South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1871-03-24
A Story of a Valentine.

huSu lu'S'eS'Su III rove story, nut would
just like to tell you this one, because 1 think
you dare not apply your woman right priu-
ciples to 1t in every part. Theories often
fail when practically applied, you know
Go on, Hu, 90 on I'd like to hear the
story. And as for my principles, they'll
bear applying anywhere, aud the old doctor
rubbed his hands together confidently.
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 Join
ed at the back the lot on which lived Mr..
Morton, at that time a thriving merchant,
now the principal capitalist in that part of
the country. As there was back gate be-
tween the lots, my friend was the constant
| playmate from earliest childhood of Jennie
Morton. He built her playhouses out of
old boards, he moulded clay bricks for her
use, and carved tiny toys out of pine blocks
for her amusement. AS he grew larger,
aud as Jennie's father grew richer and
came to live in greater style, Henry grew
more shy. But by all the unspoken Ian
guage of the eyes the two never failed to
make their unchanging regard unknown to
each other.
Henry went to college early. At vaca-
tion-time the two met. But the growing
difference in their social position could not
but be felt Jennie's friends were of diff
ferent race from his own. Her parents new
er thought of inviting him to their enter
tainments And if they had, a rusty coat
aud a lack of money to spend on kid gloves
would have effectually kept him away. He
was proud. This apparent neglect stung
him. 1t is true that Jennie Morton was all
the more kind. But his quick and foolish
pride made him fancy that he detected pity
in her kindness. And yet all this made
him determined to place himself in posi-
ton in which he could ask her hand as her
equal. But you do not understand doctor,
as do, how irresistible is this conviction
of duty 10 regard to the ministry. Under
that pressure my friend settled it that he
must preach. And now there was before
him good ten years of poverty at least.
What should he do about ii ?
In his extremity he took advice Of ia
vorite theological professor. The professor
advised him not TO seek the hand of rich
girl. She would not be suited to the trials
of ministers life. But finding that Hen
ry was firm in his opinion that this sound
general principle did not in the least apply
to this particular case, the professor pro-
ceeded to touch the tenderest chord in the
young mans heart. lie told him that il
would be ungenerous, and in some sense
dishonorable for him to take a woman deli
cately brought up into poverty and trial, in
cident to a ministers life. If you uuder-
stood, sir, how morbid his sense Of honor is,
you would not wonder at the impression
] this suggestion made upon him To give
up the ministry was in his mind to be a
traitor to God. To win her, if be could
was to treat ungenerously her whose happ-
ness was dearer to him a thousand times
than his own.
4 hope he did not give her up, said the
doctor.
Yes, he gave her up, in a double spirit
of media gal self-sacrfce Looking towards
the ministry, be surrendered his love as
some OF the old monks sacrificed love, am
bItion, aud all other things to conscience
Looking at her happiness, he sacrificed his
hopes in more than kindly devotion for her
welfare. The knights sometimes gave their
lives. lie gave more.
For three years he did not trust him
self to return to his homo. But having
graduated and settled himself for nine
months over a church, there was no reason
Why be shout Int 90 to see his mother again.
And once IN the village, the sight Of the
old school house and the church revived a
thousand memories that he had been en-
deavoring to bauish. The garden walks,
and especially the appletrees, that are the
most un,hangeable Of landmarks, revived
The old passion with undiminished power -
lie paced his room at night. flo looked
out az the new house Of his rich neiphbor
tie chafed under the restraint Of bis vow
not to think again Of jennie Morton. IL
was The old story Of the monk who thinks
the world subduod, but who finds IL an at
once about TO assume the mastery Of him
do not know how the struggle might have
ended, but % was all at once stopped from
without.
There reached him a rumor that Jennie
was already the betrothed wife of a Colonel
Pearson, who was her fathers partner in
business And indeed Colonel Pearson
went 10 and out Of Mr. Morton's gate every
evening, and the father was known 10 favor
his suit.
jennie was not engaged 10 him, howev-
en- Three times she had refused him
The fourth time, in Difference 10 her fathers
wishes, she bad consented TO think about
PC Tor week To truth Henry bad been
home ten days aud bad not called upon her,
ana ana at The weary waiting seemed 10 vain
when the coIone's week vas nearly out she
heard that Henry was 10 leave 10 two days.
IN sort Of desperation she determined %