The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1876-12-07
WHO MADE THE PRoPosALq

z
Matty.
Matty was 20 years old, and the Doc
tor was so. Her eyes were brown, and
his were gray. She chad ON a pink
calico dress and a white muslin apron !;
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 in
qHired, with considerable show of inter
est, 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, ST.
lence fell upon them.
Matty was leaning on the gate, look
ing down the village street She
thought how funny it was for Mr.. Scot,
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:
"Matty, l love you, and want you to
marry mei'
The very look in the bright, brown
eyes would have told him, without a
single spoken word, how thoroughly
unlooked-for such a proposal had been
She tad never, in all the years she had
known DIR. 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 a
trile pale.
al hardly believed you did care for
me-" he went on, after pause. "But
l hoped you might yet learn to do it.
But-but-" said Matty, with en-
barrassment, al thought every one
knew l was engaged to my cousin
Tom"
"Your cousin Toni" echoed the
Doctor. 1t was impossible to mistake
the impression which passed over his
face. 1t was not merely personal re-
greet at the fact she announced, but an
impartial disapproval of the match.
He made no comment, however, but
directly said:
Matty, | shall never get over this
| mean that shall always love you,
and, if you need a friend or protector,
or-or any one, you'll come to me,
won't you?"
She promised, and held out her hand
to him. He shook it warmly, said
"God bless you!" and left her hur-
riedly.
Matty, stin leaning on the wooden
gate, watched the retiring figure out OF
sight. She was very quiet all day, and
in the evening propounded this absurd
question:
"Tom, what would you do if Ishould
jilt you?"
Couldn't say" he replied, after
some moments of reflection. "You
might try and see."
"Perhaps l will, a" she replied more
soberly than the occasion seemed TO
warrant. Tom stared very hard at her,
but Immediately forgot the incident.
Nearly year passed. One day Mrs
kellicott's "help" rushed franticany
into DR.. GibSon's house, and breathless-
ly announced to that gentleman that
4" Mr.. Tom would be deader'n door nail
long before he got there, if he didn't
jump" For two seconds, thinking of
him as his rival in Matty's affections,
the Doctor had half a mind to consigu
him to the tender mercies of good,
stupid old Dr. Wells; but his better
nature prevailed, and he started for
Mrs. kellicott's at the very heels Of the
servant-girl.
When he arrived he found Tom in
high fever, and delirious. He pro-
nounced it 4 severe case of typhoid
fever, and privately added a doubt that
he would recover. He sent to his own
house for changes of clothing, pre-
pared 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 a marked contrast to each
other. The latter was captious and
peevish to an unheard-of degree, and
talked almost necessarily of some I'M
known being named Kate. On the
other hand, DR.. Gibson was so patient
and gentle, so strong and helpful, do
ing so much for Tom, and yet not for
getting one of his accustomed duties,
that Ma;ty opened her eyes in sdmiring
establishment.
One morning, as the Doctor prepared
p sleepiug-draught for somebody, and
dictated TO Matty a prescription for
somebody else, she said with real So
licitude:
''Dr. Gibson, You viii certainly Kill
yourself if you keep on at this rate;
and It's my belief that you are over
worked, and you ought to take a rest ="
~ ado appear to be at deaths door?"
he inquired, Strengthening up, and
sqCaring his shoulders, as if proud of
bis proportions. "No, Matty," he con-
tinued solemnly, though with merry
twinkle in the honest eyes, "work, as
Mrs. Bowers frequently remarks, Is a
pannaky." Matty understood him and
colored crimson.
At last ToR wss pronounced out of