Year: 1871

The weary waiting seemed in vain.
When the Colonei's week was nearly
ont she learned that Henry was to
leave in two days. In sort OF dcs-
perauon she determined TO accept Col.
onei Pearson without waiting for the
time appointed for her answer. But
that gentleman spoiled it all BY his
own over confidence.


For when he called, after Jenny 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
fiattcring himself at the same time
that he knew the ins and outs of a
girls heart. he compiinented her on
the many offers she had received.
And tell you what, h, proceeded.
there are plenty Of others who would
lay their hearts at your feet If they
were only your equals. There's that
Young parson, Gilbert | think they
call him, that is visiting his mother. in
the unpainted and threaibarc looking
little house that stands behind this
one.


I've actually seen that fellow in his
rusty mustv coat. stare and look after
you on the street, and every night
when l 90 home he's sitting at The win :
dow which looks this way. The poor
fool is in love with you Only think
Of it Aud chucklc TO myself when
! see him, and say, don't you wish
that you could reach so high declare
it's funny.


In that one speech Colonel Pearson
dashed his chances TO pieces. He could
not account for the sudden return OF
winter in Jenny Morton's manner.
And all the sunshine was powerless TO
dispel II. or bring back the least ap-
proach of spring.


foor Jenny YOU can imagine doc
tor, how she paced the floor all tina,
night. She began to understand the
courage Of Henry Gilbert's heart and
something of the manliness OF his mo
tises. All night long she watched the
ligh, 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
10 leave the day after tomorrow. If
any communication should be opened
again between them, she must begin
II. Ii was as she had seen him drift
ing away forever, and mus, throw him
rope. think even such woman's
rights man as yourself would hardly
justify her, however, in taking any
step of the kind


certainly should, said the doctor.


But she could not find a wa,-she
had no rope 10 throw. Again the col
onel, meaning 10 do anything else but
that, opened the way. AT the break
last table the next morning she recciv-
eel from hlm magnificent valentine
All at once she saw her method. 1t
was 81. Valentines day. The rope
was in her hand. Excusing herself
from the breakfast, she has,ened TO
her room.


10 send valentine to the faithful
lover was the uppermost thought. But
i'" 'fHe uatti iiOt "IItt ntT name,
for after all she might offend his pre-
judlces or his pride bv so direct An ap-
proach. She went TO fImblinr a
drawer for stationery. She drew a lit
tie pine boat that Henry had Whitfield
for her many years before. lie had
named it hope but the combined wis
dom Of the little boy and girl could
not succeed in spelling the name cor
rectly. And here was the lite boat
that he had given, saying often after
ward that It was the boat they were go
ing TO sail in some day. The misspelt
name had been the subject of many a
laugh between them. Now, hut
mustn't be sentimental.


II 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 ia the valentine.
Scaling it up, she hurried out with it,
and dropped it in the postotiice. No
merchant sending all his fortune 10 sea
in one frail bark ever watched the de-
parture and trembled for the result Of
the venture as she did. Spain did not
pray half so feryently when the irwin
cible armada sailed. 1t was an unut-
tered 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 great
state of excitement, with her valentine
spen in his hand. After while he
went back again toward the postotiice,
and returned. He had taken reply.


Jennie again sought the office. There
were people all around, with those hid
eous things they call comic valentines,
open in their hands. And they actu-
ally seemed to think they were funny.


She had reply. II did not take
her long to reach her home and open
It. There was another picture of a
boat, but the name on its side read
Despair And these words were
added:


Your boat is the pleasantes., but
understanding there was no vacant
place upon it, have been obliged to
take passage in this


Slowly the meaning forced itself up
on her. Henry had feared that she
whom he thought engaged was coquet-
ting with him. l think, doctor. you
will hardly justify her in proceeding
farther with the correspondence?


why not! Hasn't woman as much
right to make herself understood in
such a matter as man? And when
the social advantages are on her side,
the burden Of making the advances
often falls upon her. Many woman do
it, indirectly, and are not censured.'
Well, you know I'm conservative,
| dootor hut Pm Glad yousro oDna;atoof