The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-12-06

forth on some other excursion. Both
were excellent equestrians, and Matty
gloried in galloping over hill and dale,
on one of Wills handsome horses.
(Will, by-the-by, was the son Of "a rich
man, Then they drank an early tea
on the veranda and spent the evening
at the piano or in reading. At the
hour of Q, Matty always sent will
home, without particle Of ceremony
or regret at his departure. In short,
what appeared to Skinnersville as a
serious courtship was, in reality, a
pure business matter, and so under
stood between the two parties to it.
This state of affairs continued for q
week or so during which time the
Doctor ignored Matty's existence,
except as she was the daughter of his
dear friend, Mrs. Kellicot. And all the
time the girl was raging inwardly at
her quondam sutton.
''Why can't he ask me at once
again :" she queried, mentally 81 am
sure he loves me, and any one might
see that love him but cau't, and I
suppose shall be an old maid.''
But the Doctor was not to blame. A
man of the world would have seen
through Matty's stratagem, but he did
not he imagined that she was either
trying to drown her disappointment
at losing Tom, or had really decided to
marry the enamored Will.
The truth occurred to Matty at last.
She could hardly believe such stupidity
existed in the mind of a man but she
RI q nd f1 %,rxy vho%
retiring behavior would effect. She
dismissed Will, and became, to all out.
ward resemblances, a little nun. Still
no advance on the Doctors part. He
came and went constantly to the house,
however. Matty gave up all hope,
finally, Of ever coming to better under
standing with him. when something
happened.
DIR. Gibson dropped in one morning
when Mrs. Kellicot sat sewing on the
pleasant veranda in the cool, refresh
ing breeze.
"You musn't come here,'' she called,
as he tied his horse to the hitching-
post. ''My work requires my undivid-
ed attention :; besides, you'll step on
/ the ruffles. You may go and help
MaJty, II you ike.
That young woman was making pies
in the kitchen. She saw the doctor
coming round the corner of the house,
gave hurried glance at the bright
bottom of a tin pan she was holding,
found herself presentable, and greeted
him composedly. She was very glad
to see him, she said. Wouldn't he
come in?
No, he wouldn't come in, the day
was SO beautiful. He would just
stand on the little brick pavement
under the window, and lean over the
sill. So there he stood under the
grapevine trellis, with little golden
sunshine falling over his hair and
shoulders. Matty observed that he
looked thoroughly unlOverlike, and
concluded that he didn t intend to pro-
pose. She also noticed a rip in his
coat, and wondered who would mend
| it for him.
SOmeway the talk veered round
from the weather to woman's rights.
N1atty, on this, spoke up.
She didn't at all believe in the Sec
ond-hand influence which reached the
ballot-box through the agency of hus-
bands or brothers. ''When I vote. -
she said, II want to march to the polls
and put in my own vote my own self. -
"What pretty spectacle you'd
make, Matty, with that rolling-pin in
your hand, and
''l'm not at all sure I want to vote, -
she interrupted. s'But would like to
make some laws, that's ALL
"Well, you might petition the Leg
ly.
sob, they'r not legal laws; only So
cial customs and usages. I'll tell you
what mean.'' She laid the rolling
pin aside, with an emphatic bang,
placed her floury arms akimbo, looked
very earnest and determined, and
quite regardless of the fact that she
and DR.. Gibson were in love with each
other. ''Now, at party, when lady
sits in a stuff-chair all the evening,
not dancing, simply because she hasn't
any partner, and can't ask any one, oh,
you know, DR.. Gibson, you Know
''How it is myself, - interpolated he.
elbow 1t was at Mrs, Campbelps the
other night If I had been Anna Rad
cliffe, or Dora Coliard, I'd have asked
some Of you men to dance with me-"
''Then you think women should have
the privilege Of asking for whatever
they WISH" he retorted, with a smile.
She answered that she thought just
that.
swell, Matty, I quite agree with
you. / not only think they should
have this right in such a case as you
mention, but in more serious affairs.
For instance, women might, with per-
feet propriety, make proposals of mar
riage."