El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-09-19

ErleuQ, EalQ the Tow 4SLlAls else u
would have heard Of mistress Hester
! Prynne. she hath raised great
SCANDAL in cody Master Dimmesdale S
cnuBch. the penalty thereof IS death,
Dut the nlaglsJracy, in their mercy,
nave uoomeu ner 10 stand a space OF
piIIOry, and for the remainder of her
life TO wear a mark OF shame in her
"A wise sentencer remarked the
stranger. cit inks me, nevertheless,
that the partner OF her lnlqulIy shouid
not at least stand by her side. But he
VIII be known-he viii be known"
The Rev. Mr.. Dimmesdale. a young
minister Of high native gifts. who had
already wide emlnence IN his PROBES
sion, was urged TO eXhort Hester to
repentance and confession Address
ing her, ne advised that she name her
fellow sinner even II he had TO step
from a higa position TO sCand besi4e
her. for it was better so than to hide
a guilty heart through life.
Hester shook her head, keeping her
place upon the pedestal Of shame with
an air Of weary indifference.
That night her child writhed in con-
vulsions, and physician. Mr. Roger
Chlllingworth, 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
and thy weakness. What had Ia
man of thought-to do with youth and
beauty like thine. might have
known that in my long absence this
I have greatly wronged thee" mur-
INJURED Hester.
we have wronged each other" he
answered But 1 shall seek this man
whose name thou wilt not reveal. and
sooner or later he must be mine l
shall contrive nothing against his life.
Let him live. One thing, tf7u that
vast my wife, I ask Thou h t kept
his name secret Keep likewise. 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"
his"
Freed from prison Hester did not
flee but esta blished herself in q small
cottage just outside, the town, in
curing 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 tee mothers presence by
Governor Bellingham and his guests
Rev. John Wilson. Rev. Mr.. Dimmes-
dale, and DR.. Chillingworth.
God gave me the childr' cried Hes
ter, and turning to the young clergy
man. Mr. Dimmesdale. she exclaimed,
Speak thou for me Thou vast my
pastor. Thou knOWest what is in nv
heart and what are a mothers rights,
and how much the stronger they are
when that mother has but her child
and the scarlet letter. I will not loose
the child Look to TT"
There Is truth in what she says"
began the minister. There is a quail
ity OF awful sacredness 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 themi"
You speak. my friend. with a
strange earnestness, said Roger
ChillingWorth, smiling at him.
He hath adduced such arguments
that we viii even leave the matter
as Il now stands" said the governor
Tn affair being so satisfactorily con-
cluded, Hester and Pearl departed.
Rev. Mr.. Dimmesdale's health fail
ing he consulted DR.. Chillfngworth.
Taking him as q patient, the doctor
decided to know the mans inmost
nature before trying to heal him. Ar
engagements were made for the two
men to lodge together so that he
might be constantly under the doc
tors observation.
As Dr.. Chillingworth proceeded
with his investigation, begun as he
imagined with the integrity of a judge
DESTROYS only of truth. a terrible
fascination seized him and Insisted
that he do its bidding He now dug
into the poor clergymman's heart, like
miner seeking gold; and Mr.. Dim
mesoale grew to look at him with an
unaccountable horror.
Often Ar. Dimmesdale tried TO
speak the truth of his past from the
pulpit but had cheated himself by con-
tossing his stnfulness in general
terms. Once, INDUCING IN the mock
cry Of repentance, he mounted the
Scaffold where Hester had stood
There was no danger Of discovery for
everyone was asleep. Even so he was
surprised by Hester and Pearl. return
ing from death bed in the town, and
presently by Roger Chillingworth
Who is that MANI" gasped Mr.. Dim
mesdales IN terror. 7 SILVER at him
Hester. Canst thou do nothing for
mez have a nameless horror OF the
man"
Remembering her promise. Hester
was silent.
worthy. SIR said the doctor ad-
vancing to the platform. "pious Mas
ter Dimmesdaiei Can this be you ?
Cone. good sir, I pray you. let me
lead you homei You should study
less, or these night-whimsies will
grow upon you"
Hester now resolved to do what she
could for the victim whom she saw in
her former husbands grip. One dav
she met the old doctor in the woods
seelci-g herbs and irnDIored him to he
mercifui, saying that she must now
reveal the secret Of their former re-
lauonship no matter what befelL
A week later Hester awaited the
clergyman in the forest and told him
about Roger Chillingworth and their
relationship, bidding him hope for a