Year: 1871

apple trees, that are the most IN
changable of landmarks, revived
the old passion with undiminishet
power. He paced his room q
night. He looked out at the new
house of his rich neighbor. HI
chafed under the restraint not t.
think again of Jennie Morton
1t was the old story of the monk
who thinks the world subdued
but who finds it all at once about
TO assume the mastery of him.
do not know how it might have
ended, but it was all at once
stopped from without.


There reached him a rumoi
that Jennie was already the be.
trothed wife of Col. Pearson,
who was her fathers partner in
business. And, indeed, Col. Pear.
son went in and out of Mr.. Nor.
tons gate every evening and the
| father was known to favor the
suit.


"Jennie was not engaged to
him, however. Three times had
she refused him. The fourth
time, in Difference to hel fathers
wishes. she had consented ia
think about it, for a week. In
truth, Henry had been home ten
days and had not called upon her,
and all the weary waiting seemed
in vain, When the Colonel's week
was nearly out, she heard that
Henry was to leave in two days.
In sort of desperation she de-
termined to accept Col. Pearson
without waiting for the time ap-
pointed for her answer. But that
gentleman spoiled it all by his
own over-con6dence.


"For when he called, after Jen-
ME had determined on this course,
he found her so full of kindness
that he hardly knew how to be-
have with moderation on this
course. And so be tell to fatter-
ing her, and aattering himself at
the same time that he knew the
ins and outs Of girls heart,
he complimented her on the Tie mum,
bers OF offers she had received.


"And l tell you what" he pro-
ceeded; "there are plenty of 9TH
ers who would lay their heads at
your feet, if they were only your
equals. There's that young par
son, Gilbert, | think they call
him, that is visiting his mother
in the unpainted and threadbare
looking little house that stands
behind this one. I've actually
seen that fellow in his rusty coat,
stop and look after you on the
street, and every night when l 60
home, he's sitting at the window
that looks over this way. The
poor fellow is in love with you.
Only think of it. And l chuckle
to myself when see him, and say
don't you wish you could reach so
high! / declare it's funny"


''fn that one speech Colonel
Pearson dashed his chances to
pieces. He could not account for
the sudden return of winter in
Jennie Morton's manner. And
all his sunshine was powerless to
dispel it, or bring back the least
approach OF spring.


Poor Jennie! You can imag-
inc, doctor, how she paced the
floor all night. She began to un-
derstand something of the courage
of Henry Gilbert's heart, and
something of the manliness of
his motives. All night long she
watched the light burning in the
widows house; and all night long
she debated the matter till her
head ached. Henry Gilbert was
to leave the day after tomorrow.
If any communication should
ever be opened between them,
she must begin it. 1t was as if
| she had seen him drifting away
forever, and must throw him a
, rope. / think even such a wo-
mans rights man as yourself would
hardly justify her, however, in
j taking any step of the kind"
81 certainly should" said the
doctor.


"But she could not find a way
she had no rope to throw
Again the Col. meaning to do any
thing else but that, opened the
way. At the breakfast table the
! next morning she received from
him magnificent valentine. All
at once she saw her method. II
was St. Valentines day. The
rope was in her hand. Excusine
herself from breakfast she hastened
to her room.


"To send a valentine to the
faithful love, was the uppermost
thought. But how! She dare
not write her name; for after all