The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1876-03-31
Miscellaneous.
WHO MADE THE PROPOSAL?

al visit to Mrs. Kellicott, walked. down to
the gate with her daughter Matty.
Matty was 90 years DID, and the Doctor
was 30. Her eyes were brown and his were
gray. She chad on" pink calico dress and
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 inquired with considerable
show of interest 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, silence fell up
on them.
Matty was leaning on the gate, looking
down the village street. She thought how
funny it was for Mr.. Scott 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, I love you, and I want you to
marry me w
The very look in the bright, brown eyes,
would have told him, without a single spoken
word, how thoroughly unlocked for such a
proposal had been. She had never in all
the years she had known Dr.Gibson thought
for moment 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 glow trife pale.
81 hardly believed you did care for me-"
he went on, after a pause. "But l hoped
you might yet learn to do it."
"But-but-" said Matty with embar-
assment, 81 thought every one knew | was
engaged to my cousin Tom p
"Your cousin Tom p echoed the doctor
1t was impossible to mistake the expression
which passed over the face. 1t was not
merely personal regret at the fact that she
announced but an impartial disapproval of
the match.
He made no comment however, but di-
rectly said =
'Matty, 1 shall never get over this-I
mean that shall always love you and if
you need 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 hurriedly.
Matt, cell 81 b
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 / should jilt
you ?"
Tom stroked his downy upper lip, and
looked pensive.
Couldn't say" he replied, after some
moments of reflection. "You might try and
see"
"Perhaps | will, she replied, more sober
ly than the occasion seemed to warrant.
Tom stared very hard at her, but immediate
ly forgot the incident.
Nearly year passed. One day Mrs
Kellicotts "help" rushed frantically into
Dr. Gibson's house, and breathlessly an
nounced to the gentleman that "Mr, Tom
would be deadern a 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 Il
mind to consign him to the tender .mercies
of good, stupid, old DR.. Wells, but his better
nature prevailed, and he started for Mrs.
Kellicotts at the very heels of the excited
servant girl.
When he arrived he found Tom in high
fever and delirious. He pronounced it a
severe case of typhoid fever, and privately
added doubt that he would recover. He
sent to his own house for changes of cloth
ing, prepared to devote himself to the sick
man. Matty, too,w 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
peeysh to an unheard of degree, and talked
necessarily of some unknown being named
Kate. On the other hand, DIR. Gibson was
so patient and gentle, so strong and helpful,
doing so much for Tom, and yet not forget
ting one of his accustomed duties, that Matty
opened her eyes in admiring astonish-
ment.
One morning, as the doctor prepared a
sleeping draught for somebody, and dictated
Matty prescription for somebody else ,lshe
said with real solicitude:
"Dr. Gibson, you will certainly kill your
self if You keep on at this rate, and It's my
belief that you are overworked, and you
ought to take a rest"
"Do appear to be at deaths door2" he
inquired, Strengthening up, and squaring his