The Monticellonian., 1918-04-05
NOT BY PROXY
By KITTY PARSONS.

either-it sounds too awful"
 But it isn't, mother. If the Dutch won't allow unmarried women to lanu in their colonies, and proxy marriage will cover the law, I'll have to have one. They won't let Franz come here now that he's in government service and I've got to keep my promise-l can't wait any longer"
 "Very well. Phebe, it's your own fu' neral-wedding I should say. But must say I don't think his cablegrams on the subject have been too ardent.
 Phebe flushed slightly, but ignored the thrust.
 "The proxy wedding will take place in two weeks, so I suppose III nave to find a bridegroom pretty soon, she announced calmly.
 "Who wants a bridegroomT asked a young man who had just come to the door of the living room. Your father told me you were up here and see I'm just in time for something. What can I do, please?"
 Ask Phebe," laughed Mrs. Burn ham, shaking hands with him cor dially. "Tll leave you to give her some good advice-she won't listen to me-"
 "Well. Miss Phebe, did you say you wanted brldegroom?" he ventured' not losing much time.
 T want a proxy one, Captain Sea ton, and I think you would make very good one Men are so scarce Tn war times. too, that I'm lucky to get such a nice one"
 'I don't care much about playing second fiddle, but I'll help you out if I can" agreed Seaton. 'What's all the joke, anyway"
 "Oh, 1t isn't joke" cried Phebe quickly, and her eyes filled with sud- den tears. .I have to be married and go to Sumatra in two weeks and need bridegroom dreadfully Mother doesn't want me to do 1t, but I've got to-I promised him five years ago"
 "Who's the lucky man?" asked Sea ton. You must care q lot about him to do all this. Do you love him?'
 .I don't know-of course I did-but lately I'm not so sure. He says he loves me-"
 .I believe him; I do myself"
 Phebe caught her breath in sob. "Oh. please don't joke" she begged him chokingly.
 I'm not joking. Phebe! I've cared for you ever since the first day you came to camp to see your brother
 Its almost more than man can bear, but I love you-love yOu-love you" he whispered.
 Phebe ran quickly up the stairs to her room, where she stayed In solitary confinement for some hours.
 The next morning at the breakfast table, Mrs. Burnham handed Phebe a package.
 tograph from Franz"
 The girl ripped open the package nervously, and pulled out the contents. It was really a picture of her fianee, but she did not turn it over to her mother for inspection. as that lady ex- pected her to do. Instead, she threw it back in the paper, and with a few
 
 room.
 Safely locked in her own room she again took up the picture and looked at it for long time in silence. After the inspection was over she placed 1t on her dressing table, face downward, and throwing herself on the bed. burst into a paroxysm of hysterical laughter.
 "Oh, oh, ohl' she gurgled. Hes fat and bearded and looks like the wild man from Borneo more than my Franz. He's a perfect stranger-an awful stranger '"
 Half laughing and half crying, she went to her desk and tore off cable gram. It was long one. but evidently a great relief to her mind.
 i've been wrong, Franz" she wrote him. I'm not the girl for you at all. l must have changed and you'd never know me. I'm not domestic and I'm thin and scrawny and quite gray. Tell me you have found someone over there to take my place. You deserve the best. Wire at once.
 'PHEBE."
 Two endless days dragged by, and then the answer came. Phebe seemed to like it immensely, although 1t showed no signs of broken heart"
 II compliment your wisdom and fol- low your advice. l realized we were not suited to each other and your words release me. There is young lady, since you ask me, and I shall marry her at once. My undying re- spect and gratitude. FRANZ"
 Seaton came that afternoon.
 Enter the proxy bridegroom" he announced dramatically.
 ''l shant need you in that capacity" Phebe returned smiling.
 "Indeed! Is the wedding post ponedT' he asked blankly.
 Phebe turned her back on him and i looked out of the window. Then she shot a bolt over her shoulder.
 Not if you still want to be first fiddle"
 And he immediately swept her into his arms without a single word, which seemed to help her a great deal.