, 1876-11-25
WHO MADE THE PROPOSAL I

visit to Mrs. Kcilicott, walked down to the gate
with her daughter Mattv.
Siatty was 20 years old. and the Doctor was
30. Her eyes wcrc brown. and ha werc gray
She .thad on u pink calico Ircss and white
muslin apron; he wore clean, cool-looklng linen
clothes, and wide Panama bat.
Tie gentleman admired the fAdyfs flowers
very much, especially the white roses.-ouc Of
which, by The WAY, she had tucked under her
car. She inquired With considerable show of
Interest about the Rugglcs children. who bad
the measles Ho told her Eravely all about
Tommy and Ben. Alice and Kit: and, when he
had finished. silence fell upon them.
Matty WAS leaning on the gate, looking down
the vDlago street. She thought how funny It
was for Mr Scott 10 paint his now house pea
green with tnvender trimmings, and was about
to say 30 to Dr.. 0lbson, when be stopped her:
lie said the very last thing site would have
expected to hear. lie said:
"afatty, love you, and want you to marry
ne!''
The very look in the bright, brown eyes would
haye told him, without single spoken word,
how thoroughly unlooked-for such a proposal
Ind been. She had never, III all the years sue
lad known Dr.. Gibson, thought for rnomcnt
Of the possibility OF his loving her. She was
TGfG 60T51, HLE kQkk4 nAt Div 4OfCH
one bit, at least in that wny. But the tears
came into ller eyes as she saw the quiet lace
grow trilc palc.
~ hardly believed you did care for me,' lie
went on, after q pause. "Dut hoped you
might yet learn to do It,"
"But-but-' said A(atty, with cmbarrass-
,pcnt. III thought every ono knew was en-
gagged to my cousin Tom.h
s:Your cousin Toni" echoed the Doctor. 1t
waa impossible to mistake tho Impression which
passed over his faee. l. was not merely person.
re3e, st thc iast = she H. but a I'm
liz made no comment, however, hut directly
"Matty, + st,a1l never ret over this-I mean
that slIall always love you, and, If you need Il
| friend or PROTECTOR Or-ur any onc you'll come
she prom!scl AM. held out hcr hand to him.
1Te shook IL warln1y, said "God bless you! and
left her llurrledty.
slatty, still leaning on the wooden gate,
watched the retiring figure out Of sight. She
was very quiet all day, 1nd III the evening pro-
pounded this absurd question; - ,, u,.
"Tona, what would you doN should 1tt
To1n strokcd his downy upper lip, and looked
"Couldn't say" l,e replied. after some mo.
1ncnts of reflection. "You might try and acc" !"
"Pcrl.nps1 will" she replied more sn1,,ssrly
1
stirred rery hurd at her, but Immediately forgot
| the inctdcnt-
Nearly year passed. One. day Mrs. Kelil,
colts "help" rushed frantlcally into Or. Glib
gentleman that 'sa1r. Tom would b. deadcr'n g
door lluil long beforc hc gut there II IT. didn't
jump" For two scconus, thinking Of hun a;
Ills rayal In hutty's affections, the Doctor had
1ncrclcs @ Of good, stupid old Dr. Wells; but iii
hettcr nature prevailed, aud he started for Airs
Kellieott's al tho very heels OF the servant
when lie arrived he found Tom in high fever
and delirlous. liz pronounced ita severe cas-!
of typhoid fever, lnl privately added doub'
TINT hc wcul4 recoyur. lie sont lo his Owl!
hul.sc for clanges Of clothing, prepared
e devote himself n,,t, to t9 T. fict ct ,1.,s mn
and, being necessarily. much III To1u'.
room, consequently saw tho Doctor constantly.
HI a,,l hts patient presented tnarkc1 contrastt
to cach other. Tic hitter was 'captIous aud
Neyisl, to an unhcarl-ot degree, aud talked A.
most incessant!y of some unknown being
nu,,,rtl kate. On the other hand, DR.. Glbs on
was ~ patient md gentle, So BtrouE mud help
full, DUNG 50 luuch for Tom, ana yet not forEet
ting one Ut HIS aceastonsu =. au.ies, ma1 Mat1s
Ono morning, as tho Doctor prepared sleep
inr drauch. fdr somebody, and dictated 10 Mat
ty U prescription for somebody elsc, she sui'
VII "Dr, Glbsol., you will certainly kill yourself
II YOU kcup on at this rate; ar1 Ills my belle
tl,at you are oscrworkcd. aud you ought to tax
rvs..n
"Do appear to be at DEATHS door''' he N
shoulders, as il proiii of its proportiaus 7.Nu
Mutty," le continued s0leninly, though with
merry twinkle In this honest eyes, work, t.
Mrs. Bowers frequently Fcnatl;s, y pannaky.
Matty understood him anI colore,t crimson.
At last Tom WIS pronounced Out Of danger
n,s! now tic Doctor felt that he must rellnv
hlnnfelf ana lila belongings from Mrs, kellleott'
housc to Its own, Alatty, hidden BY tho huucy
surklc-riHcs over the piazza, watched 1im &
and cried little.
Tic morning after, Tom and Matty sat OH tn
plAzza; he rtadlng, or pretending u read. whtl
sl.a sewed diligently. Neither uttered wor
| fur morc than hull IN hour.
Presently sIasty shook out tho muslin cap slI
was making, aud laid It On her wDsk-box, Nu
}cr little silver thinbe 4sftle, and dropped he
ta.,ds one over the other. !uto heF lnp. The
she looked up.
,rom va. stirring straight at her. ahs coloFe
Violently, uud 80, for that matter, dli! he.
"Tats,," sha hogan, "don't bc angry. Oh, d
forgive ulelr S!v paused, trying 10 tlltn
how sho could tell him Aoftsy: but she went O
biuntly, ~ want 10 ena our enlargement"
"Sodol, )" rcioined he, With al1slcnl syss ssprrcsa
iuEu whistle. Then both burst Into hcart
: laugh.