Year: 1871

the restraint OF ulS VOW not TO think
again of Jennie Morton. It was the
old story Of the monk who thinks
the world subdued, but who finds it
all at once about to assume the mas
terry Of him. I do not know how
the struggle might have ended, hut
it was all at once stopped from with
out.


There reached him a rumor that
Jennie was already the betrothed
wife of q Colonel Pearson, who was
her fathers partner in business.
And indeed Colonel Pearson went in
and out ct Mr.. Morton's gate each
evening, and the father was known
10 favor his suit.


"Jennie was not engaged to him,
however. Three times she had re,
fused him. The fourth time in de-
ference to her fathers wishes,
she had consented to think about it
for a week. In truth Henry had
been home ten days and had not cal
led upon her, and all the hope she
had cherished in that direction, and
all the weary waiting seemed in vain.
When the colonePs week was nearIy
out she heard that Henry was to
leave in two days. IN q sort Of des
peration she determined to accent
Colonel Pearson without waiting for
the time appointed for her answer.
But that gentleman spoiled it all BY
his own over-confdenee.


fFor when he called, after Jennie
had determined on this course he
found her so full of kindness that
he hardly knew how to behave with
moderation. And so be fell to fat.
5tering her, and Aaetering himself at
the same time that he knew all the
ins and outs of "a girls heart, he com
plimented her on the many offers
she had received.


@lAnd I tell you what he pro-
ceeded, there are plenty Of others
that would lay their heads at your
feet, if they were only your equals.
There's that young parson, Gilbert
I think they call him, that is visiting
his mother, in the unpainted and
fthread-loosing little house that
stands behind this one. I've actual
ly seen that fellow, in his rusty,
musty coat, stop and look after YOU
on the street, and every night, when
/ go home, he is sitting at the win
dow that looks over this way. The
poor fool is in love with you. Only
think Of it +! And chuekle to nv
self when see him, and say, Don't
you wish you could reach 50 high p,
/ declare, it's funny


"In that one speech Colonel Pear
son dashed his chances to pieces.
He could not account for the
second return of winter in
Jennie Morton's manner. And all
his sunshine was powerless to dispel
it, OF. to bring back the least ap.
proaeh of spring. az


"Poor Jennie You can imagine





doctor, how she paced the floor that
night, She began to understand
something of the courage of HenIy
Glbert's heart and something of
the manIiness Of his motives. All
night long she watched the light
burning in the room in the widow 8
house; and all night long she debat.
ed tue matter until her head ached.
She could reach but one conclusion
Henry was to leave the day after to-
morrow. If any communication
should ever be opened between them.
she must begin it. 1t was as if she
had seen him drifting away from her
forever, and must throw him a rope.
l think even such q woman's-right
man as yourself would hardly justify
her, however, in taking any step Of
the kind"


81 certainly should" said the doc
tor. 5Aar


"But she could find q way-she
had no ropeotO throw. Again the
colonel, meaning to do anything else
but that, opened the way. At the
breakfast table the next morning she
received from him = magnificent val,
entine. At once she saw her method.
1t was st. Valentines day. The
rope was in her hand. Excusing
herself from breakfast she fastened
to her room. $50 H9a E


ITO send valentine to the faith
ful was the uppermOst thought. But
how? She dare not write her name,
for, after all, she might he mistaken
in counting on his love, OrBhe might
offend his prejudlces or his pride by
so direct an approach. She went
fumbling in a drawer for stationary.
She drew out q little pine boat that
Henry had whitfield for her many
years before. He had named It
Hope but the combined wisdom Of
the little boy and girl could not sue
ceed in spelling the name correctly.
And here 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 mis-
spelt name had been the subject of
many a laugh between them. Now
but | mustn't be sentimental.


at did not take Jennie long to
draw an exact likeness of the little
craft. And that there might be no
mistake about it, she spelled the
name as it was on the side Of the
boat;


"'HOAP.'


"There was not another word in
the valentino Sealinp II mn uba.