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at the door； to give one long shuddering gaze； that seemed almost
to penetrate the mystery of the black veil。 But； even amid his
grief； Mr。 Hooper smiled to think that only a material emblem had
separated him from happiness； though the horrors； which it
shadowed forth； must be drawn darkly between the fondest of
lovers。
From that time no attempts were made to remove Mr。 Hooper's black
veil； or； by a direct appeal； to discover the secret which it was
supposed to hide。 By persons who claimed a superiority to popular
prejudice； it was reckoned merely an eccentric whim； such as
often mingles with the sober actions of men otherwise rational；
and tinges them all with its own semblance of insanity。 But with
the multitude； good Mr。 Hooper was irreparably a bugbear。 He could
not walk the street with any peace of mind； so conscious was he
that the gentle and timid would turn aside to avoid him； and that
others would make it a point of hardihood to throw themselves in
his way。 The impertinence of the latter class compelled him to
give up his customary walk at sunset to the burial ground； for
when he leaned pensively over the gate； there would always be
faces behind the gravestones； peeping at his black veil。 A fable
went the rounds that the stare of the dead people drove him
thence。 It grieved him； to the very depth of his kind heart； to
observe how the children fled from his approach； breaking up
their merriest sports； while his melancholy figure was yet afar
off。 Their instinctive dread caused him to feel more strongly
than aught else； that a preternatural horror was interwoven with
the threads of the black crape。 In truth； his own antipathy to
the veil was known to be so great； that he never willingly passed
before a mirror； nor stooped to drink at a still fountain； lest；
in its peaceful bosom； he should be affrighted by himself。 This
was what gave plausibility to the whispers； that Mr。 Hooper's
conscience tortured him for some great crime too horrible to be
entirely concealed； or otherwise than so obscurely intimated。
Thus； from beneath the black veil； there rolled a cloud into the
sunshine； an ambiguity of sin or sorrow； which enveloped the poor
minister； so that love or sympathy could never reach him。 It was
said that ghost and fiend consorted with him there。 With
self…shudderings and outward terrors； he walked continually in
its shadow； groping darkly within his own soul； or gazing through
a medium that saddened the whole world。 Even the lawless wind； it
was believed； respected his dreadful secret； and never blew aside
the veil。 But still good Mr。 Hooper sadly smiled at the pale
visages of the worldly throng as he passed by。
Among all its bad influences； the black veil had the one
desirable effect； of making its wearer a very efficient
clergyman。 By the aid of his mysterious emblemfor there was no
other apparent causehe became a man of awful power over souls
that were in agony for sin。 His converts always regarded him with
a dread peculiar to themselves； affirming； though but
figuratively； that； before he brought them to celestial light；
they had been with him behind the black veil。 Its gloom； indeed；
enabled him to sympathize with all dark affections。 Dying sinners
cried aloud for Mr。 Hooper； and would not yield their breath till
he appeared； though ever； as he stooped to whisper consolation；
they shuddered at the veiled face so near their own。 Such were
the terrors of the black veil； even when Death had bared his
visage！ Strangers came long distances to attend service at his
church； with the mere idle purpose of gazing at his figure；
because it was forbidden them to behold his face。 But many were
made to quake ere they departed！ Once； during Governor Belcher's
administration； Mr。 Hooper was appointed to preach the election
sermon。 Covered with his black veil； he stood before the chief
magistrate； the council； and the representatives； and wrought so
deep an impression； that the legislative measures of that year
were characterized by all the gloom and piety of our earliest
ancestral sway。
In this manner Mr。 Hooper spent a long life； irreproachable in
outward act； yet shrouded in dismal suspicions； kind and loving；
though unloved； and dimly feared； a man apart from men； shunned
in their health and joy； but ever summoned to their aid in mortal
anguish。 As years wore on； shedding their snows above his sable
veil； he acquired a name throughout the New England churches； and
they called him Father Hooper。 Nearly all his parishioners； who
were of mature age when he was settled； had been borne away by
many a funeral： he had one congregation in the church； and a more
crowded one in the churchyard； and having wrought so late into
the evening； and done his work so well； it was now good Father
Hooper's turn to rest。
Several persons were visible by the shaded candlelight； in the
death chamber of the old clergyman。 Natural connections he had
none。 But there was the decorously grave； though unmoved
physician； seeking only to mitigate the last pangs of the patient
whom he could not save。 There were the deacons； and other
eminently pious members of his church。 There； also； was the
Reverend Mr。 Clark； of Westbury； a young and zealous divine； who
had ridden in haste to pray by the bedside of the expiring
minister。 There was the nurse； no hired handmaiden of death； but
one whose calm affection had endured thus long in secrecy； in
solitude； amid the chill of age； and would not perish； even at
the dying hour。 Who； but Elizabeth！ And there lay the hoary head
of good Father Hooper upon the death pillow； with the black veil
still swathed about his brow； and reaching down over his face； so
that each more difficult gasp of his faint breath caused it to
stir。 All through life that piece of crape had hung between him
and the world： it had separated him from cheerful brotherhood and
woman's love； and kept him in that saddest of all prisons； his
own heart； and still it lay upon his face； as if to deepen the
gloom of his darksome chamber； and shade him from the sunshine of
eternity。
For some time previous； his mind had been confused； wavering
doubtfully between the past and the present； and hovering
forward； as it were； at intervals； into the indistinctness of the
world to come。 There had been feverish turns； which tossed him
from side to side； and wore away what little strength he had。 But
in his most convulsive struggles； and in the wildest vagaries of
his intellect； when no other thought retained its sober
influence； he still showed an awful solicitude lest the black
veil should slip aside。 Even if his bewildered soul could have
forgotten； there was a faithful woman at this pillow； who； with
averted eyes； would have covered that aged face； which she had
last beheld in the comeliness of manhood。 At length the
death…stricken old man lay quietly in the torpor of mental and
bodily