Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1871-02-14

J For when be called, after Jennie
bad determined on this course, he
found her so full Of kindness that be
hardly knew how To behave with
moderation. And 40 he fell to flat
teripg aer, and fattering himself at
the same time that be knew all the
ms and outs of "a girls heart, be com
pnmented her on the many offers she
had received
And I'll tell you what, he pro-
ceeded, there are plenty of others
that would lay their heads at your
feet, if they were only your equals
There's that young parson, Gilbert,
l think they call him, that is visiting
his mother, in the implanted and
notwithstanding little house that
stands behind this one. I've actual
ly seen that fellow, in his rusty, mus
ty coat, stop and look after you on
the street, and every night when |
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
| see him, and say. Don't you wish
you could reach SO high !" declare,
it's funny
La that one speech Colonel Pear
son dashed his chances to pieces.
He could not account for the sudden
return of winter in Jennie Mortons
manner. And all his sunshine was
Pc werless to dispel it, or to bring
back the least approach of spring.
Poor Jennie You can imagine,
doctor, how she paced the floor all
that night. She began to understand
something of the courage of Henry
Gllbert's heart, and something of the
manliness of his motives All night
long she watched the light burning
in the room in the widows house
and all night long she debated the
matter until her head ached She
could reach but one conclusion
Henry was to leave the day after to-
morrow. If any communication
should ever be opened between them,
she must begin it. 1t was as if she
had seen him drifting away from her
forever, and must throw him rope.
l think even such woman's right |
man as yourself would hardly justi-
fly her, however, in taking any step,
Of the kind"
II certainly should" said the doe
tor.
But she could not find q way
she had no rope to throw Again |
the colonel, meaning anything else
but that, opened the way. At the
breakfast-table the next morning. she |
received from him a magnificent val |
entine. All at once she saw her meth
3D. 1t WAIST. Valentines day. The |!
rope was in her hand. Excusing
herself from breakfast she FASTENED |
to her room.
To send valentine to the faithful |
lover was the uppermost thought.
But how? She dare not write her |
name, for, after all, she might be mis-
taken in counting on his love, or she
might offend his prejudices or his
pride by so direct an approach. She |
went fumbling in a drawer for sta
tionery. She drew out little pine
boat that Henry had whitfield for
her many years before. He had |
named it Hope, but the combined |
wisdom of the little boy and girl
could not succeed in spelling the name |
correctly. And here was the little |
old boat that he had given, saying
often afterward that it was the boat |
they two were going to sail in some
day. The misspelt name bad been
the subject Of many laugh between
them. Now-but mustn't be SEN
timental.
1t did not take Jennie long to draw
an exact likeness of the little craft
And that there might be no mistake
about it, she she spelled the name as
it was on the side of the boat:
'HoAP'
There was not another word in !
the valentine. Sealing it up, she
hurried out with it and dropped it |
in the post-office. No merchant,
sending all his fortune te sea in one
frail bark, ever watched the depart
ure and trembled for the result of
venture as she did. Spain did not
pray half SO fervently when the in
vincible armada sailed. 1t was an
unuttered pray unutterable |
prayer. For heart and hope were
the lading of the little picture-boat
that sailed out that day. with no
other wind than her wishes in its
sails.
She sat down at her window until
she saw Henry Gilbert pass the next
street corner on his morning walk
to the post-office Three minutes
after, he went home, evidently in a
great state of excitement, with her
valentine open in his hand. After
while he went back again toward
the post-office, and returned. Had
be taken reply2
Jennie again sought the office.
There were people all around with
those hideous things they call comic
valentines open in their hands. And
they actually seemed to think them
funny She bad reply. 1t did not
take her long to find her room aud
to open it. There was another pic
ture offs boat, but the name on it's
side read DESPAIR And these words
were added Your boat is the pleas.
attest, bat understanding that there ,caS
no racant place upon It, l hare been
obliged to take passage on this. Slow
ly the meaning forced itself upon her.
Henry had fears that she whom be
thought engaged was coquetting
with him. | think, doctor, You will
hardly justify her in proceeding with
the correspondence"
"Why not? Hasn't woman as
much right to make herself under
stood as a man? And when the So
cial advantages are on her side the
burden of making the advance often
falls upon her. Many women do it
indirectly and are not censured."
swell, you know, I'm conservative.
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