Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1875-10-27
Who Made the Proposal 7

VINO Wduc tIic TTUpUSdi |!
pr. Gibson, having made an unprofes-
s;onal visit TO Mrs. kellicott, walked
dovu Ia the gate with her daughter
Matty.
Nstry was twenty years old, and the
doctor was thirty. Hereyes were brown
and his were gray. She had on a
n;nk calico dress, and white muslin
snron; and he wore clean, cool looking
linen clothes, and a wide Panama hat.
The gentleman admired the lady's
flowers very much, especially the white
roses. one of which, by the way, she
had tucked under her ear. She inquired
With considerable show of interest,
sbOut the Ruggles children, who had
the measles. He told her gravely all
,hout Tommy and Ben, Alice and Kit;
and when he had finished, silence fell
upon them.
Natty was leaning on the gate, looking
down the village street. She thought
how funny il was for Mr.. Scott to paint
his new house pea green, with lavender
trimmings, and was about TO say so TO
DR.. Gibson, when he stopped her.
He said the very last thing she would
have expected to hear. He said,
..Natty. love you, and want you TO
marry mel!
The yery look in the bright, brown
eyes. would have told him, without
single spoken word, how thoroughly
unlocked for such a proposal had been.
She had never, in all the years she had
known DR.. Gibson, thought for mo-
ment of the possibility of his loving her.
She WAS very sorry, she told him. but
she didn't love him one bit, at least in
that way. But the tears came into her
eyes. as she saw the quiet face grow
irife pale.
II hardly believed you did care for
me-" he went on, after pause. "But 1
hoped YOU might learn TO do it,"
"But-but-r said Matty, with en-
barrassment. 81 thought every one
knew am engaged TO my cousin Tom
"Your Cousin Tomn' echoed the Doc
tor. 1t was impossible to mistake the
expression which passed over his face.
II was not merely personal regret at the
fact she announced, but an Impartial
disspproval of the match.
He made no comment, however, but
directly said:
'Natty, shall never get over this
mean that | shall always love you and
if YOU ever need friend or protector, or
or any one, You'll come to me, won't
yOu:"
She promised and held out her hand
70 him. He shook it warmly, said God
bless your and left her hurriedly.
Matty, still leaning on the little wooded
gate, watched the retiring figure out of
sight. She was very quiet all day, and
in the evening propounded this absurd
question:
TON, what would you do if should
jill you:'
Tom stroked his downy upper lip, and
looked pensive.
Couldn't saw" he replied, after some
moments of reflection. "Iou might
try and see."
perhaps | WILL she replied more
soberly than the occasion seemed to war
rant Tom stared very hard at her, but
immediately forgot the incident.
Nearly year passed. One day, Mrs.
kellicOtt's help rushed frantically into
Dr. Gibson's house, and breathlessly
announced to that gentleman that MIR.
Tom would be deader'n a door nail long
before he got there, if he didn't jump
for two seconds, thinking of him as ms
nyal in Matty's affections, the doctor
had half a mind to consign him to the
tender mercies of good. stupid, old DIR.
Wells; but his better nature prevailed,
ha L nll nj
the very heels of the excited servant
girl.
When he arrived he found Tom in a
high fever, and delirious. lie pro-
hounced il severe case of typhoid
lever, and privately added doubt that
ne would recover. He sent TO his own
house for changes of clothing, prepared
70 devote himself to the sick man. Matty,
700, was unwearied i'm her work, and,
"lng necessarily much i'm Toms room,
@nsequently saw the doctor constantly.
ne and his patient presented marked
oohtrast TO each other; the latter was
SapuOus and peevish to an unheard Of
aegree, and talked necessarily of some
unknown being named Kate. On the
o'her hand, DIR. Gibson was so patient
anu gentle, so strong and helpful, doing
much for Tom, and vet not forgetting
ohe oil his accustomed duties, that Matty
opened her eyes in admiring astonish-
ment.
one morning, as the doctor prepared
Ssleeplng draught for somebody, and
uiclated to Matty prescription for
someoody else, she said with real soli-
citude:
Dr Gibson, you will certainly Kill
sS;urseii, If you keep on at this rate, and
us Us my belief that you are overworked,
ana you ought to take rest"
10 appear to be at deaths door
ne inquired, Strengthening up, and
Juarlng his shoulders, rs if proud OF
~. is proportions. "No, Matty," he con-
,nnued, ,n, solemnly, though with merry
wnlhkie w In the honest eyes, ''work, as
MS Mt. Bowers frequently remarks, is
ps1hykay." Matty understood him.
Ano colored crimson.
al last Tom was pronounced out OF
nger, and now the doctor felt that ht
must remove himself and his belonging:
from Mrs. Kellicott's house TO his own
ora, y, hidden by the honeysuckle vine:
cried a little.
wh;nd ana never SHALL" she returned
Aihg into her own room.
50, ,ne morning after, Tom and Matty
,snd; Gn The piazza: he reading, or pre-
yar.is TO read, while she sewed dill
Snu!; Neither uttered a word fol
more than half an hour.
csn neasently Matty shook out the muslin
wa,s sne was making, and laid it on hel
"ok, put her little silver thimbl,