Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1918-05-04
NOT BY PROXY
BY KITTY PARSONS.

"You can't go to Sumatra, fhepe-
it's ridiculous! 1 couldn't bear 10
think of your being married by proxy
either-it sounds too awful"
but it isn't, mother. If the Dutch
won't allow unmarried women TO ianu
In their colonies, and proxy marriage
will cover the law, I'll have TO nave
one. They went let Franz come mere
now that he's in government service,
and I've got to keep my promise
can't wait any longer"
Every well, Phebe, it's your own fu-
neral-wedding, should say. But
must say don't think his caDlegrams
on the subject have been too ardent.
Phebe flushed slightly, but Ignored
the thrust.
"The proxy wedding will take place
In two weeks, so ] suppose III nave
to find a bridegroom pretty soon, she
announced calmly.
"Who wants a bridegroom" 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
| lust In time for something. What can
/ do, please?"
| "Ask Phebe," laughed Mrs. Burn
ham, shaking hands with him cor
| daily, "Pll leave you to give her
some good adviee-she won't listen TO
me-"
"Well. Miss Phebe, did you say you
wanted bridegroom" he ventured'
not losing much time.
II want proxy one, Captain sea-
ton and | think you would make
very good one. Men are so scarce IN
war times, too, that I'm lucky to get
such nice one"
"I@ don't care much about playing
second fiddle, but I'll help you out II
| can" agreed Seaton. whats all
the joke, anyway
"Oh, it isn't a joke" cried Phehe
quickly, and her eyes filled with SUD
den tears. II have to be married ana
90 to Sumatra in two weeks and need
bridegroom dreadfullyl Mother
doesn't want me to do it, but I've got
to- promised him five years ago.
"Who's the lucky man?' asked Sea-
ton. "You must care a lot about him
to do all this. Do you love himT
"I don't know-of course | did-but
lately I'm not so sure. He says he
loves me-
81 believe him; do myself
Phebe caught her breath In a sob.
"Oh, please don't joke" shes begged
him cholingly.
Pm not Joking Phebel I've cared
for YOU ever since the first day you
came to camp to see your brother.
cts 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 q
package.
"Do open it, dear, think it's a pho
tograph from Franz"
The girl ripped open the package
nervously, and pulled out the contents
It was really picture of her nance
hut she did not turn it over to heI
mother for inspection, as that lady eX
pected her to do. Instead, she threw
It back in the paper and with few
words Of excuse, hurried from the
room.
Safely locked in her own room she
again took up the picture ana looked
at It for q long time In silence. Aftel
the inspection was over she placed Il
on fer dressing table, face downward
and throwing herself on the bed, burs
into paroxysm of hysterical laughter
"Oh. oh. oh I" she gurgled. Hes
fat and bearded and looks like the WIG
man from Borneo more than my Franz
He's perfect stranger-an awfu
strangerw
Half laughing and half crying, sh'
went to her desk and tore off cable
gram. It was long one, but EVIDENT!
great relief to her mind.
'I've been wrong, Franz" she wrot'
him. "I'm not the girl for you at all
I must have changed and you'd neve
know me. I'm not domestic and In
thin and scrawny and quite gray. Tel
me you have found someone over ther'
to take my place. You deserve tn
best. Wire at once.
"PHEBE"
Two endless days dragged by, AM
then the answer came. Phebe seemed
to like 1t immensely, although
showed no signs of broken heart"
81 compliment your wisdom and fol
low your advice. realized we wer
not suited to each other and you
words release me. There Is youn
lady, since you ask me, and shal
marry her at once. My undying re
spect and gratitude. FRANZ"
Seaton came that afternoon.
ENTER the proxy bridegroom" h
announced dramatically.
81 shan't need you In that capacity,
Phebe returned smiling.
Indeed Is the wedding post
poned?" he asked blankly.
Phebe turned her back on him an
looked out of the window. Then sh
shot a bolt over her shoulder.
"Not If you still want to be frs