Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1878-01-09
WHO MADE THE PROPOSAL!

Or. UlDSon, having made an un
professional visit to Mrs. Kellicott
walked down to the gate with bel
daughter Matty.
Matty was twenty years old, and
the doctor was thirty. Her eyes
were brown and his were gray
She had on a pink calico dress
and white muslin apron; he wore
clean-looking linen clothes, and a
wide Panama hat.
The gentleman admired the
lady's flowers very much, especial
~ the white roses-one Of which,
by the way, she tucked under her
ear. She inquired with considera-
bic show of interest about the
Ruggles children, who had the
measles. He told her all about
Tommy and Ben, Alice and Kit !;
when be had finished, silence fell
upou them.
Matty was leaning on the gate,
looking down the village street.
thinking how funny it was for
Mr., Scott to paint his new honse
pea green with lavender trimmings,
and was about to say so to DR..
Gibson, when he stopped her, say
ing the very last thing she would
have expected to hear:
"Matty, | love you, and want
You to marry me !"
The very look in the bright,
brown eyes would have told, with
out a single spoken word, bow
thoroughly unlocked for such
proposal had been. She had never
thought for moment of the pos
sibility 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 paler.
Il hardly believed yon did care
for me-" he went on. after a pause.
"But / thought you might yet
learn to do it,"
"But-but-" said Matty, with
embarrassment. II thought every
one knew / was engaged to my
cousin Tom"
"Your cousin Tom echoed the
doctor. 1t was impossible to mis-
take the expression which passed I
over his face. 1t was not merely
personal regret at the fact she
announced, bnt an impartial dis
approval of the match.
He made no comment, however,
but directly said: ,
"Matty, 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 Z"
She promised and held ont her
hand to him. He shook it warmly,
said "God bless your and left her
hurriedly.
Matty watched the retiring figure
out of sight. She was quiet all
day, and in the evening PROFOUND
ed this absurd question:
"Tom, what would you do if l
should jilt you ?"
Tom strolSed his downy upper lip,
and looked pensive.
Couldn't say" he replied, after
some moments of reflection. "You
might try and see"
perhaps l WILL" she replied
more soberly than the occa.ion
seemed to warrant. Tom stared
very hard at her, but Immediately
forgot the incident.
Nearly year passed. One day
Mrs. Kellicott's help rushed
frantically into DIR. Gibson's house,
and breathlessly announced to that
gentleman that "NIr. Tom would
be deader'n door nail long before
he got there, if he didn't Jump"
The doctor, thinking Of him as his
rival in Matty's affections, had half
n mind to consign him to the ten
der mercies of good, stupid old DR..
Wells; but bis better nature pre-.
vailed, and he started for Mrs.
Kellicott's at the very heels of the
servant girl.
When he arrived he fonnd Tom
in high fever, and delirious. He
sent to his own house for a change
of clothing, prepared to devote
himself to the sick man. Matty,
too, was unwearied in her work.
and, being necessarily much in
Toms room, consequently saw the
doctor constantly. He and his
patient presented a marked con-
trast TO each other. The later was
captious and peevish to an unheard
Of degree, and talked almost in
cessantly of some unknown being
named Kate. DR.. Gibson was so
patient and So gentle, so strong
and helpful, doing so much for
Tom, that Matty opened her eyes
in admiring establishment.
One morning, as the doctor pre-
pared u sleeping draugbt for some
body, and dictated to Matty
prescription for somebody else. she
said:
"Dr. Gibron, you viii certainly
Kill yourself If you keep on at this
rate and it's my belief that you
are overworked and you ought to
take q rest"
"Do I appear to be at deaths
door" he inquired, Strengthening
up, and squaring his shoulders, as If
proud of his proportions. mo.