Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1871-02-10

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hardly Justify her, however, in taking any
step of tho kind"
II certainly should" said the doctor.
but she could not find n way-she had
no rope to throw. Again the colonel,
meaning to do anything else but that, open
ed the way. At tho breakfast table the
next morning sho received from him a
magnificent valentine. All at once she
saw nor method. 1t was st. Valentines
day. The rope was in her hand. Excus-
ing herself from breakfast she hastenod to
her room.
10 send valentino to the faithful lover
was the uppermost thought. But how?
she dais not write her name, for, after all ,
she might bo mistaken in counting on his
love, or she might offend his prejudices or
his pride by so direct an approach. She
went fumbling in drawer for stationery.
Sho drew out a little pine boat that Henry
had Whitfield for her many years before.
He rad named 1t Hope but the combined
W,aem qf the little girl and boy could not
thslt a AZ spelling the name correctly.
And hero 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 had been
the subject of many laugh between them.
Now-but mustn't be sentimental
"It did not take Jennie long to draw an
exact likeness of the little craft. And that
there might be no mistake about il, 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-oflice. No merchant, sending all his
fortune to sea in one frail bark, ever watch
cd the departure and trembled for the re-
suit of venture as she did. Spain did not
pray half so fervently when the invincible
Armada sailed. 1t was an unuttered pray
er-an unuttorable prayer. For heart and
hope were the lading of the little picture-
boat that sailed out that day, with no other
wind but her wishes in its sails.
"She sat down at her window until she
saw Henry Gilbert pass the next street cor
ner on his morning walk to the post Office.
Three minutes after, he went home, evil
IDENTIFY in state of great excitement, with
her valentine open in his hand. After
while he went back again toward the post
office, and returned. Had he taken a re-
ply?
"Jennie again sought the office. There
were people all around with those hdeous
things that they call comic valentines open
in their hands. And they actually seemed
to think it funny! She had a reply. 1t did
not take her long to find her room and open
it, There was another picture of boat,
but the name on the side read Despair
And these words were added :-'Your boat
there was no vacant place upon it, have
been obliged to take passage on this
Slowly the meaning forced itself upon her.
Henry had fears that she whom he thought
engaged was coquetng with him. think
doctor, you will hardly justify her in pro-
cgeding fArther with the correspondence
why isot? Hasn't a woman as much
right to make herself understood in such a
matter as man2 And when the social ad-
vantages are on her side the burden of
making the advances often falls upon her.
Many women do it indirectly and arc not
cenSured."
"Well, you know, Tn conservative, doc
tor, but I'm glad you are consistent. She
did send another valentine. | am afraid
she strained this figure of speech about the
boat. But when everything in the world
depends on one metaphor, it will not do to
be iastidious. Jennie drew again with mis-
spolt name the little boat. And this time
she added five words: The masters place
is vacant
"And quite late in the afternoon, the re-
ply was left at the door: 4 am an appli-
cant for the vacant place, if you will take
that of masters mate.'"
"Good," cried the doctor; "I always ad-
vocated giving women every liberty in
these matters"
"But l will stump you yet, DOCTOR" said
Hubert. "That evening Cough was to lee
ture in the village, and my friend went,
not to hear Cough, but to see Miss Jennie
Morton at distance. Somehow in the
stupefaction of revived hope he had not
thought of going to the house to see her
yet. He had postponed his departure and
had thrown away his scruples. Knowing
how much opposition he would have to
contend with, he thought, if he thought at
all, that he must proceed with caution. But
sometime after the lecture began he dis
covered the Morton family without Jenniel
Slowly 1t dawned upon him. Sho was at
home waiting for him. He was near the
front of the church in which the lecture
was held, and every inch of aisle was full
of people. To get out was not easy. But
as he thought of Jennie waiting it became
a matter of life and death. If the house
had been on fire he would not have been
more intent on making his exit. He reach
ed the door, he passed the happiest evening
Of his life, only to awake TO sorrow, for
Jennie's father is dead set against the
match.
''ye has no right to interfere" said the
doctor, vehemently. "You see l stand by
my pinciples."
"But if 1 tell the story out am afraid
you would not" said Hubert.
"Why, isn't it done?"
II beg your pardon, doctor, for having
used little craft. / had much at stake. 1
have disguised this story in its details. But
it is true, am the hero"
Ihe doctor looked quickly at his daugh-
tor. Her head was bent low over her book.
Her long hair hung about it like curtain,
shutting out all view of the face. The doc
tor walked to the other window and looked
out. Hubert sat like mummy. After a
minute DR.. Hood spoke.
"Cornelia -
She lifted a face that was aflame. Tears
glistened in her eyes, and doubt not there
was prayer in her heart,
"You are brave girl. had other plans.
You have right to choose for yourself
God bless you both. But it's great pity
Hu is not lawyer. He pleads WELL" SO
saying he put on his hat and walked out.
This is the conversation that Hubert re-
peated to me that day sitting in his own lit
tie parsonage in Allenville. a minute af-
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