The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1920-05-12

"God gave me the child" cried He's
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 my
heart and what are mothers rights.
and how much the stronger they are
when that mother has but her child
and the scarlet letteri will not loose
the child! Look to IT."
There, is truth In what she says"
began the minister. "There is quail
tity Of awful sacredness between this
mother and this child. It Is good for
j this poor sinful woman that she hath
an infant cOnfided to her care-t0 be
trained BY her to Righteousness. Let
Us leave them as providence hath seen
at to place them"
"You speak, my friend. with q
strange earnestness." said Roger Chill
lingworth, smiling at him.
HE hath adduced such arguments
that we will leave the matter as 1t
stands" said the governor. The at
! fair being so satisfactorily concluded,
Hester and Pearl departed.
Rev, Mr.. Dimmesdale's health fall
ing he consulted DR.. Chillingworth.
Taking him as a patient, the doctor de-
cided to know the mans inmost nature
before trying to heal him. Arrange
ments wee made for the two men to
lodge together so that he might be con-
stantly under the doctors observation.
As Doctor Chlllingworth proceeded
with his Investigation. begun as he
imagined with the integrity Of Judge
DESTROYS only Of truth, a terrible fas-
cinatiOn seized him and insisted that
he do its bidding. He now dug into
the poor clergyman's heart, like a
miner seeking gold; and Mr.. Dimmes-
dale grew to look at him with an un-
accountable horror.
Often Mr.. Dimmesdale tried to
speak the truth of his past from the
pulpit but had cheated himself by
confessing his sinfulness In general
terms. Once. indulging In the m0ckery
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, returning from
death bed in the town, and pres
emily by Roger Chillingworth.
"Who is that mani" gasped Mr..
Dimmesdale. In terror. II shiver at
him, Hester. Canst thou do nothing |
for me? I 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 Dimmesdale! Can this be yG
Come, good sir, pray you, let me leae
you home! You should study less, or
these night-whimsles will grow upon
you"
Hester now resolved to do what
she could for the victim whom she saw
in her former husbands grip. One
day she met the old doctor in the
woods seeking herbs and implored him
to be merciful, saying that she must
now reveal the secret Of their former
no matter what befell.
A week later Hester awaited the
clergyman in the forest and told him
about Roger Chillingworth and their
bidding him hope for a
new life beyond the sea In some rural
village.
"Thou shalt not 60 alone" she whis-
pered.
Arthur Dimmesdale attained the
orOudest eminence a New England
clergyman could reach. He had
preached the election sermon on the
holiday celebrating the election of a
lew governor.
Hester had taken berths to Eng
and, and on the holiday the shipmas-
er informed her that Roger Chilling
worth had booked passage on the same
'essel; saying nothing, she turned and
TODD by the pillory with Pearl.
The minister, surrounded by leading
0wnsmen, halted at the scaffold and /
alling Hester and Pearl to him mount s
d the scaff0ld steps. Telling Hester b
70 was dying man and must hasten s
0 assume his shame, he turned to the t
and spoke with voice o
hat all could hear. b
people Of New Englandl At last, at
ast stand where seven years since v
h0uld have stood. Lo, the scarlet let 4
er which Hester wears! Ye have all u
huddered at It'll But there stood one =
1 the midst Of you. at whose brand Of =
In ye have not shuddered." u
With a convulsive motion he tore
way the ministerial gown from his II
reast. It was revealed Then sink g
g down on the scaffold he died, his Z
cad resting on Testers bosom. u
Afterwards, conflicting accounts
rose about the scene on the scaffold. 81
[any testified to seeing a scarlet let r.
r on the minister's bosom, while 9TH %
80 q. h