The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-04-14

cific regard for him. but was made In pursu-
ance Of come occult design on her part
Forthwith the pair embarked upon what
seemed the stormiest Irritation Skinneryille
or walked out together; they, dined at Mrs.
Kellicotts, and Immediately Sailed forth ON
some other excursion. Both were excellent
eequestrans, and Matty gloried In A.! gY,allopiI
| "over hill and dale" on one OF Wits HANOI
some horses. Then they drank tea on the
lawn and spent the evening at the piano, or
In reading. At the hour OF 10 Matty always
sent VIII home without particle, OF cere-
nony, or regret at his departure. In short,
what appeared to Skinnerville q serious
courtship, was, in reality, q purely business
matter, and so understood between the two
| parties to it.
This state OF affairs continued for O week
or 50. during which time the doctor ignored
Matty's existence, except as she was the
daughter OF his dear friend Mrs. KelIicott.t
And A all the while the girl was raging inwardly
why doesn't he ask me once again p she
queried, mentally. II am sure he loves me,
and any one might see that / love him; but
no won't speak, and can't, Isuppose I shall
! be an old maid"
But the doctor was not to blame. A man OF
the world would have seen through Matty,s
stratagem, but he did not. He imagined she
was either trying to drown her disappoint-
marry the enamored viii.
| The truth occurred to Matty, ut last. She
could hardly believe such stupidity existed In
the mind OF man; but she determined to try
effect. So she dismissed viii, and became, to
| all outward resemblance, 81 little nun. STILL
no advances on the Doctors part. He came
and went constantly to the house, however.
Matty gave up all hope, finally, Of ever COM
ing to a better understanding with him, when
| DR.. Gibson hdropped in, one morning. when
Mrs. Kellicott sat sewing ON the lawn, Ia the
cool, refreshing breeze
alighted from his gig. "My work requires
my undivided attention. You may go and
help Matty II you like"
! That young lady was making tartlets In the
Kitchen She saw the doctor coming round
the corner OF the house, gave . hurried glance
at the bright bottom OF o tin-pan she was
greeted him eomposedly She was very glad
No. he wouldn't come in, the - day y'n was a 10
beautiful. He would just stand On the little
brick pavement under the window, and lean
over the sill. 30 there he stood, under the
grapevine trellis, with little tieeks OF golden
sunshine falling ON his hair and shoulders.
Matty observed that he looked thoroughly
unloyer-like, and concluded that he didn't
intend to propose
Somehow The talk veered round from tho
weather to Miss Becker and woman's rights.
| Matty on this spoke up She didn't at all be-
| lieye in the second hand influence which
| reached the ballOt-box through the agency Of
| husband and brothers.
"When vote" she said II vote to march
to the polling place and put la my vote my
own SELF
what pretty spectacle you'd make, Mat
ty, with that rolling-pin IN your hand and"
Il am not at all sure that want to vote, s
she Interrupted. "But would just hike TO
make O. few laws that's ALL
well, you might petition Congress" sug-l
gested the doctor, gravely.
lar rr.1tT x4<H
customs and usages. I'll tell you just what
mean"
She laid the rolling pin aside with an em-
phatie bang, placed her floury arms akimbos
quite regardless OF the fact that she and DR..
Gibson were in love with each other. Now,
at q party, when a lady sits alone In stiff
chair all the evening, not dancing, simply be-
cause she hast partner, and can't ask any
one --ab, you know, Or. Gibson, you know
How 1t is myself" interpolated he.
How 1t was at Mrs Campbell's the other
night. II | had been Anna Radcliffe or Dora
Colard, I'd have asked some OF you men to
dance with me-"
Then you think women should have the
\ privilege OF asking for whatever they Wisflg,
D he retorted with . half SMILE
She answered that she thought just that.
well, Matty, quite agree with you. not
only think that they should have the right LII
such case as you mention, but also Id more
serious affairs. For instance, women might
with perfect propr1ety make proposals OF
marriage"
Now, such an idea had never entered Mat
ty's head, and she seized the jam pot In great
embarrassment. The doctor went on, with
m UGH gravity:
II am aware that it would be very 11neOu-.
ventional proceeding, and / am afraid no
woman will ever be wise enough to take the
initiative; and yet / am persuaded that in
many instances it would be the most natural
and beautiful thing she could do
He was looking uneonsciously mp at the
blue sky shining through the flagree- work
Of the vine leaves above him. 1t was evident
he was thinking Of women In this abstract
only, but faltering little "Dr. Gibson" re-
called him to himself. And there stood
Matty, smiling, blushing, dirnpling, ready to
extinguish herself in her brown apron.
CDR. Gibson, / like you ever so muchp she
faltered, bravely, but breathles3ly.
The doctor Jumped through the open vim
dow and made his proposal over again.