The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-08-25
IKE HESTER PRYNNE
Josie Hamilton Did Penance
Before the Church.
LIKEWISE, LIKE HESTER
She Finds What a Woma?'s
Expiation Means.

dist church at Darlington. Ind, va:
crowded last Sunday as it had not beer
since its dedication.
II is small frame church, painted white
with green shades. The pitching posts
where meek horses. whose heads drooE
nearly TO the ground. in apparent devo-
ton. are white. 100. The young women
wear white dresses. and the young meu
trousers OF white duck or linen. There
| is a general air OF immaculateness with
out. Within there was an air of frank
curiosity On last Sunday.
Two blocks away was the Presbyterian
church. brick, imposing-and almost de-
serted The handful of worshippers look
I'd regretfuly in the direction OF the
Methodist church, whittier most OF theiE
fellows had gone.
Clearly Darlington was enjoying the
thrill OF a novel sensation.
She who had favored il thus sat IN a
middle pew well toward the front in the
white frame church. She had a pair OF
shapely shoulders. a well poised dark
head, a pretty curved pale olive cheek,
and in the fleeing gIimpses that could be
caught Of them her eyes looked black
as midnight, sad as grief.
That is Josie Hamilton. Rich girl
Going TO make a confession today wits
pered the delighted villagers to che curl
Gus strangers.
Most Of the audience were women. They
famed themselves, nudged each other and
looked as though they enjoyed II all.
might be seen in the faces OF the men,
but when they caught the eyes Of the
women it was gone. The rule feminine
in all matters matrimonial is recognized
in Darlington.
The stiffness of death chamber hung
over the little church. Every face was
pale and set. The congregation half fear
ed to breathe lest q shade upon the olive
face or a sound from the quiet figure
in the middle pew might escape It.
Josie Hamilton was terribly alone The
lonliness Of penance. the awful isolation
Of sorrow oppressed her. She longed
to cry out. Hers was the solitude of
soul Of Hester Prynne as she stood upon
the scafoId in the market place, the
scarlet letter af1ame on her bosom. the
jeers of derisive holiness in her ears.
The singing was weak and spiritless
The little church choir sang Winter
Than Snow" and the congregation joined
in an occasiona line, stopping to look
at the girl in the middle pew. well up
near the front. Her dark head was bowed
Her shoulders shook with her sobs. a
slender arm supported her and a head
wearing a widows bonnet bent over her
Mrs. Hamilton was supporting her daugf-
ter in her trial.
The Rev. Mr.. Broomfeld's voice was
husky. He wiped his spectacles and then
his eyes. He had baptized the girl sob
bing there before him. He had made
many a good-humored jest about per-
forming her marriage ceremony as well.
He loved her as his own daughter. Some
times there is a demand for heroism
from humble village preachers.
He announced his text: For II We for
give men their tresspasses. your Heavenly
Father will also forgive you. But, If you
forgive men not their trespasses. neither
VIII your Father forgive your tresspasses''
The preacher tod of the soul dangers Of
sin. He talked OF the Nemesis that pur-
sues the sinner. He dwelt upon the beau
" of charity and the divinity OF for
giveness.
a tender eve lamb was strayed from
the fold. she wandered into forbidden
paths. but she had returned peniteut, beg
ging the forgiveness OF the Great Shep-
herd and His followers" The preach
er's voice trembied
Sister Josie, have I not told the truth 30
he asked in closing.
Nobody heard a word that good Brother
Broomfeld. the preacher, was saying. but
when he looked al Miss Hamilton and
nodded every eye followed his.
She caught weakly az the railing be-
side her. but sha steaGied herself with
something ike pride. The wall at her
voice trembled. though she set her teeth
in Der effort 70 steady II.
1T IS all true" she said. II confess
it all"
L was very little but II was quite
enough. The villagers understood. AL
their teacup and backyard gossip was
true then The village Doctor loved her
and she him, and she vas "brazen
enough" 70 confess It
The women leaned back WITH an air %
supreme satisfaction. Tney famed them
selves with emphasis Again they check
81 the budding sympa eaies OF their
spouses.
And The young woman squared her
shoulders and set her lips ii much the
same fashion as id Hester Pryn1e OF
ne scaToId couple OF centuries before
They had exp-ated their faults They
would abase themselves 10 more.
Mr. Broonfeid prayed loudly. then
asked how many o. The congregation
would forgive -he girl Hal: % TIE audi
cree rose 7. vas noticeable that many o.
the number ware from the deserted
church two blocks away. All The s.rarg
e-s rose. - did n very few o the Rev
NJ B-9orafeld's fock
When the service was ended three men
pressed forward . grasp Mss Eauilton's
hand. Two were from tie deserted
en- urch. Two blocks away one was z
stranger
Rev 8Ir Broomael5's fock passed Josie
Hamilton As eha Salem Paritsas passed
Hester Prynne. win d3~zczs- games
and without a word Tas1 she eft re
churcn one pale sight woman walked BE-
side her L vas as- notner-
Jose HamsIt7a-s ostrzc.su had begun
L * Hester P-ynze's 8. VII e1d only
WITH death
DR.. Co1msa uet Mss Hamilton a.
garden fee IN Darlington q year AKA.
He rad cone from Illinois sso-:iy before.
bringing wsth him 2 reputation to- ski