Year: 1871

|
not account for the sudden return of
winter in Jennie Morton's manner. And
all the sunshine was poweress to dspel
it, or bring back the least approach of
| spring.


Poor Jennie YOU can imagine doctor,
| how she paced the floor all that night.
| She began to understand the courage Of
Henry Gilbert's heart and of the manli-
ness OF his motives All night long, she
watched the light burning 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 communication should be opened
again between them, she must begin it.
1t was rs she had seen him drifting away
forever, and must throw him a rope. |
think even such woman's rights man rs
yourself, would hardly Justify her, how
ever, in taking any step of the kind"
Il certainly should" said the doctor.


But she could not find way--she had
no rope TO 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
Il magnificent valentine. All at once she
saw her method 1t was st. Valentines
lay. The rope was in her hand. EXcus-
ing herself from the breakfast table. she
FASTENED to her room.


70 send u valentine to the faithful low
er was the uppermost thought. But how ?
She dared not write her name, tor after
all she might offend his preiudices or
his pride by so direct an approach. She
went to iumbling a drawer for stationary.
She drew Il little pine boat that Henry
had whitfield lor her many years before.
He had named it hope but the combined
wisdom of the little boy and girl could
not succeed in spelling the name correct
ly And here was the little boat that he
had given, saving often alterward that il
was the boat they We're going to sail in
some day. The misspclt name had been
the Sahlect of many Il laugh between
them. Now, but mustn't be sentimental.


1t did not take Jennie long to draw IN
exact likeness of the little craft. And
that there might he no mistake about it,
she spelled the name as it was on the
side OF the boat 'IIoap' There was not
another word in the valentine. Sealing
it up. She hurried out with it, and drop
ped il into the postotlice. No merchant
sending all his fortune TO sea in one irail
bark ever watched the departure and
trembled for the result OF the venture as
she did. Spain did not pray half 50 fer
Eeutlv when the inyincible armada sail
ed. Ii was an unuttered prayer. For
heart and hope Were lading of the little
picture boat that sailed ON that day, with
no other wind but her wishes in her 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 u great state of excite
mcnt, with her valentine open in his hand.
After u while he went back again toward
the postolicc. and returned lie had talk
en- Il reply.


Jennie again sought the Office. There
We're people all around, with those hide
ouS things they call comic valentines,
open in their hands. And they actually
seemed to think they We're funny.


She had Il reply, 1t did not take her
long to reach her home and 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 pIeasantest, but un-





upon it. have been obliged to take pas
sage in this


Slowly the meaning forced itself upon
her. Henry had feared tli;tt she whom he
thought engaged was coquctting with
him. think, doctor. You will hardly
Justify her in proceeding farther with the
correspondence ~


"Whv not Hasn't i woman as much
{ if,ht tt in
| Il matter aS Il mano And when the So
cial advantages are on her side, the bur
den of making the alvanes often falls up
on her. Many women do ii, indirectly,
and are not censured.'


"Well, you know I'm conservative,
doctor. but I'm glad you're consistent.
She did not send another valentine.
am afraid she strained this figure of
| speech about the boat But when every
thing in the world depends on one meta
| phor. it will not do to be fastidious. Jcn-
ME drew again the little boat with mis-
| spelt name. And this time added five
words; ''The masters place is vacant =


And quite late in the afternoon the re-
ply was left at the door: Pm an appli-
cant for the masters place If you will take
that of masters mate"


''Good," cried the doctor; II always
advocated giving women every liberty
i'll these matters"


''But | 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 4 distance Somehow
in the stnpef;tction Of revived hope he
had not thought of going to the house to
see her yet. He had postponed his de-
partule and had thrown away his scru-
| pies. knowing how much opposition he
would have to contend with, he thought,
| if he thought ai all, that he must proceed
with caution. But some time after the
lecture began he discovered the Morton
family without Jennie Slowly it dawn
ed upon him. She was ut home waiting
| lor him. He was near the front of the
church in wh cll the lecture was held,
every inch Of the aisle was full of people
| To get ont was not easy. But as he
thought Of Jennie waiting it became Il
matter of life and death. II the house
had been on fire, he could not have been
more intent on making his exit. He
reached the door, he passed the happiest
evening in his life, only to awake to sor-
row for Jcnnie's father is dead set
| against the match"


''IIe had no right to Interfere" said the
doctor vehemently. "You see stand by
my principle"


But if I tell the story out l am afraid
| you would not" said Hubert.


"Why isn't it done ?"


81 beg your pardon, doctor. for having
used 4 little craft, had much at stake.
| have disguised the story in its details.
but it is true. am the hero
The doctor looked quickly toward his
daughter. Her head was bent low over her
book. Her long hair hung about it like q
curtain, shutting out all view of the face.
The doctor walked to the other window
and looked ont. Hubert sat like num-
my. After Il minute DR.. Hood spoke.
"Cornelia."


She lifted p face that was aflame.
Tears glistened in her eyes, and doubt
not there was 4 prayer in her heart


"You are Il brave girl. l had other
plans. You have right to choose for
yourself. God bless you both But it is
great pity lIu is not lawyer. He
pleads so well. SO saying he put on his
| bat and -oI Al,