Year: 1871

termlned TO accept Col. fearson without
waiting for the time appointed for her
answer. But that gentleman spoiled it
all by his own over-con6dence.
For 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 he fell to fattering her, and fatter-
ing himself at the same time that he
knew all the in and outs of girls heart,
he complimented her on the many offers
she had received.


Sand tell you what" he proceeded
there are plenty cf others that would
lay their heads at your feet, if they were
only your equals. There's that young
parson, Gilbert, l think they call him,
that is visiting his mother, in the un-
painted and thread-bare looking little
house that stands behind this one. I've
actually 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 window that
looks over this way. The poor fool is
in love with you. Only think of i'll
And chuckle to myselfwhen l see him
and say, "Dont you wish you could reach
so high" l declare, it's funny"
In that one speech Col. Pearson dash
ed his chances to pieces. He could not
account for the sudden return of winter
in Jennie's manner. And all his sum
shine was powerless TO dispel it, or to
bring back the least approach of spring.
Poor Jennie! You can imagine, doc
tor 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 manliness
of his motives. All night long she watch
the light burning in the room in the wild
ow's house and all night 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 ever be OPEN
ed between them she must begin it. 1t
was as if she had seen him drifting away
from her forever; and must throw him
rope. think even such woman's
right man as yourself would hardly JUS





| tify her, however, in taking any step of
the kind"


II certainly should" said the doctor.


"But she could not find way-she
had no rope to throw. Again the col
onel, meaning to do anything else but
that, opened the way.


At the breakfast table the next MORN
ing she received from him magnificent
valentine. All at once she saw her meth
cd. It was St. Valentines day. The
rope was in her hand. Excusing herself
from breakfast she fastened to her room.
| To send a valentine to the faithful lover
was the uppermost thought. But how ?
She dared not write her name, for after
all she might be mistaken in counting on
his love, or she might offend his preju-
dices or his pride by so direct an ap-
preach. She went fumbling in drawer
for stationary. She drew out 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 succeed
in spelling the name correctly. And
here was the little old boat that he had
given, saying often afserward that it
was the boat that they two we're going to
sail in some day. The mis-spelt name
had been the subject of many laugh
between them. Now, but / mustn't be
sentimental


1t 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 val.
entine. Sealing it up, she hurried out
with it, and droped 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
\


the venture as she did. Spain did not
pray half SO fervantly when the invinci-
BILE Armada sailed. 1t was an utterable
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 street
corner on his morning walk to the post
office. Three minutes after, he went
home, evidently in great state of ex-
element, with her valentine open in his
hand. After a while he went back
again toward the post-ofiee, and return
ed. Had ne taken reply?
| Jennie AGAIN souyht the office There