The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-03-24

exercise of his skill. to wrest from him by the exercises of a malign ingenuity the hidden secrets of his soul--this was the task to which Roger Chillingworth addressed himself. He was constantly with him, even taking lodgings In the same house under the pretext of car ing for his physical ailments.
 There was one peculiarity of the clergyman which Chillingworth could not fully understand. Very frequently the young man would place his hand over his heart with a sudden gesture That he had some cardiac trouble, from which, indeed he was likely to die al any time, the old man knew. But Dim- mesdale would place his hand to his heart when he was suffering no physi- cal spasn. but when a sudden mental perturbation seemed to sweep over him.
 Cne day, in the presence of the physi- clan, Dimmesdale, who slept but little and that lightly, fell into deep slum- ber in his chain. A potion adminis- tered by the doctor had caused this. Old Roger stole over to him, opened his shirt front and barred the flesh above the young mans heart.
 What he saw there caused him to spring back and throw his hands above his head with the looks and gestures of a devil. What he had only suspected hefore he now knew to a certainty.
 From that hour Chillingworth became not only a spectator but an actor in his victims interior world. He had him forever on the rack arousing him to throbs of terror. remorse. agony. The minister lasted and kept vigils. He made himself little whip and scourg- ed himself at night.
 Steadily, remorselessly. Roger Chill ingworth was guiding his victim along the hath which led to insanity. This he did with a fiendish skill. paying upon every nerve of the young mans mind, upon every throb of his sickly body
 One dark night the minister. unable to near the terror or his thoughts. stole forth from his house and going to the market place ascended the scanold where, seven years before. Hester Prvnne had stood with her babe in her arms and the Scarlet Letter glowing on her bosom. There he raised his hands to heaven and in his agony shrieked aloud. But the town seemed all asleep. Only old Mistress Hibbins apparently heard and. thrusting forth her head from her lattice, looked anx- iousIy upward. He saw lantern com ing down the street. It was borne by old Father Wilson returning from the deathbed of Governor Winthrop. But the old man saw not the figure on the seaffold and passed by.
 Tho whole town would come forth in the morning. thought the minister, and find him there. Carried away byt the grotesque horror of the picture that he conjured up of the aspect of the various people who would see him he laughed aloud. The laugh was am swered by the laugh of a child out of the darkness. It was the laugh of lit- tie Pearl. Hester Prynne's child. He's ter had called her Pearl, having in mind 'She saying. "A pearl of great price, and heavy indeed had the price been which was paid for this Pearl. The child was returning with Hester from watching at the house of Governor Winthrop.
 Come up hither!" cried Dimmesdale You have both stood here before; but I was not with you. Come. and we will all three stand together"
 So the three stood there. holding each