The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1921-01-24
us leave them as providence hath seen
Ar IN DIace them 7"

us leave them as providence hath seen
dt to place them"
you speak, my friend, With a
strange earnestness, said Roger Chill
ling. h, smiling at him.
He hath adduced such arguments
that we will leave the matter as II
stands" said the governor. The af-
fair being so satisfactorily concluded,
Hester and Pearl departed.
Rev. Mr. Dmmesdale's health fail.
| 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 were made for the two men to
lodge together So that he might be con
stantly under the doctors observation.
AS Doctor Chillingworth proceeded
with his investigation, begun as he
imagined with the integrity of a 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
| miner seeking gold; and Mr.. Dimmes-
| dale grew to look at him with an IN
| 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 mockery
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 man?" gasped Mr..
Dimmesdale, in terror. Il SILVER 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 you?
Come, good sir, pray you, let me lead
you home! 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
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
relationship 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
new life beyond the sea in some rural
village.
Thou shalt not go alone" she whis-
pered.
Arthur Dimmesdale attained the
proudeSt eminence a New England
clergyman could reach. He had
preached the election sermon on, the
holiday celebrating the election of a
new governor.
Hester had taken berths to Eng
land. and on the holiday the shipmas-
ter Informed her that Roger Chilling
worth had booked passage on the same
vessel; saying nothing, she turned and
stood by the pillory with Pearl.
The minister, surrounded by leading
townsmen, halted at the scaffold and
calling Hester and Pearl to him mount
ed the scaffold steps. Telling Hester
he was dying man and must hasten
to assume his shame, he turned to the
market-place and spoke with voice
that all could hear.
people of New England! At last, at
last I stand where seven years since
should have stood. Lo, the scarlet let
ter which Hester wears! Ye have all
shuddered at it! But there stood one
IN the midst of you, at whose brand of
sin ye have not shuddered."
With a cenvulsive motion he tore
away the ministerial gown from his
breast. 1t was revealed! Then sink
ing down on the scaffold he died, his
head resting on Hester's bosom.
Afterwards, conflicting accounts
arose about the scene on the scaffold.
Many testified to seeing a scarlet let
ter on the minister's bosom, while 9TH
ers denied 1t, saying that Dimmesdale's
confession implied no part of Hester's
guilt.
Roger Chillingworth died. bequeatn
ing his property to Pearl.
Hester and Pearl lived In England
for years, then, Pearl marrying, Hester
returned alone to the little dwelling
by the for st.
Copyrigt =. 1918, by the Post Publishing Co.
(The Boston PosO. Copyright in the
United Kingdom, the Dominions. its
Colonies and dependencies, under the
copyright act, by the Post Publishing
Co., Boston. Mass, U. 8, A. All rights
reserved. Houghton. Mifiin Co.. author
ICED publishers.