South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-02-22

One summer morning over two
centuries ago the grass plot before
the tail IN Prison Lane was occupied
by many OF the inhabitants Of Bos-
ton. The door opened and the town
beadle APPEARED followed by young
woman carrying a baby about three
months old. on the breast OF her
gown. IN red cloth, appeared the let
ter A. and n 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 a serene department 10
the scafrold where the pillOry was
Get up. and under the weight Of a
thousand unrelenting eyes the I'M
happy prisoner sustained herself as
best a woman rnlght.
= small. intelligent appearing man.
on the outskirts OF the crowd at
tracted IIester's attention, and he
in his turn eyed her till. seeing that
she seemed 20 recognize him, he laid
his anger on his lips.
Then. speaking 20 d townsman he
said, II pray you. good sir, VINO is
this woman. and wherefore is she
here set up 20 public shame %
''You must needs be "a stranger,
friend" said the townsman, "else
you would have heard Of Mistress
Hester Prynne. She hath raised a
great scandal in sodly Master Dim
mesdale's church. The penalty
thereof is death, but the magistracy.
an their mercy. have doomed her 10
stand "a space OF three hours on the
platform OF the pillory. and for the
remainder OF her life to wear a
mark OF shame in her bosom"
a wise sentence remarked the
stranger. 1T inks me. nevertheless,
that the partner OF her iniquity
should not at least stand by her side.
But he viii be known-he viii be
known
The Rev Mr. DimmesdaIe. a
young minister Of high native gifts,
who had already wide eminence in
his profession. was urged TO eXhort
Hester TO repentance and confession.
Addressing her. ne advised that she
name her fellow sinner even If he
had 20 step from a high position to
stand beside her. for it was better
so than 20 hide a guilty heart
through life.
Hester shook her head. keeping
her place upon the pedestal of
shame with an air of weary indifer-
ence.
That night her child writhed in
convulsions. and a physician. Mr..
Roger ChillinCworth, none other
than the stranger Hester had noticed
In the crowd. was called. Having
eased the babys pain he turned an 4
said: Hester. 1 ask not Wherefore
thou hast fallen into the pit. II
was my folly and thy weakness
What had Ia man OF thOught-to
do with youth and beauty ike thine
4 might have known that in my Iong
absence Ibis would happen"
Il have greatly wronsed thee. d
murmured Hester.
I'VE have wronged each other.
he answered. "Rut / shall seek this
man whose name thou wilt not re-
veal, and sooner or later he must
be mine. 1 shall contrive nothing
thing, thou that vast my Wife.
ask Thou hast kept his name Sc
cret Keep likewise mine. Let thy
husband be TO the world as one al
ready dead. and breathe not the Sc
cret. above all 10 the man thou wot-
1est Of"
IT will keep thy secret as / have
his"
Freed from prison Hester did no.
flee. but established herself in 3
small cottage just outside the town
mourning no risk of want for sh,
Possessed the art of needleworl
which provided food for herself anC
child. She had named the little on,
s'Pearl" as being OF great price, ant
little Pearl grew M a lovely child
People wished 10 take her away anC
the matter was discussed in tn,
mothers presence by Gov. Belling
ham and his Euests-Rev. John vii
son, Rev. Mr.. DimmesdaIe and Dr
ChillinEworth
God gave me the Chidt" CrieC
Hester. and turning 10 the youn-
clergyman, Mr.. Dimmesdaie. she eN
CLAIMED. speak thou for me- Thol
vast my pastor. Thou knowest wha
D. in my heart and what are
mothers rights. and how much tn
stronger they are when that mothe
mas but her child and the scarIc
letter, ] viii not loose the child
look 20 it,
There IS truth I'm what she says.