The Republican journal., 1875-12-09
Who Made the Proposal?

DR.. Gibson, having made an unproleS
sional visit to Mrs kellicott walked down
to the gate with her daughter Matty.
Matty was twenty years old, and the
doctor was Thirty. Her eyes were brown
and his We're gray. She 'had 0no pink
calico dress, and white muslin apron; !;
he wore clean, cool looking linen clothes,
and Il wide Panama hat.
The gentleman admired the ladys flow
crs very much, especially the white roses,
one OF which, by the way, she had tucked
under her ear. She inquired with consid-
cradle show of interest, about the Ruggles
children, who had the measles He told
her gravely all about Tommy and Ben,
Alice and Kit; and when he had finished,
a silence fell upon them.
Matty was leaning ON the gate, looking
down the village street. She thought how
funny it was for Mr.. Scott to paint his new
house pea green, with lavender trimmings,
and was about to say 50 to DR. Gibson when
he stopped her.
lie said the very last thing she would
hayc expected to hear He said,
"Matty, | love you, and want you to
marry me -
The very look in the bright, brown eyes,
NOttl HslNt lUtu nun, w lllIoNl II oiHSIt
spoken word, how thoroughly unlocked
for such a proposal had been. She had
never, in all the years she had known DR..
Gibson, thought fol d moment OF the pos
sibility 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 a triile pale.
II hardly believed You did care for me,
he went on, after pause. But i hoped
YOU might yet learn to do it."
''But-but-n said Matty, With emhar-
rassment, 81 thought every one knew
WAS engaged to my cousin Tom"
Your cousin Tom Y echoed the Doc
tor. 1t was impossible to mistake the en-
preston which passed. over his face. II
was not merely personal regret ut the
fact she announced but an impartial dis
approval OF the match
lie made no comment however, but li-
rtctly said:
"Nlatty, l shall meyer get over this-l
mean tnat | shall always love you, and it
YOU need 4 friend or protector. or-or any
one, You'll come to me, won't you?"
She promised and held ont her hand to
him He shook it warmly. said ''Iod
bless you.' and left ner hurrledly
Malty still leaning on the wooden gate,
watched the retiring figure out Of sight.
She was very quiet all day and in the
evening propouded this absurd question:
Tom, what would yoa do if should
tilt you?" ..
Tom strolled his downy upper lip, and
looked pcnsve
<.no,,l,l,,,t cav I,n ,o,linI n,. c,,,no
moments of reflection. <>You might try
and see
'-Perhaps | will she replied more So
berry 1han the occasion seemed TO war
rant Tom stared very hard at her, but
Immediately forgot the incident
Nearly u year passed. One day, Mrs.
kellicott's 'help' rushed trantically into
DR.. Gibson's house, and breathlessly an
nounced TO the gentleman that "Alr. Tom
would be deadern a door nail long before
he got there, if he didn't jH1np." For
two seconds, thinking OF him as his rival
in Alatty's affections, the doctor had half
II mind to consign him to the tender mer-
cies of good, stupid, old DIR. Wells; but
his better nature prevailed, and he start
ed for Mrs kellicott's at the very heels Of
the excited servant gIrl.
When he arrived he found Tom in high
fever and delirious He pronounced it Il
severe case OF typhoid teyer, and privately
added doubt that he would recover. He
sent to his own house for changes OF cloth
INC, prepared to devote himself to the sick
man. Matty, too, was unWearied in her
work, and, being necessarily much in
Toms room, consequently saw the doctor
constantly. He and his patient presented
marked contrast to each other; the lat
ter was captious and peevsh to an un-
heard Of degree, and talked necessarily Of
some unknown being named Kate On
the other hand, Dir. Gibson was 50 patient
and gentle, so strong and helpful doing
SO much for Tom, and yet not forgetting
one of his accustomed duties, that Matty
oped her eyes in admiring astonishment.
One morning. as the doctor prepared q
sleeping draught for somebody, and die
tated to Matty prescription for some
| body else she said with real solicitude:
DR.. Gibson, you will certainly kill
yourself, if you keep on at this rate ard
It's my belief that you are overworked,
and you ought to take Il rest"
''Do appear to be at deaths door ~
he inquired Strengthening up, and squar-
ing his shoulders, as if proud Of his pro
portions. mo, Matty," he continued sol
emnly, though with II merry twinkle in
the honest eyes, "Work, as Mrs. Bowers
frequently remarks, is n pannykay.'
Matty understood him and colored Grim
son.
At last Tom was pronounced out OF dan
ger, and now the doctor telt that he must
remove himself and his belongings from
Mrs Kelicou'S house to his own Matty
hidden by the honeysuckle vines over the
piazza, watched him 90 and cried little
The morning after, Tom and Matty sat
on the piazza; he reading, or pretending
to read. while she sewed diligently
Neither uttered a word for more than
half an hour.
Presently Mattv shook out the muslin
cap she was making, and laid 1T on her
work box, put her little silver thimbfe
aside, and dropped her hands, one over
the other, into her lap. Then she looked
up.
Tom was staring straight at her. She
colored violently, and so, for that tier
did he
"Tom," she began, don't be angry
Oh, do forgive me +" She paused try
ing to think how she could tell him softly
but she went on bluntly, 81 want to end
our engagement"
$50 do l." rejoined he, with difficulty
repressing a whistle. Then both burst
into a hearty laugh.
"You see, Mat" said Tom when he
could speak, 81 love some one else'
"Matty appeared to be taken quite by
surprise at this declaration.
but couldn't help it,indeed couldn't.
She is"
| "She is a young lady whose name is