Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1877-01-11
WHO MADE THE PROPOSAL !

HHV MADE knN AVI VChhS
DR., Gibson. having made an un-
professional visit to Mrs. kellicott,
walked down to the gate with her
daughter Matty.
Matty was twenty years old, and the
doctor was thirty. Her eyes were
brown, and his were gray, She ''had
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 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, a silence fell upon them.
Matty was leaning on the gate, look
ing down the village street. Sh e
thought how funny it was for Mr.. Scott
to paint his new house peagreen 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:
''Matty, 1 love you, and want you to
marry met"
The very lock in the bright, brown
eyes would have told him, without a
single spoken word. how thoroughly
unlooked-for such a 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 il
that way. Bat the tears came into her
ewes as she saw the quiet face grow a
tribe pale.
II 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, Il thought every one
knew I was engaged to my cousin
Tom"
'!Your cousin Toni" echoed the
doctor. It was impossible to mistake
the impression which passed over his
face. 1t was not merely personal re-
gret at the fact she announced, bat an
impartial disapproyal Of the match.
He made no comment. however, but
directly said:
''Matty, l shall never get over this
7 mean that 1 shall always love you,
and. ifyou need a friend or protector, OF
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 youW and left her hurried
| ly.
Matty, still leaning on the wooden
gate, watched the retiring figure out O.
sight. She was very quiet all day, and
in the evening propounded this absurd
question:
'sTom, what would you do if shouId
jill yous"
Tom stroked his downy upper lip, aaG
looked pens;ve.
Couldn't say" he replied, after
some moments Of reflection. 'Yor
might try and see."
! perhaps will" she replied, more
soberlv than the occasion seemed tt
warrant. Tom stared very hard at her
but Immediately forgot the incident.
Nearly year passed. One day Mrs
Kellicott's ''help" rushed frantically
into Dr.. Gibson's house, and breath
lessly announced to that gentleman
that ''Mr. Tom would be deader'n {
door nail long before he got there. ifh'
didn't jump"
For two seconds, thinking of him as
his rival in Matty's affections, the doc
tor had half mind to consiSn him tx
the tender mercies of good, stupid OLD
Dr.. Wells; but his better nature pre-
vailed, and he started for Mrs. Kelli.
colts at the very heels Of the servant
girl.
When he arrived he found Tom in
high fever and delirious. He pronoun
ced it a severe case Of typhoid fever. ane
privately added doubt that he would
recover. He sent to his own house fol
changes Of clothing, prepared to devote
himself to the sick man. Matty, too
was umwearied in her work, and being
necessarily much in Toms room, con
seauently saw the doctor constantly.
He and his patient presented mark
ed contrast to each other. The latter
was captious and peevish to an unheard
of degree, and talked almost necessarily
of some unknown being named Kate
On the other hand, DR.. Gibson was Sc
patient and gentle, so strong and help
full. doing so much for Tom, and We
not forgetting one of his accustomed
duties, that Matty opened her eyes il
admiring establishment.
One morning, as the doctor prepare'
sleeping draught for somebody, ant
dictated to Matty prescription 70
somebody else, she said, with rea