The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1871-02-21

btTugRie lutknt uuNC Dut " Wdo uii
at once stopped from without.
"There reached him rumor that Jen-
ME was already the bctrothed wife of a
Colonel Pearson, who was her fathers
partner in business. And indeed Colonel
Pearson went in and out at Mr.. Morton's
gate every evening, and the father was
known to favor his suit.
"Jennie was not engaged to him, how
ever. Three times she lad refused him.
The fourth time, in Difference to her
fathers wishes, she had consented ito
thing about it. for week. In truth
Henry had been home ten days and had
not called upon her, and all the hope she
had cherished in that direction, aud all
the weary waiting seemed in vain.
When the Colonel's week was nearly out
she determined to accept Colonel Pear.
son without waiting for the time appoint
ed for her answer. Bat that gentleman
spoiled it all by his own over confidence.
"For when he called, after Jennie had
determined on this course, he found her
so full of kindness that he hardly knew
how to behave with moderation. And
so he fell to fattering himself at the same
time that he knew all the ins and outs Of
a girls heart, he complimented her on
the many offers she had received.
"And tell you what he proceeded,
"there are plenty Of others that would
lay their hearts at your feet, if they we're
only your equals. There's that young
parson, Gilbert, l think they call him,
that is visiting his mother, in the un-
painted and threadbare looking little
house that stands behind this one. I've
actually seen that fellow, in his rusty,
musty coat stop and look after you on
the street, and every night, when l go
home, he is sitting at the window that
looks over this way. The poor fool is in
love with you. Only think of it And
chuckle to myself when l see him, and
say, Don't you wish you could reach so
high" I declare it's funny
"In that one speech Colonel Pearson
dashed his chance to pieces. He could moi
account for the sudden return Of winter
in Jennie Morton's manner. And all his
sunshine was powerless to dispel it, or to
bring back the last approach of of spring
"Poor Jennie You can imagine doc.
tor, how she paced the floor all that
night. She began to understand some
think of the courage of Henry Gilbert's
heart, and something of the manliness Of
his motives. All night long she watched
the light burning in the room in the wild.
ow's house; and all night long she debated
the matter until her head ached. She
could reach but one conclusion Harry
was to leave the day after tomorrow. Il
any communication should ever be opened
between them she must begin it. 1t wa,
as if she had seen him drifting away from
her forever, and she must throw him Q
rope. l think even such a woman's
rights man as yourself would hardly jus.
tify her, however, in taking any step o
the kind"
II certainly should" said the doctor
"But she could not find q way-sh,
. had no rope to throw. Again the colon
, el, meaning to do anything else but that
! opened the way. At the breakfast ia
BILE the next morning she received from
him a magnificent valentine. All at onct
she saw the method. 1t was St. Valen
, tines day. The rope was in her hand
, Excusing herself from breakfast she has
tened to her room.
ITO send valentine to the faithful
lover was the uppermost thought. Blu
how? She dare not write her name, 70
> after all. she might be might be mistakel
on counting his love, or she might often,
his prejudices or his pride by so direct al
approach. She went fumbling in draw
er for stationery. She drew out it'll
pine boat that Henry had whitfield 70
,, her many years before. He had name,
it "Hope," but the combined wisdom o
the little boy and girl could not succee,
. in spelling the name correctly. Ant
here was the little old boat that he hat
= given, saying of it afterwards that it wa
the boat they were going to sail in som'
day. The misspelt name had been th,
subject Of many laugh between them
: Now-but | mustn't be sentimental.
I at did not take Jennie long to draw
E an exact likeness of the little craft. Ant
; that there might be no mistake about
q she spelled the name as it was on the sid
, OF the boat : "nOAp."
!. "There was not another word in tn
valentine. Sealing it up, she hurried ou
A with it, and dropped it into the post-office
). No merchant sending all his fortune +
sea in one frail bark, ever watched tn
departure or trembled for the result @
t venture as she did. Spain did not pra
n half SO fervently when the invincibles Ar
It mada sailed. 1t was an unuttered prayer
:, an unutterable prayer. For heart an
: hope were the lading Of the little pictur
t. boat that sailed out that day, with n
,, other wind but the wishes it its sails.
n "She sat down at her window until sh
}, saw Henry Gilbert pass the next stree
a corner on his morning walk to the post
r, office, Three minutes after, he wen
u home, evidently in great state of ex
$ 'citement, with her valentine open in hi
D hand. After while he went back agai
a toward the post office, and returned, lia
r, he taken reply?
y "Jennie again sought the Office. Their
a were people all around with these hideou
things that they call comic valentine
d open in their hands. And they actaall
seemed to think them funny She had
e reply. 1t did not take her long to fin
= her room and to open it. There was al
d other picture Of boat, but the name O
;. it read DESPAIR. And to these words wei
O added: Your boat is the pleasantest,b b,
3, understanding that there is no paca,
n place upon it, Ihare been Obliged TO tai
e passage on this Slowly the meanin
e forced itself upon her. Henry had feal
that she whom he thought engaged WI
d. coqueting with him. think, Doctor ,yo
,g will hardly justify her in proceeding fu
,e ther with the correspondence ~
l. "Why not 2 Hasn't a woman as muc