Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1871-02-17
3flisecllamp.
The Story of a Valentine.
from scribner's Monthly.l


S. N, dimes at my plain table, l am al
ways little abashed. know that he
has been accustomed always to varie-
ty of wines and sauces, to cigarette af-
ter each course, and to cookery that
would kill an undeveloped American
So, when the Captain turns the castor
round three times before selecting his
condiment, and when his eyes seem to be
seeking for Worcestershire sauce and
Burgundy wine, l feel the poverty Of the
best feast | can furnish him. lam afraid
veteran magazine readers will feel thus
about the odd little story have to tell.
For / have observed of late that even
the short stories are highly seasoned -
and cannot bear to disappoint readers.
So let me just honestly write over the
gateway to this story a warning. l have
no Cayenne pepper. No Worcestershire
sauce. No Cognac. No cigarettes
No murders. No suicides. No broken
hearts. No lovers quarrels. No angry
father. No pistols and coffee. Noarse-
mic. No laudanum. No shrewd 6etec-
tives. No trial for murder. No heart
less coquette. No deep-dyed william with
curling moustache. Now, if after this
warning, you have the courage to 60 on
am not responsible.
Hubert said l might print it if / would
disguise the names. 1t came out quite
incidentally. We were discussing the
woman question. | am a 'woman's right
err Hubert-the Rev. Hubert Lee, |
should say, pastor of the first church,
and indeed the only churchin Allenv;lle
is not, though hatter myself / have
made some impression on him. But the
discussion took place in Hubert's own
house, and wishing to give a pleasant
turn at the end, suppose, he told me
how, a year and half before, he had
used up one woman's right man, who
was no other than old DR.. Hood, the
physician that has had charge of the
physical health of Hubert and myself
from the beginning. Unlike most of
his profession, the DR.. has always been
radical, and even the wealth that has
come in upon him of late years has left
him quite as much of a radical, at least
in theory, as ever before. Indeed the
old doctor isvery inconsistent in practice,
for he has educated his only daughter
Cornelia, to his own profession, and l be-
lieve she took her NJ. d., with honors,
though she has lately spoiled her pros
poets by marrying. But socially he has
become little aristocratic, seeking an
exclusive association with his wealthy
neighbors. And this does not look very
well in one who, when he was poor, was
particularly bitter on 'purse-proud aris-
tocracy.' suppose Hubert felt this
Certainly / did, and therefore / enjoyed
the conversation that he repeated TO me
all the more.
1t seems that my friend Hubert had
been away at the seminary for three
years, and that having at last conquered
in his great battle against poverty, and
having gained an education in spite of
difficulties and having supplied a city
church acceptably for some months dur
ing the absence of the pastor in Europe,
he came back to our native village to
rest on his laurels few week, and de-
eide which of three rather impecunions
calls he would accept. When just about
to leave he took it into his head for some
reason, to drop in on old DR.. Hood. 1t
was nine o'clock in the morning, and the
doctors partner was making morning
calls while the old gentleman sat in his
Office to attend to any that might seek
his services. This particular morning
happened to be an unfortunate one, for
there were no ague-shaken patients to be
seen, and there was not even case of
minor-surgery to relieve the tediousness
Of the morning ofice-hour. Perhaps it
was for the sake of old acquaintance
that he gave Hubert most cordial re-
ception, and launched at once into sea
of vivacious talk. Cornelia, who was i'll
the Office, excused herself on the ground
that she was craming for final examna-
ton. and seated herself at the window
with her book.
"I am afraid l take your time, DOCTOR"
said Hubert.
30, no, am giving up practice to my
partner, DIR. Beck. and shall give It all
to him in year or two"
ITO him and Miss Cornelia ~ queried
Hubert laughing. For it was currently
reported that the young doctor and Cor
nelia were to form a partnership in other
than professional affairs.
Either because he wished to attract
her attention, or for some other reason,
Hubert managed to turn the conversation
to the subject of woman's rights, and
tha doctor and tho vounu parson ware