Year: 1871

proach of spring.


poor Jennie! You can imagine,
doctor. how she paced the floor all that
night. She began to understand some-
thing of the courage of Henry Gilbert's
heart. and something of the maDliness
of his motives. All night long she
watched the light burning in the room
in the widows house; and all night
long she debated the matter until her
head ached. She could reach but one
conclusion: Henry was to leave the day
after tomorrow. If any communica.
ton 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 rope.
l think even such a woman's-right man
as yourself could hardly justify her,
however, in taking any step Of the
kind"


II most certainly should,' said the
doctor.


"But she could not find way-she
had no rope to throw. Again the COLI
onel, meaning to do anything else but
that, opened the way. At the breakfast
table the next morning she received
from him q magnificent valentine. All
at once she saw her method. 1t was St.
Valentines's day. The rope was in her
hand. Excusing herself from breakfast
she FASTENED to her room.


<~> har cat f,,1
lover was her uppermost thought. But
how? She dare not write her name, for,
after all, she might be mistaken in
counting on his love, or she might Of
fend his prejudices or his pride by so di-
rect an approach. She went fumbling
in a drawer for stationery. She drew
out little pine boat that Henry bad
whitfield for her many years before. He
had named it Hope but the combined
wisdom Of the little 10y and girl could
not succeed in spelling the name corr
rectly. And here was the little old boat
that he had given, saying often after
ward that it was the boat they two were
going to sail in some day. The misspelt
name had been the subject Of many a
laugh between them. Now-but I
mustn't be sentimental.


ut did not take Jennie long to draw
an exact likeness Of the little craft. And
that there might be no mis- take about it
she spelled the name as it was OH 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
Office. No merchant, sending all his
fortune to sea in one frail bark, ever
watched the departure and trembled for
the result of venture as she did. Spain
did not pray half so fervently when the
invincibie Armada sailed. 1t was an un-
uttered prayer-an unutterable 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
steet corner on his morning walk to the
post office. Three minutes after, he
went home, evidently in great state of
excitement, with her valentine OF en- in
his hand. After a while he went back
again toward the post-of1ice, and retnrn-
ed. Had he taken reply?


"Jennie again sought the Office. There
were people all around with those hid
eous things that they call comic valen-
tines open in their hands. And they
actually seemed to think them funny!
She had 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
boat is the pleasantest, but understand.
ing that there was no vacant place upon
it, have been obliged to take passage
on this" Slowly the meaning forced it"
self upon her, Henry had fears tha,
she whom he thought engaged was CO.
quoting with him. / think, doctor


you will hardly justify her in proceed


ing further with the correspondence? p


"Why not Hasn't woman us much
right to make herself understood in such
a matter as man? And when the SO
cial advantages are on her side the bur
den of making the advances often falls
upon her. Many women do it Indirect
Iy and are not censured,"


"Well, you know, I'm conservative
doctor, but I'm glad you're consistent
; She did send another valentine. / an
afraid she strained this figure of speecl
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 m isspel
. name. And this time she added tiv'
: words: 1.-The masters place is va


can't"


"And quite late in the afternoon, TIL
r reply was left at the door:


' Il am an applicant for the vacant place
if you will take that of masters mate
, Good cried the doctor: II always aG
V vocatcd giving women every liberty II
e these matters"


"But l will stump you yet, doctor


said Hubert. That evening Cough wa
/, 10 lecture in the village, and my frien'
! went, not to hear Cough, but to Sc
e Miss Jennie Morton at distance. Some
g how in the stupefaction Of revived hop
/, he had not thought of going to the hous
: to see her yet. He had postponed hi
. departure and had thrown away hi
g scruples. Knowing how much oppos