This story is “Roger Malvin’s Burial by Nathaniel Hawthorne.
Much of Hawthorne’s work belongs to the sub-genre of Dark Romanticism, distinguished by an emphasis on human fallibility that gives rise to lapses in judgement that allow even good men and women to drift toward sin and self-destruction. Dark Romantics tends to draw attention to the unintended consequences and complications that arise from well-intended efforts. “Roger Malvin’s Burial” is a wonderful example of Dark Romanticism. Enjoy!