The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1876-12-07
WHO MADE THE PROP0SALq
From the Portland Sunday T,mes

From the Portland Sunday Times.
DR.. Gibson, having made an unpro.
fessio:al visit to Mrs. Kellicott, walk.
ed down to the gate with her daught-
er Matty.
Matty was 20 years old, and the
Doctor was 30. Her eyes were brown,
and his were gray. She ''had on" a
pink calico dress and a white muslin
apron he wore clean, cool-looking lin.
en- 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 right
ear. She inquired with considerable
show OF interest about the Rugg)es
children, who had the measles. He
told her gravely all about Tommy and
Ben, Alice and Kit ; and, when he had
finished, silence fell upon them.
Matty was leaning on the gate, look
ing down the village street. She
thought how funny it was for Mr..
Scott to paint his new house pea.creen
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, love you, and want you to
marry me ~
The very look in the bright, brown
eyes would have told him, without a
single spoken word how thoroughly un.
looked-for such proposal had been.
She had never, in all the years she had
known DR.. Gibson, thought for a 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 trifle pale.
81 hardly believed you did care for
me,' he went on after a pause. "But
I hoped you might yet learn to do it,
" But-but-'' said Matty, with EN-.
barrassment, Il thought every one
knew l was engaged to my cousin
Tom"
"Your cousin Tom!'' echoed the
Doctor. 1t was impossible to mistake
the impression that passed over his
face. 1t was not merely personal re.
gret at the fact she announced, but au
impartial disapproval of the match.
He made no comment, however, but
directly said:
''Matty, shall never get over this
I mean that I shall always love Won.
and II you need friend or protector
or-or any one, Won II come to me, won t
you!'
She promised, and held out her hand
to him. He shook it warmly, and said
''God bless you!' and left her hurried.
ly.
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:
jilt youl''
Tom stroked his downy upper lip and
looked pensive.
''Couldn't say" he replied, after
some moments of silence. "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 Incl.
dent.
Nearly year passed. One day Mrs.
Kellicott's ''help" rushed frantically
into DR.. Gibson's house, and breath
lessly announced that ''Mr. Tom would
be deader'n a door nail long before he
got there, If he didn't jump" For
two seconds, thinking Of him as his
rival in Mattie's affections, the Doctor
had half a mind to consign 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.