Marshall County Republican., 1877-02-01

In spite of thy laws. here's a chain of esws,
An6 not one single effect.
-Harpcrs Magazine for February.
WHO MADE THE PROPOSAL!
DR.. Gibson, having made an unpro-
down to the gate with her daughter
Matty.
Matty was 20 years old, and the doc
tor was 80. 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 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 upon
them.
ing down the village street. She thought
how funny it was for Mr.. Scott to paint
his new house pea green with lavender
trimmings, axd was about to say so to
DIR. 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 mel"
The very look in the bright, brown
eyes would have told him, without q
single spoken word, how thoroughly un-
looked-for such q proposal had been.
She had never, In all the years she had
known DIR. Gibson, thought for a mo-
ment of the possibility of b 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
her eyes as she saw the quiet face grow
trifle pale.
81 hardly believed you did care for
me-" he went on, after pause. But
hoped you might yet learn to do it,"
But-but-' said Matty, with en-
barrassment, 81 thought every one
knew / was engaged to my cousin
Tom"
"Your cousin Tom I" echoed the doc
tor. 1t was impossible to mistake the
1t was not merely personal regret at the
fact she announced, but an impartial
disapproval of the match.
He made no comment, however, but
directly said
"Matty, / shall never get over this
mean that shall always love you,
and, if you need friend or protector,
or-or any one, you'll come to me, won't
your
- She promised and held out her hand
him. He shook it warmly, said s'God
ess you I" and left her hurriedly.
4atty, still leaning ON the wooden
watched the retiring figure out of
1k She was very quiet all day, and
the evening propounded this absurd
Bstion:
'Tom, what would you do il I should
Tom stroked his downy upper lip,
md looked pensive.
Couldn't say" he replied, after
some moments of reflection. "You
might try and see."
Perhaps 1 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 day Mrs.
Kelhcot's "help" rushed frantically into
DIR. Gibson's house, and breathlessly
announced to that gentleman that /" Mr..
Tom would be deader'n 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 mind to consign him to the
tender mercies of good, stupid old DIR.
Wens; but his better nature prevailed.
and he started for Hrs. Kellicott's at the
very heels Of the servant-eirl.
When he arrived he found Tom in
high fever, and delirious. He pro-
nounced it q severe case of typhoid
fever, and privately added Q doubt that
he would recover. He sent to his own
house tor changes Of clothing, prepared
to devote himself to the sick man. Mat
ty 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 uuheard of
degree, and talked almost necessarily
OF some unknown being named Kate.
On the other hand, DIR. Gibson was SO
patient and gentle, SO strong and help
fuls DONG so much for Tom, and yet not
forgetting one of his accustomed duties,
that Matty opened her eyes in admiring
astonishmenI.
One morning, as the doctor prepared
a sleeping 6rsught for somebody. and
dictated to Matty prescription fol
somebody else, she said with real solici.
tude:
"Dr. Gibson, you will certainly kill
yourself If you keep on at this rate and
It's my belief that you are ovcrworked
and you ought TO take Arrest"
Do l appear to be at deaths door q
he inquired, Strengthening mp, and
squariDg his shoulders, as il proud Of
his proportions "No, Matty, he con
tnued solemnly, though with a merry
twinkle In the honest eyes, "work, a
Mrs Bowers frequently remarks, il 9
pemaky." Matty understood him and
q lHed crimson.
At LIST Tom was pronounced ont oil
8 danger, and now the doctor felt that bt
moat remove bimself and his beloneipe,
from Mrs. KeIlio tits house to his own.
Matty, hidden by The honey ~suckle vine,
over the piazza. watched him 60 mi
cried little.
The morning after, Tom and Matt,
sat cn the piazza; he rading, or Pre-
tending to resid, white she Sc we'd cili
en- tly. Neither uttered q word fo
more than half al hour.
Presently Matty shook out the muslin
cap she was making, and laid IL on hc