The Washington herald., 1919-09-16
The Scarlet Letter
By NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE.
Condensation by George S. Barton. Winchester, Mass)

Dy ~ n Il[N4N IL L
Condensation by George S.
One summer morning over two
centuries ago the grass plot before
the Jail in Prison Lane was occupied
by many OF the inha bitants Of Bos-
ton The door opened and the town
beadle appeared followed by a
young woman carrying baby
about three months old. On the
breast of her gown. In red cloth.
appeared the letter A. and II was
that scarlet letter which drew all
eyes towards her.
The place appointed for her pun
ishment was not far from the prison
door and in spite OF the agony OF
her heart. Hester Prynne passed
with almost Il serene department to
the scanoId where the pillory was
set up, and under the weight OF
1000 unrelcntinE eyes the unhappy
prisoner sustained herself as best
woman might
A small Intelligent appearing man.
on the outskirts of the crowd at
tracted Hester's attention. and he in
his turn eyed her till. seeing that
she seemed to recognize him. he laid
his finger on his lips.
Then. speaking to townsman he
said: Il pray you. good sir. who is
this woman, and wherefore is she
here set up to public shame""
You must needs be a stranger
friend" Nraid the rownsman. else
you would have heard Of Mistress
Hester Prynne. She hath raised a
great scandal in godly Master Dim
IL To-.
therefore is death. but the magis-
her to stand a space of three hours
for the remainder of her life to
wear a mark OF shame in her
BOSOM"
~ wise sentence" remarked the
stranger. 1T irks me. neverthe-
less. that the partner of her in
iquity should not at least stand by
her side. But he will be known-he
will be known"
The Rev. Mr.. Dimmesdale. a young
minister OF high native gifts, who
had already wide cmfnence in his
profession, was urged to eNhort
Hester to repentance and confess
sion. Addressing her, he advised
that she name her fellow sinner
even il he had to step from a high
position to stand beside her. for It
was better so than to hide a guilty
heart through life.
Hester shook her head, keeping
her place upon the ped estal OF
shame with an air OF weary indif-
ference
That night her child writhed in con-
vulsions, and a physician. Mr.. Roger
Chilingworth. none other than the
stranger Hester had noticed in the
crowd. was called Having eased the
baby's pain. he turned and said:
Hester 1 ask not wherefore thou
hast fallen into the pit It was my
folly and thy weakness. What had I
"a man Of thought-to do with youth
and beauty like thine? I might have
known that in my long absence this
would happen
7 have greatly wronged thee" muir
INJURED Hester.
We have wronged each other" he
answered. But shall seek this man
whose name thou wilt not reveal. and
sooner OF later he must be mine 1
shall Contrive nothing against his life
Let him live One thing, thou that
vast my wife. ask Thou hast kept
his name secret Keep Iikewiose, mine
Let thy husband be to the world as
one already dead. and breathe not the
secret above all. to the man thou
wottest Of"
IT Will keep thy secret as have
his
Freed from prison, Hester did not
fee. but established herself in a small
cottage Just outside the town, incur
ring no risk OF want, for she possessed
the art of needlework, which provided
food for herself and child She had
named the little one Pearl as being
OF great price. and little Pearl grew
up lovely child People wished to
take her away. and the matter was
discussed In the mothers presence BY
Rev. John wilson, Rev. Mr.. Dtmmee-
dale and Dr. ChfffnFworth
God gave me the child" cried Hes
ter. and turning to the young clergy
man, Mr. Dimmesdale. she exclaimed.
Speak thou for me Thou vast nv
pastor. Thou knowest what Is in my
and now much the stronger they are
and the scarlet letter! I VIII not loose
the child. Look to it,
There Is truth In what she says"
began the minister There Is a quail
ity OF awful sacredncss between this
mother and this child. It is good for
this poor. sinful woman that she hath
an infant confided to her care-to be
trained by her to righteousness Let
US leave them as providence hath
seen fit to place cnem!-
You speak, my friend. with a
strange earnestness." said Roger Chill
ingworth, smiling at him
He hath adduced such arguments
that we will even leave tae matter
as II now stands" said the governor.
The affair being so satisfactorily con-
cluded. Hester and Pearl departed.
Reverend Mr.. Dimmesdale's health
falling. he consulted DIT. Chilling
worth. Taking him as a patient the
doctor decided to know tie mans
inmost nature before trying to heal
him Arrangements were made for
the two men to lodge together SO
that he might be constantly under
the doctors observation.
AS DR.. Chillingworth proceeded wiz,
his Investigation. begun as he irnag-
ined with the, integrity OF a Judge
desirous only OF truth. a tu-rible
seized him and insisted
that he do its bidding He now dug
into the poor clergyman's heart, INK.
a miner seeking gold; and Mr..
Dimmesdale grew to look at him