS the brand was soreordained by pub
lie sentiment for Hester Prynne. so was
shame allotted to Josie Hamilton by the.
village censors. They were equally mex
orable. B
Wrong may seem a rose-Hned path
until the secret of it is shown by an IN
sympathetic soul who views it in the IN
romantic light OF reality. Then IS the
prick Of the thorns left. Then do the
flowers wither.
1t was a vagrant scrap OF gossip TO-
showed Josie Hamilton's romance 70 her
own eyes as it seemed 20 her critics. HUI
inflated, her slumbering conscience
awoke. The fatal impulse 10 confession
was upon her" She sent for her pastor.
Il do not know what have been think
ing Of she declared to him. Il have done
wrong. What shall I do to right it?'
Confess to the church and il VIII for
give you said the good simple Old
pastor, and Josie, after much wrestling
in prayer, consented
DR.. Conman was away. She gava him
no warning OF her intention. Nor did
she consider the grief OF her widowed
mother, nor the chagrin OF her brother
The single and selfish aim OF the fanatic
was hers-to set her soul right in the eyes
of God. That public avowal OF her
never doubted.
L was whispered about, as Il IS wins
pered in the most cody communities.
that somethig stirring would occur ext
Sunday at the IttIe Methodist church
to which Josie Hamilton belonged 50
X was that the Presby terrain church
where DR.. Conman was choir master
and the Sunday School superintendent
was deserted by all but the handful Of
worshippers. who cast longing eyes out
OF the window in the direction OF tue
white frame church.
josie Hamilton had heard most % re
town gossip BY this tine. She knew
that the romance that had seemed so
beautiful 10 her had been dragged
through the mire and became q base.
unIovely thing even in her own eyes
She knew that her simple formula was
enough. she and the eagre villagers IN
derstood each othe-.
It IS all true, she said, with a child
ISL quavering voice. 7 confess IL all
Hester Pryune said nothing She only
turned her white face upon the hooaug
mob o. CHRISTIANS IN mute confession
willie the scarlet Letter famed upon her
breast The language OF guilt and GRIEF
IS simple
u Hester Prynne expected 20 see a look
q sorrow = one face up-urnsd % Ter
shameful pedestal the market place.
she was mistaken II Josie Hamilton ez-
pectAd one nand-c]asp from q woman
member % Der pastors Eock, she vas
Both confessed their wrong