American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-12-09
WHO MADE THE PROPOSALS.


fessional visit to Mrs. Kellicott, wakes
down to the gate with her daughte
Matty.
Mstty was 20 years old, and the Doc
tor was so. Her eyes were brown, an,
his were gray. She "had on" a pinl
calico dress and q white muslin apron
he wore clean, cool-looking linen clothe
and awide Panama hat.
The gentleman admired the lady
flowers very much, especially the whit,
roses-one of which, by the way, sh,
had tucked under her ear. She in
quired, with considerable show of inter
est, about the Ruggles children, who
had the measles. He told her gravely
all about Tommy and Ben, Alice ant
Kit; and, when he had finished, 81
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
nay 50 to DR.. Gibson, when he stopped
her.
He said the very last thing she would
have expected to hear. He said:
"Matty. Il love You, and want you to
marry mel"
The very look in the bright, brown
eyes would have told him, without q
single spoken word, how thoroughly
unlooked-for such proposal had been.
She had 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 Is she saw the quiet face grow a
trifie pale.
81 hardly believed you did care for
me-" he went on, after pause. "But
I hoped you might yet learn to do it. -
"But-but-" said Matty, with en-
barrassment, at thought every one
knew I was engaged to my cousin
Tom.'' 81
Your cousin Toni" echoed the
Doctor. It 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, 1 shall never get over this
mean that shall always love you,
and, d You need friend or protector,
or-or any one, you'll come to me,
won't youp''
She promised, and held out her hand
to him. He shook it warmly, said
God bless you'll" and left her hur-
riedly. .a-s1 .
Matty, still 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 your
% Couldn't say" he replied, after
some moments of reflection. "You
might try and see.''
"Perhaps will, /" 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 dayMrs |
Keilicott's help" rushed frantically
into DR.. Gibson's house, and breathless-
~ announced to that gentleman that
+" Mr.. Tom Hould be deader'n door nail |
lodg 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 q mind to consign |
him to the tender mercies of good, |
stupid old DR.. Wells; but his better
nature prevailed. and he started for |
Nm. Ksllicott's at the very heels of the
servant-girl.
When he arrived he found Tom in |
high fever, and delirious. He pro-
nounced it q severe case of typhoid |
fever, and privately added 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 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, DIR. Gibson was SO patient
and gentle, so strong and helpful, do
ing 30 much for Tom, and yet not for
getting one of his accustomed duties,
that Matty opened her eyes in admiring
One morning, as the Doctor prepared
a sleeping-draught for somebody, and
dictated to Matty a prescription for
somebody else, she said with real So
licitude:
"Dr. Gibson, you will certainly kill
yourself if you keep on at this rate;
and tits my belief that you are over
and you ought to take q rest. :"
"Do appear to be at deaths doorp''
be inquired, Strengthening up, and
squaring his shoulders, as if proud of
his proportions. "No, Matty," he con-
inued solemnly, though with merry
wrinkle in the honest eyes, work, as
Mrs. Bowers frequently remarks, is a
Matty understood him and
,olored crimson.
At last Tom was pronounced out of
Hanger, and now the Doctor felt that
he ruro< rovnoya b,x..o1S c~I L. l. |