The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1876-03-31

|
is a pannykay." Matty understood him and
colored crimson.
At last Tom was pronounced out of danger
and now the doctor felt that he must remove
himself and his belongings from Mrs. Kelli.
colts house to his own. Matty, hidden by
the honcy.suckle vines over the piazza
watched him go and cried n little.
The morning after, Tom and Matty sal
on the piazza; he reading, or pretending to
read, while she sewed diligently. Neither
uttered word for more than half an
hour.
Presently Matty shook out the muslin cap
she was making, and laid it on her worl;
box, put her little silver thimble aside, and
dropped her hands, one over the other, into
her lar. Then she looked up.
Tom was staring straight at her. She
colored violently, and so for that matter, did
he.
"Tom,,' she began "dont be angry. Oh,
do forgive e!-" She paused trying to
think how she could tell him softly; but she
went on bluntly, 81 want to end our engage
ment."
$50 do J." rejoined he, with difficulty
repressing whistle Then both burst into
a hearty laugh.
"You see, Mat" said Tom, when he could
speak, II love some one else"
Matty appeared to be taken quite by sur
prise at this declaration.
"But I couldn't help it, indeed couldn't
She is
"She is young lady whose name is Kate,
and her eyes are the blacklist and her cheeks
the reddest, and she sings Under the Stars, !,
with guitar accompaniment" ratified Matty.
all in a breath.
| 1t was Toms turn to stare. "Where did
you find all this out ?" he asked.
"My dear little bird, etc. think I'll 90
and write to my future cousin" and off she
ran, glad to escape the questions which she
feared he might PROFOUND.
"But you haven't told ne" he called
after her.
"And never shall, J." she returned, whisking
into her own room.
In less than an hour she had reconciled
her mother to Fate's Decree and written to
Miss Kate Spencer, and persuaded Tom to
write also, and had done much toward in
| forming the whole village of her altered
prospects.
In due time Tom was married, Matty
| officiating rs first bridesmaid.
Matty,a after the excitement of Toms we'd
| ding, bethOught herself what she should do
There were her summer dresses to be made
| up, her music scholars to attend to, the
| sewing circle and the flowers but these
| occupied neither all her time nor thoughts,
There ought to have been DR.. Gibson, too.
| she could not help thinking = but that
gentleman, instead of falling at her feet, as
soon as he heard she was free, paid her no
more attention than before. She waited for
him in growing wonder and worry, and
eternity-two weeks-and then took meas
ures to bring him to his senses.
She employed only recognized and lady
like means, however. She began by flirting
a little with different gentlemen.
There was Will Ellis This young gentle
man had offered himself to our heroine on
an average four times q year. ever since she
was 10. She had invariably refused him,
decidedly and cmphatically; but they were
the best friends in the world. She now told
him in so many words, that she would accept
all the attention he would offer her during
the next week, taking care to remember that
this singular declaration proceeded not from
any special regard for him, but was made in
pursuance of some occult design on her part.
Forthwith the pair embarked upon what
seemed to be the stormiest Irritation Skin
nersvile ever saw. In the long morning
they drove or rowed together; they dined at
Mrs. kellicotts, and Immediately after SAL
lied forth on some other excursion. Both
were excellent equestrians and Matty colored
in galloping over hill and dale, on one of
Wills handsome horses. (Will, by-the-by,
was the son of rich man. Then they
drank an early tea on the verandah, and
spent the evening at the piano or in reading.
At the hour of 0, Matte always sent Will
home, without particle of ceremony or re-
gret at his departure. In short, what APP
peared to Skinnersville as serious court
ship was, in reality, a purely business matter
and so understood between the two parties
to it.
This state of affairs continued for week
or So during which time the doctor anored
Matty's existence except as she was the
daughter of his dear friend Mrs. Kellcott.
And all the time the girl was raging inward
ly at her quondam suitor.
"Why doesn't he ask me once again? she
queried, mentally;'I am sure he loves me-
and any one might see that / love him ; but
! can't; 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 man, but she determined
to try what modest and retiring behavior
would do. So she dismissed viii, and be-
came to all outward resemblance, little
nun. Still no advance on the doctors part.
lie came and went constantly to the house
however. Matty gave up all hope finally OF
ever coming to better understanding with
him, when something happened.
DR.. Gibson dropped in" one morning
when Mrs. Kellicott sat sewing on the pleas.
ent yerandah, in the cool, refreshing
breeze.
"You mustn't come here, i" she called, as he
tied his horse to the hitching post. "My
work requires my undivided attention be.
sides, you'll step on the rutlies. You may
go and help Matty, if you like,
The young woman was making pies in the