American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1878-04-06

firing behavior would effect. So she
dismissed Will, and became, to all out
ward resemblance, a 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 coming to Il better I'M
derstanding with him, when something
happened.
DIR. Gibson "dropped in" one morn
ing, when Mrs. kellicott sat sewing on
the lawn, in the cool, refreshing breeze.
You mustn't come here" she called,
as he alighted from his gig. "My work
requires my undivided attention. You
may go and help Matty, if you like"
That young lady was making tartlets
in the kitchen. She saw the Doctor |
coming round the corner of the house,
gave a hurried glance at the bright bot
tom of tin-pan she was holding, found |
herself presentable, and greeted him
composedly. She was very glad to see
him, she said. Wouldn't he come in?
| No, he wouldn't come in, the day was
so beautiful. He would just stand on
the little brick pavement under the win
/ dow, and lean over the sill. SO there
he stood, under the grapevine trellis,
with little llecks of golden sunshine fall
| ing on his hair and shoulders Matty
observed that he looked thoroughly I'M
| lover-like, and concluded that he didn't
intend to propose.
Somehow the talk veered round from
the weather to Miss Becker, the suffrage
and woman's rights. Matty, on this,
spoke up. She didn't at all belieye in
the secondhand influence which reach
ed the ballot box through the agency of
husband and brothers.
"When I vote" she said, " l vote to
march to the polling place, and put in
my vote my own self"
"What pretty spectacle you'd make,
.Matty, with that rolling pin in your
hand, and
"I am not at all sure that l want
to yote,'' she interrupted. "But l
would just like to make few laws,
that's ALL
"Well, you might petition Congress"
suggested the Doctor, gravely.
"Oh, they're not legal laws; only So
cial customs and usages. I'll tell, you
Just what | mean:n
She laid the rolling-pin aside with an
emphatic bang, placed her foury arms a
kimbo, looking very earnest and deter
mined, and quite regardless of the fact
that she and DR.. Gibson were in love
with each other. 6 Now, at parry,
when lady sits alone in stiff chair all
the evening, not dancing, simply be-
cause she hasn'ta partner, and can't a *
any one-ah, you know, DR.. Gibson,
you know"
ssHow it is MYSELF" interpolated he.
How 1t was at Mrs. Canipbell's, the
other night. If l had been Anna Rad
cliffe, or Dora Collard, 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
wish?" he retorted, with a half smile.
She answered that she thought just
that.
"Well, Matty, quite agree with you.
l not only think. they should have the
right in such a case as you mention, but
also in more serious affairs. For instance
women might, with perfect propriety,
make proposals of marriage"
Now, such an idea had never entered
> Matty's head, and she seized the jam
pot in great embarrassment. The Doe
: tor went on, with much gravity.
!, 81 am aware that it would be a very
. unconventional proceeding, and l an
afraid no woman will ever be wise
e enough to take the initiative; and yet
am persuaded that, in many instances
it would be the most natural and beau
tiful thing she could do.''
He was looking unconsciously up al
the blue sky shining through the fila
il gree-work of the vine leaves above him
1t was evident he was thinking
u of women in the abstract only
i but faltering little g DR.. Gibson " re
called him to himself. And there stoot
y Mattv, smiling, blushing, dimpling
. ready to extinguish herself in her brown
apron.
= DIR. Gibson, 1 like you ever 81
;" muchi' she faltered, bravely, bu
N breathlessly.
D The Doctor jumped through the opel
window, and made his proposal owe
y again.