The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1921-01-24

NE summer morning over TWO
centuries ago the grass plot be
fore the Jail in Prison Lane
was occupied by many Of the inhabi.
tants of Boston. The door opened and
the town beadle appeared followed by
young woman carrying baby about
three months old. On the breast OF
her gown, In red cloth, appeared the
letter a, and it was that scarlet letter
which drew all eyes toward her.
The place appointed for her punish
ment was not far from the prison door,
and In spite Of the agony of her heart,
Hester Prynne passed with almost a
serene department to the scaffold
where the pillory was set up, and un-
der the weight of a thousand unre-
lenting eyes the unhappy prisoner sus.
tanned herself as best a woman might.
A small, intelligent appearing man,
on the outskirts of the crowd attracted
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 a townsman he
said, Il pray you, good sir who is this
woman, and wherefore is she set up to
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 scandal
In godly Master Dimmesdale's church.
The penalty thereof Is Death, but the
magistracy In their mercy, have
doomed her to stend 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. TT inks me, nevertheless,
that the partner of her iniquity should
not at least stand by her side. But he
will be knovp-hej will be known!"
Rev. Mr.. Dimmesdale, a young min
lister of high native gifts, who mao al
ready wide eminence in his profess
sion, was urged to exhort Hester to re-
pentance and confession. Addressing
low Sinner even if he had to step from
a high position to stand beside her,
for it was better so than TO hide q
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 phs sician, Mr.. Roger
Chtllingworth. mono other than the
stranger Hester had noticed in the
crowd, was. called. Having eased the
baby'S pain he turned and said: Hes
ter, / ask not wherefore thou hast
fallen into the pit. IT was my folly
and thy weakness. What had Ia
beauty like thine? might have known
that in my long absence this would
happen"
81 have greatly wronged thee" muir
INJURED Hester.
1--WE have wronged each other" he
answered. But l shall seek this man
whose name thou wilt not reveal, and
sooner or later lie must be mine. I
shall contrive nothing against his life.
Let him live. One thing. thou that vast
my wife, l ask Thou hast kept his
name secret Keep likewise. mine. Let
thy husband be to the world as one al
ready Ter, and breathe not ne secret
above II To the man thou vote t Of"
II will keep thy secret as have his"
Freed from prison Hester did not
dee, but established herself In a Smah
cottage just outside the town, incur
ring 40 risk of want for she possessed
food Tor herself and child. She had
uamed the little one Pearl" as being
Of great price, and little Pearl grew W
lovely child. People wished to take
her away and the matter was dis
ruSsed in the mothers presence by
Governor Bellingham and his guests
Rev. John Wilson. Rev. Mr.. Dnnlnes-
dale. and Dr. ChillingwOrth.
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 my
pastor. Thou knowest what is in my
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! 1 will not loose
the child! Look to it"
'oThere is truth in what she says,
began the minister. There is quail.
ity of awful sacrednesS between this
mother and this child. 1t Is good for
this poor sinful woman that she hath
an infant confded to her care-to be
trained nv her to Righteousness Let