The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-05-20
COURTING BY PROXY.

"Now, Captain Dick, what's all this
about your not taking your leave'"
The speaker was q lovely woman Of go,
rather above the average height and ad-
mirably nodded.
Warm hearted and generous to fault,
and, like all healthy minded young WON
en-, fond of amusement, which her fine
physique enabled her thoroughly to enjoy,
no wonder that on her arrival In the Him
alayas, a bride of three months, Mary
Diana MARYLAND speedily took possession
Of every male heart in the hill quarter
and that even the women could find no
fault in her
In her impulsiveness and desire to endear
herself to all her husbands friends this
bright young creature had unwittingly
made havoc of one mans heart. Dick
Richards, the sole other occupant of the
room, Charlie Martland's closest friend,
was hopelessly in love with her.
Lawn tennis had been going on, and
all the guestk except the devoted Captain
Richards, had taken their departure. The
lady was lounging back In a canvas, BAN
boo framed chair, tanning herself with q
broad brimmed straw hat and looking, in
the opinion of poor Dick, absolutely ador-
able.
sOh, the matter Is simple enough!
don't care about leaving at present, and
know Howard would like to see his PEG.
pie, SO l shall give up my turn to him. !
never felt better in my life. The climate
suits me- and, after all, one owes duty to
ones country, and then there's the extra
pay, you know"
'And, pray" she said, chow long have
you held these ultra patriotic and at the
same time most praiseworthy commercial
viewss"
"For about two months" he replied
meaningly.
"AhI" she said. "Since they are of such
recent date they cannot yet be very deeply
rooted. Probably they will disappear as
quickly as they came"
"If by that you mean that shall change
my mind and go to England, you are
wrong. was never so happy in my life
vs. am now and here"
care you so happy? Let me speak
frankly, Captain Dick. You seem to me
10 be very restless and unsettled Now,
AXE my advice-go over to England and
ieek wife out of the many nice girls you
will meet there. We will welcome her
with open arms"
"Your advice is well meant, Mrs Mart
land, 'Asaid Dick in gloomy tone, "but
shall never marry"
SIS the picture of our married life SO
very uninviting, then, as to have turned
you into a misogynists Now, Charlie and
I had been hattering ourselves that we
were such patterns Of conjugal felicity
that you would take the earliest opportu-
nifty to rush off to England and follow our
example"
"That's just tits your doing"
well, of all the paradoxical, unreason-
able-because you see all the happiness of
the married state you have made up your
mind to keep angle. Do you mean to say
that of all tHg millions of women in the
world you have never seen one that you
would care to marryp"
81 did not say that, Mrs. MARYLAND
There Is one woman in the world I would
but too gladly make my wife, but she is
as unattainable as though she did not ex
ist Nothing but the occurrence of an
event which may God forbid would rem
der such a contamination possible.
II never meant to say this to you, Mrs
MARYLAND; but, having gone so far, will
go still further. You are the only woman
never gave a girl second thought; but,
having seen and known you, there is no
place in my heart for any other woman"
How dare you, Captain Richards!" she
exclaimed. ooh, am bitterly disappoint-
ed in you'll And have looked upon you
as my dearest friend. will hear no
more.
NAY, 1 must speak Bear with me for
Q moment and then, if you will, Danish
me forever. Even were you the wife of
my bitterest foe, instead OF my dearest
friend, should know better than to pur-
sue you with a passion as hopeless as 1t
would be base-you, whom regard as the
incarnation of purity, honor and wifely
love and duty"
81 shall not send you away, Captain
Richards" was her gentle reply. "Sit
down and listen to me now"
He dropped into O chair, and she con-
tinued: "You said just now that am the
only woman in the world to you Did
you mean that In all sober earnestness?''
IT never in my life spoke truer word
"But suppose If you could meet with
woman like myself it would not be i'm
possible for you to transfer your homage?''
"You play with me- 1t is a cruel jest.
The world does not contain your equal"
"But if it does?'
"I would marry her tomorrow"
always provided
"That could win her But why talk
thus? shall never meet the woman that
can take your place. Two queens cannot
occupy one throne. "
.Dethrone Vashti then and set up Els.
Their in her place This is not fooling
Captain Dick like you too well for
that. Now, listen. 1 have sister SO like
me that we two can scarcely be told apart
Go TO England and marry her.
"Ah, yes, and be your brother, he said
in a tone of bitterness. ''This is the old
story brought up to date; all very proper
and platonic, but not good enough for
me-"
ST is not for me to attempt to force my
sister on any man. Indeed she does not
need it and would be furious at the very
idea Forget what l have said. We will
talk of something else. Give me your
opinion on my new photo. Will you bring
me that album lying on the piano:"
Taking from 1t q cabinet portrait that
lay loose within the cover, she placed it in