New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-02-12
STORY OF A VALENTINE E.
From Scribner' S Monthly.


When my friend Captain Terrible. United
States navy, dimes at my plain table. am
ALWAYS little abashed [ know that he
has been accustomed always to variety of
wines and sauces, to a cigarette after each
course, and to a cookery that would kill an
undevelOped American. 50. when the cap
tain turns the castor round three times be-
fore selecting his cOndiment and when his
owes seem to be seeking for Worcester
sauce and Burgundy wine, l feel the
poverty of the best feast | can furnish him.
am afraid veteran magazine readers Will
feel thus about the odd little story l have to
tell; for have observed OF late that even the
short stories are highly seasoned. and | can
not bear to disappoint readers. SO let me-
Just honestly write over the gateway to this
story a warning. have no cayenne pepper;
no Worcester sauce; no cOgnac: no cigar
cites; no murders; no suicides; no broken
hearts: no lovers QuarrelS; no angry
father: no pistols and coffee; no arsenc
no laudauum: no shrewd detectives; no
trial for murder; no heartless coquette;"
no '.deep-dyed villain with curling
mustache." Now if. after this warning,
YOU have the courage to 80 on. an not re-
spOnsible.
Hubert said might print it if | would
disguise the names. 1t came out quite Incl
dentally. We We're discussing the woman
question. am ''womans Fighter. Hu-
bert-the Rev. Hubert Lee. should say,
pastor of the First Church. and. indeed.
the only church in Allenvilie-is not, though
l fiatter myself / have made some impress
sion on him. But the discussion took place
in Hubert's own house, ami wishing to give
a pleasant turn at the end. | suppose, he
told me how, IA year and half before, he
had used up one woman 3 ight man, who
was no other than old DR.. Hood. the physi-
clan that has had charge of the physical
health of Hubert and myself from the be-
ginning Unlike most OF his profession. the
doctor has always been radical, and even
the wealth that has come IA upon him of
late wears has left him quite as much of a
radical, at least in theory. as ever before.
Indeed, the doctor is no. very Inconsistent
in practice for he has educated his only
daughter, Cornelia, to his own profession;
aud believe she took her NJ. d. with hon
ors, though she has lately spoiled her pros
poets by marrying. But socially he has be-
come little aristOcratic seeking an eXolu-
sive association with his wealthy nei yhb0rs.
And this does not look very we'll in one who.
when he was poor was particularly bitter
on "a purseproud aristOcracy.' | suppose
Hubert felt this. Certainly did, and. there
fore, enjoyed the conversation that he re-
peated 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 city church acceptably
for some months during the absence of the
pastor in Europe. he came back to our ma
tive village to rest on his laurel5 few
weeks and decide which of three rather
impecunious calls he would accept. When
lust about to leave he took j. into his head
from some reason to drop in on old Doctor
II NIL, ~
and the doctors partner was making morn
ing calls, while the old gentleman sat n his
Office to attend to any that might seek his scr
vices. This particular morning happened
to be an unfortunate one, tor there We're no
ague-shaken patients to be seen, and there
was not even case OF minor surgery to re-
Eeve the tediousness of the morning office
hour Perhaps it was for this reason, per
haps it was for the sake of old acquaint
anCe, that he gave Hubert a most cordial
reception, and launched at once into sea
of viyacious talk. Cornelia, who was in the
Office. excused herself on the ground that
she was examining for her final eXamna
ton. and seated herself al window will
her book.
Il am afraid l take your time, doctor,
said Hubert.
80 no, am giving up practice to my part
ner, DIR. Reck, and shall give 1t all to him II
a year or two"
ITO him and Miss Cornelia ," queried HUI
bert laughing. For it was currently re
ported that the young doctor and Cornell;
were to form partnership in other thar
professional affairs.
Either because he wished to attract he
attention, or for some other reason. Huber
soon managed to turn the conversation t.
the subject Of woman's rights, and the ole
doctor and the young parson Were sool
hurting at one another ali the staple. and
somewhat stale arguments. about woman
fitness or womans untitness for things
At last, perhaps because he was a little con
cerned, Hubert said:
-. ..Now, doctor, there. was a queer thing
happened to a student IL ny ciass in III,
seminary. l don't suppose. doctor, tina
YOU are much interested in a love story. bu
l would just like to tell you this one, be
cause think you dare not apply YOU prin
,ciples to it in every part. Theories Otter
fail when practically applied. you know
Go on, HUI, 60 on; I'd like to hear the
story. And as for my principles, they'll
bear applying anywhere !" and the old
doctor rubbed his hands together con
This friend of mine, Henry Gilbert
said Hu, "was, like myself, poor. A long
time ago, when he was "a BOY, the son of a
poor widow, the lot on which he lived
Joined at the back the lot on which lived a
Mr.. Morton, at that time a thriving mer
. chant now the principal capitalist in that
part Of the country. As there was back