Year: 1871

There was not another word In the val
entine. Sealing it up, she hurried ou
with it, and dropped it in the post-ofice
No merchant. sending all his fortune to Sc;
in one frail bark, ever watched the depar
ture or trembled for the result of ysntur'
as she did. Spain did not pray half 81
fervently when the invincibe Armad;
sailed. Itwas an uttered pray-an unut
terable prayer. For heart and hope were
the lading of the little picture boat tha
sailed out that day, with no other wind bu
her wishes in its sails.


She sat down at her window until she
saw Henry Gilbert pass the next street
corner on his morning walk to the post
office. Three minutes after, he went home
evidently in a great state of excitement,
with her valentine open in his hand. Af-
ter while he went back again toward the
post-office, and returned. Had he taken a
reply?


Jennie again sought the Office There
were pro ople all around with those hideous
things that they call comic valentines open
in their hands. And they actually seemed
to think them funny She had a reply.
1t did not take her long to find her room
and to open it. There was another picture
Of boat, but the name on its side read
DESPAIR And these words were added
Your b0at is the pleaSanIest, but llqder-
Stauding that there 7raS no racant place
upon 1t, hare teen oJliqed to take DaSsaQe
on this Slowly the meaning forced itself
upon her Henry had fears that She whom
be thought engaged was coquetting with
him. l think doctor. you will hardly JUS
tify her in proceeding further with the
correspondence ?


Why not Hasn't a woman as much
right to make herself understood in such a
matter as a man? 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 are not
censured


Well, you know, I'm conservative, doe
tor, but I'm glad you're consistent. She
did send another valentine | am afraid
she trained this figure Of speech about
the boat. But when everything in the
world depends on one metaphor, it will not
do to be fastidious Jennie drew again
the little boat with mis-spelt name. And
this time she added five words The
, masters place is r0caHt.'


And quite late in the afternoon, the
reply was left at the door am an ap-
plicqnt for the racalH place, lfy1t lrW take
tlat N masters wate


Good cried the doctor always
advocated giving women every liberty in
these matters


But l will stump you yet, doctor
said Hubert That evening Cough was TO
lecture in the village, and my friend went,
not to hear Cough, but to see Miss Jennie
Morton at a distance Somehow in the
stupefaction Of revived hope he had not
thought Of going to the house to see her
yet lie had postponed his departmental
had thrown away his scruples. knowing
how much opposition he would have to
contend with, he thought, if lie thought at
all, that he must proceed with caution.
But some time after the lecture began he
discovered the Morton family without Jon-
nie Slowly it all dawned upon him.
She 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 d matter OF life and
death. If the house had been on fire he
would not have been more intent on max
ing his exit He reached the door, he
passed the happiest evening Of his life,
only TO awake to sorrow, for Jcnnie's faith
er is dead set against the match


He has mo- right to interfere, said the
doctor, vehemently. You see | stand by
principles.


But if l tell the story out am afraid
you would not, said Hubert.


Why, isn't it done


i beg your pardon doctor, for having
used a little craft had much at stake
l have disguised this story in its details.
But it is true l am the hero


The doctor looked quickly towards his
daughter. Her head was bent low over
her book Her long hair hung about it
like curtain, shutting out all view Of the
face. The doctor walked to the other
window and looked out. Hubert sat ike
mummy. After a minute DR.. Hood
spoke.


sCornelia


She lifted face that was afame Tears
glistened in her eyes, and | doubt not
there was a prayer in her heart.


You are a brave girl. ! had other
plans You have a right to choose for
yourself God bless you both. But its
a great pity Hu Is not a lawyer. He
pleads we'll So saying he put on his hat
and walked out.


This is the conversation Hubert repeat
ed to me that day sitting in his own little
parsonage in Allenville. a minute after
his wife came in She had been prescrib-
ing for the minor ailments Of some poor
neighbors She took the baby from her
crib, and bent over her till that same long
hair curtained mother and child from sight.


i think said Hubert, that you folks
who write love stories make a great mis-
take in stopping at marriage. The honey
moon never truly begins until conjugal at-
fection is enriched by this holy partner
ship of loving hearts in the life of a child.
The climax of love story is not the we'd
ding 1t is the baby


What do you call her | asked.


Hope, said the mother.


Hope Valentine, added the father,
with significant smile.


And you spell the Hope with an a |
believe l said.


You naughty Hu, said Mrs. Cornelia.
You've been telling. You think that love
story is interesting to others because you
enjoy it so much


The Utica Observer says that the Clear