Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-02-04
D . ooeoet eeo SoOOOS
SHE GOT A
HUSBAND
But Not In the Regu-
lar Way
BY F. A. mitchell
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

"My dear Margaret" wrote Miss
Frances Pumrroy To her friend. Miss
Iuqucline SfatOn. II have had tue time
,f my life II has been unique. have
not only spent chill November In a
warm climate. but have done so mas
Iuerading 10 you remember when we
were sophomOres how Bess Wharton
md | dressed ourselves rs boys. went
nut on to the cnmpus. kicked football
aud were ordered of by the college au-
horitics? And perhaps you will re-
member what good looking boy l
nade-to say nothing Of Bess.
well. we were caught. as you know.
going into your room. and the whole
thing came out. The faculty notified
us that our presence was no longer re-
luired at the university and we were
iircctcd to repair to our homes. | OK
,ectpd to meet with very cold reccp-
ion there. and so | did at first. but
when | told the whole story to papa he
aughed and said. 4 didn't believe when
you went to college that you would be-
have yourself with sufficient circum-
:pertion to get through. and I'm not
disappointed Dear old pappy! never
,ould do anything that would seem ter
rible In his eyes. and even II | did l
always knew how to get round him so
that II shouldn't count against me.
1T was two years ago that took
eave. prematurely. Of my alma mater
dare say that the day will come when
shall regret my folly. I'm nineteen
years old. and If hadn't been expelled
from college would now be dignified
senior. I'm going to tell you a story
that puts that sophomore episode In
the shade. Compared with what I've
been doing. the first was mere baga-
telle.
Last spring I was very much run
down in health. Papa and mamma
worried about me just as II had been
good aud took me out on farm, hop
Ing | would get better. But didn't l
think | was pining for something out
Of the general run. don't you know; a
bit of spice in my diet. At any rate,
such an opportunity occurred. and this
Is how II came.
Mother has an old friend she hadn't
seen for years. Mrs. Varney. The
yarneys are rich and have both sum-
mer and a winter home. Their winter
home Is in the center Of an orange
grove in Florida. After we got home In
September mamma wrote Mrs. Varney.
telling her that she was worried about
my health and said she feared l would
need to 90 south for the winter. but
you know our income is small. and
travelling and putting up at hotels are
expensive, and knew we'll enough that
we couldn't afford to make such trip,
for mamma wouldn't take me without
papa, and for the three Of US the outlay
would be something awful.
Mamma, in reply to her letter. re-
ceived an invitation for me to visit the
Varneys on their orange plantation. l
had been referred to as Frank, and
when l read Mrs. Varney's letter i saw
at once that she thought l was boy.
| My son Albert. who has charge OF the
plantation she wrote. every morning
rides over 1t and Is constantly In the
open air attending to the needs of the
trees, the packing Of the oranges or
some such matter. Your son can 60
with him. and | don't doubt that with.
In few weeks he will show consider
able improvement
well. now. just think Of riding about
with young man that way. Then the
Idea got into my head what a lark 1t
would be to 20 riding around with him
not as girl. but as the boy he thought
me! I couldn't get It out. 1t stuck and
simmered and simmered and stuck un-
til l made up my mind | was going to
10 that very thing.
81 answered Mrs. Varney's invitation
myself and didn't say word about her
mistake or that | was girl. accepting
her invitation and telling her when ]
expected to arrive. The first prepara
ton | made was to have lot Of mems
clothes sent home to try on and kept
what fitted me. sending the rest back.
What an easy time the men have buy
Ing their clothes! Why. to buy rs much
women's things as | bought mems in
half an hour would require from one to
two months and no end OF trouble
Before started mother said: Now.
Frank. IL you behave yourself and drop
your pranks you may catch the young
man who manages that plantation. II
you do your future will be provided
for
"My goodness gracious, right on top
vf this advice ! was about to put In
practice the worst prank ! had ever
played.
"'Humph!' granted papa. Frank
will never get Il husband In the regular
| way. When she snares one 1t will be
with trap never used by woman be-
FORE
This set me mp bit. though con-
fess felt mighty squeamish about
what ! was going to do. | sent my
mems clothes. including riding suit,
by express to one Of the big hotels near
the varney plantation and. with many
warnings from mamma ringing In my
ears. started OH my way for Florida.
When I got there had m awful time
| getting out Of the hotel that had en-
tered as u woman In mans clothes !
escaped ut night In an ulster overcOat
that covered me from head to foot. ii
was II O'clock when | was driven up
% the varney plantation. and all the
family had goE~ iD Drd except Bert
Varney, who rece we'd mr very cordial
ly. He offered me some refreshmeni
before going to bed. setting out bot
tie Of whisky. swallowed some Of It,
though I didn't like 1t. and smoked a
cigarette with him. which didn't trou
BILE me so much. took quite fancy
to him from the start and anticipated
pleasantly my approaching rides with
him over the plantation. But gasped
for breath every time ! thought about
meeting bis mother In the morning
As to bis sisters. thank heaven he had
pone.
Mrs. varney is Just too lovely fol
anything. When l had finally screwed
up my courage to 60 down to break
fast her son had finished his meal ant
had gone out. So l was received by
her alone. l breakfasted principally
m fruit Ma. Varnev chatting with mi