Watertown leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1909-1911, 1911-08-18
PROXY
By w. G.. SHERLOCK

Don't be SO frivolous, Tag, I'm in
no humor today for a romp."
Tag. in obedience to his masters
and fixed one brown eye on Carriers
troubled face while the other eye kept
strict watch on the movements Of
Ta5by. who was enjoying sun-bath
on the window-sill. Tag and Tabby
were sworn enemies during the day,
each ever on the alert to resent any
injury. reel or fanciful, that might oc-
cur to either through the agency of
the other. but when the shades of
night fell, hostilities ceased and the
two slept side by side in Tags ken
mel
Garter, Meanwhile, filled and lighted
his pipe ard meditatively watched the
smoke that arose. Il don't know what
to do, Tag he resumed slowly: I'm
In love With Helen Granger and l be-
Heve, or I'm trying to believe. that
she loves me. | want to find out, but
| can't do that until l tell her all
about it. A girl doesn't let man
know she loves him until she is GER
tain he loves her."
Tag gave a sharp, ominous bark at
Tabby, who had manifested some
signs Of changing her position, but
Garter, more intent upon his own af-
fairs, construed it as reply.
That is true, Tag" he assented
gravelJ. You are wise if you are
only dog. The proper thing to do is
to tell Helen that l love her and find
out the rest, but, Tag. therein lies the
trouble. She will listen to me when
/ talk about anything under the sun
EXCEPT love-"
The terrier bowed his head and
scratched the floor with his right
forspaw vigorously and Carter re-
garaed the actions as an answer to his
question. No, no, Tag; writing
woh't do he declared with conviction.
Tag, however, was too intent upon
his daily feud with Tabby to take
further interest in his masters love
affairs. Tabby had risen from the
Windowsill, and, with arched back
and cleaning eyes, was bidding def
ly to accept the challenge, but the cat,
with one swift spring, landed on the
big horn of the graphophone and
from that secure position breathed
continued defiance in several ominous
snarls. The situation gave Carter an
idea
Il have it," he exclaimed joyfully
i,1ct hn oil n
graphophone just like mine. I'll tell
my tale of love into a blank record
and send it to her with instructions
not to set it off until she is alone.
I've sent her many records before
and I'm sure she will listen attentively
to it,
1t was easier to plan than it was to
execute. Difficult as he had found
it to confess his love to Helen in per-
son, he found it harder still to shout
his avowal into an uninterested ma
chine. It was hard enough to select
the proper words but more difficult
to pitch his voice to the correct lover
like tone. Record after record was
tried and discarded for one fault or
another, but at last Carter felt he had
done the best he could under the cir
cumstances, although he was far from
satisfied with his production.
Testing his waxen proxy once more
to make sure that it fully conveyed
what he wished to say, Carter care
fully placed it in a box and marked
upon the outside the Instructions that
1t must not be used excep. when
Helen was alone. The precious little
packet was then tied up in a paper
and placed upon the table, while Car
ter left the room to obtain a trust
worthy messenger to carry the packet
to it's destination.
Tabby, not content with carrying on
a wordy warfare, descended from the
horn and engaged in open conflict
with her enemy. The skirmish was
sharp but brief, and Tabby, retiring
in confusion, sprang upon the table to
escape the onslaught Of the now In
furiated Tag. AS she did SO. the lit
tie parcel that Carter had prepared SO
carefully rolled to the floor.
The sound of the battle attracted
ed into the room and, after picking up
the parcel that bore the name of Hell
en- Granger, drove the belligerents out
of the house just as Carter reappeared
with a messenger boy. The latter,
after receiving numerous admonitions
and instructions, departed with the
all-important parcel and Carter. with
a sigh of relief, resumed his pipe.
For more than an hour he paced
up ana down his room, impatiently
smoking and watching .he slow prog
ress Of the hands of the little clock
that licked SO monotonously on the
mantelpiece All sorts Of possibilities
arose in his mind. Perhaps she was
sick; perhaps she was out; perhaps
the record had been broken. or per-
haps someone else had received 1T
and had listened to his tale of love
At the last thought, the young mans
face redeemed and his lips compressed