St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1903-06-13
BY PROXY.
-BY------
BELLE MANIATES
Copyright, 1903, by Daily Story Pub. Coz

OOD EVENING, JOAN" said big
~ athletic young man, appearing in
lne entrance to the box.
"A girl with a aforementioned face
sitting in the chair nearest the door,
looked up slowly and serenely, but the
american Beauty she held swayed on
aus stem. The man seated himself be-
eloe her and gazed longing!y into her
beautiful eyes.
IL seems very long time since !
nave seen you, Joan. You have been
NOT at home every time have called
within the last fortnight he said,
Eegretfully.
Joan's eyelids lowered, and she
raised the rose as screen to her
face.
But, Mr.. WaIdane," she replied,
you told me when last saw you that
you were expecting your father home
from his travels. Having been sepa-
rated from him SO long, I naturally
thought you would wish to devote all
your time to him.
A half sigh and an entire smile ac-
companied his reply.
You would never have thought that
not for one momert-had you known
my father. / love the frivol;ties of
lie, the world, the flesh and the devil,
as you know. DO you think, then, that
could find any companionship in the
society Of a man whose life is devoted
exclusively to the cold pursuit of sci
ence. His travels are ended. He has
come home to stay-and--to expert
ment! Our home will now be Ia
boratory-a place Of bugs and bot
tles!"
There was such absurd despair in his
voice that Joan laughed.
Joan's laugh was rare-so was Joan.
The man loved the laugh-and Joan.
"Why don't you induce him to mar
ry?' she asked, after pause. Then
he would choose another home-or you
would
Marry" he calculated. Think of
the fate of his wife! He would doubt
less label her wife place her among
his specimens and-forget her! He
is hermit. Sees no one, but shuts
himself up to study and experiment"
Joan was silent. She looked across
into the box opposite and appeared to
be so absorbed in her contemplation
of the occupants, that Waldane asked,
curiously:
''Who is it you find SO interestingly"
y He leaned forward that he might
i,,c& &c
range of vision. She motioned him
back,
"Only Mrs. Phillips. You have seen
her often enough
"Too often. A little widow who
firts. l have no use for her type"
Tell me-" said Joan, softly, after
a little silence, "some more of your
father. / am interested in what you
said of him. Describe his personal
appearance"
''Oh, he is good-looking, T suppose.
Tall, not elderly-looking, wavy hair,
but slightly tinged with gray, wears
glasses. He is of the pale, interesting
sort, not big and beefy, like me. How
did he ever come to have such an Of
1he-earth, earthly, progeny as II"
Joan made no attempt to solve this
weighty problem. Her expression be-
came half amused, half-abstracted.
The orchestra was playing its loud
est. The other two occupants of the
box were in the front chairs absorbed
in each other.
Suddenly Waldane said in low,
strained tone, "Why won't you marry
my father?'
Surprise and other emotions held
Joan paralyzed.in motion and speech
for a moment. Then she turned and
looked into his eyes staring miserably
and hopelessly into hers.
'Mr. Waldane," she said coldly, 81
am at loss"
"Oh, yes, know all you would say.
When l told you of him and how he
would treat wife, was Judging from
nv own little measure. Just now in
describing his looks to you, it occurred
to me how he might appear from a
woman's standpoint-a woman, intelli-
gent, refined and scholarly-like you!