Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-02-15
atlistellanu.
The Story of a Valentine.

wines and sauces, to a cigarette after each
course. and to a 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 Worcester
shire sauce and Burgundy wine, | feel the
poverty Of the best feast [ can furnish
him. | am afraid veteran magazine read
ers will feel thus about the odd little story
| have to tell. For l 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 Worces-
tershire sauce No cognac. No cigar
cites. No murders No suicides Ne
broken hearts No lovers quaFrels. No
angry father No pistols and coffee. No
arsenic. No laudanum. No shrewd de-
tectives. No trial for murder No heart
less coauette." No deep dyed william
with curling mustache'' Now if, after
this warning. you have the courage to 60
on | am not responsible.
Hubert said | might print it if | would
disguise the names. 1t came out quite
accidentally. We were discussing the wo-
man question. | am a 'wOmans Fighter
Hubert-the Rev Hubert Lee, | should
saw, pastor Of the First Church, and, in
deed, the only church in Allenville-is
not, though | fatter myself | have made
some impression on him. But the discus
sion took place in lIubert's own house, and
wishing to give q pleasant turn at the end,
| suppose. he told me how year and a
half ago. he had used up one woman's
rights man. who was 10 other than old DIR.
Hood. the physician that has had charge
Of the physical health Of Hubert and my
self from the beginning. Unlike most Of
his profession. the doctor 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 is not very inconsistent in practice,
for he has educated his only daughter,
Cornelia, to his own profession, and | be-
Iieve she took her NJ. D. with honors,
though she has lately spoiled her prospects
by marrying. But socially he has become
a 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 a purse proud aristocracy.' |
suppose Hubert felt this Certainly did,
and therefore l 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 city church accep-
tably for some months during the absence
Of the pastor in Europe, he came back TO
our native village to rest on his laUres a
few weeks. aud decide which Of three rath-
er impecunious calls he would accept.
When lust about to cave 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 max
inc morning calls while the old gentleman
sat in his office to attend to any that might
seek his services. This particular morn
ipr happened to be all unfortunate one, for
there were no ague shaken patients to be
seen, and there was not even a case Of MI
nor surgery to relieve the tediousness Of
the morning office hour. Perhaps it was
for this reason, perhaps it was for the sake
Of old acquaintance, that be gave Hubert
a most cordial reception, and launched at
once into a sea Of most vivacious talk.
Cornela, who was in the Office, excused
herself on the ground that she was cram
ming for her final examination, and seated
herself at a window with her book.
am afraid 1 take your time, doctor,
said Hubert
% no, [ am giving up practice to my
partner, DR.. Beck, and shall give 1t all to
him in year or two
To him and Miss Cornelia queried
Hubert, laughing For it was currently
reported than 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
soon managed to turn the conversation to
the subject of woman's rights, and the old
doctor and the young parson were soon
hurIing at one another all the staple, and
now somewhat stale, arguments about wo-
mans fitness and woman's unitness for
many things. At last, perhaps it was be-
cause he was d little cornered, Hubert said:
Now, doctor, there was q queer thing
happened to a student in my class in the
seminary [ don't suppose doctor, that
you are much interested in a love story,
but 1 would Just like to tell you this one,
because think you dare not apply your
principles to it in every part. Theories
often fail when practically applied, you
know
Go on, Hu, 20 on Id like to hear the
story. And as for my principles, they'll
bear applying anywhere!' and the old
doctor rubbed his hands together conf
IDENTIFY.
This friend of mine, Henry Gilbert,
said Hu,' was, like myself, poor. A long
time ago, when he was boy, the son Of
poor widow, the lot on which he lived
Joined at the back the lot on which lived
a Mr.. Morton, at that time thriving mer-
chant, now the principal capitalist in that
part Of the country. As there was a back
gate between the lots, my friend was the
constant playmate from earliest childhood
of Jennie Morton. lie built her play
houses out of old boards, he moulded clay
bricks for her use and carved tiny toys
out Of pine blocks for her amusement. AS
be grew larger, and as Jennie's father grew
richer, and came to live In greater style,
Henry grew more shy. But by all the un-
spoken language Of the eyes the two never
failed to make their unchanging regard
known to each other.
Henry went to college early. At va
cation time the two met But the grow
ing difference in their social position could
not but be felt. Jesnies friends were of
a different race from his own. Her parents
never thought of inviting him to their en-
tertainGeuts. And If thew had. a rusty