The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-03-11
EVENING STORY
The Proxy Bridegroom.
BY KITTY PARSONS.

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 land
in their colonies and a 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
can't wait any longer"
very welf Phebe, it's your own
Notwithstanding. 1 should say. But
/ must say 1 don't think his cable
grams on the subject have been too
ardent"
Phebe flushed slightly. but ignored
the thrust.
1.-The proxy wedding will take place
in two weeks, SO suppose I'll have to
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 just in time for something.
What can l do. please?"
ASK Phebe." laughed Mrs. Burn
ham, shaking hands with him cor
daily. "I1l leave you to give her some
good advice-she won't listen to me-"
r''Well, Miss Phebe. did you say you
wanted a bridegroom ?" he ventured,
not losing much time.
II want a proxy one, Captain Sea-
ton, and 1 think you would make a
very good one. Men are SO scarce in
war times, too, that I'm lucky to get
such a nice one" She spoke quickly,
trying to cover the confusion which
she was really feeling.
II don't care much about playing
second fiddle, but I'll help you out if
/ can," agreed Seaton. Whats all
the joke about, anyway"
t'Oh, it isn't a joke" cried Phebe
quickly, and her eyes filled with sud-
go to Sumatra in two weeks and L
need a bridegroom dreadfully! Moth
er doesn't want me to do it, but I've
got to- promised him five years
ago."
who's the lucky mani" asked
Seaton. You must care a lot about
him to do all this. Do you love
him ?"
II don't know-of course I did
but lately I'm not so sure. l haven't
seen MIN since 1 was in Holland five
years ago, and I've forgotten what he
two weeks" she repeated with en-
phasis. He says he loves me-
II believe him. 1 do myself
Phebe caught her breath in sob.
"Oh, pleaset don't Joke" she begged
him chokingly.
. III NOT JOKING, GneDe. i've cared
for you ever since the first day you
came to camp to see your brother. 1
didn't know there was anyone else
and came over today to ask you to
marry me. But if you're sure you
love MIN. I can stand it all right and
I'll be the proxy bridegroom. If you're
not sure
"Oh, I'm sure" interrupted Phebe.
I'm sure-Im going to marry him,
two weeks from today. If you'll come
back tomorrow, I'll tell you more
G1eut the wedding can't talk about
me-you're always so kind
She held out her hand and smiled
patnetically. Seaton took her hand
IN both of his, and kissed it.
Its almost more than a man can
bear, but 1 love you-love you-love
you" he whispered
Phebe jerked herself free and ran
quickly up the stairs to her room,
where she stayed in solitary confine-
ment for some hours.
The next morning at the breakfast
table. Mrs. Durham handed Phebe a
package.
DO open it, dear. I think it's a
photograph from Franz"
The girl ripped open the package
nervously, and pulled out the con-
tents. 1t was really picture of her
fiance, but she did not turn it over
to her mother for inspection, as that
lady expected her to do. Instead. she
threw it back in the paper. and with
a few words of excuse, hurried from
the room.
Safely locked in her own room she
again took up the picture and looked
at 1t for long time in silence. After
the inspection was over she placed it
on her dressing table, face downward
and throwing herself on the bed, burst
into a paroXysm of historical laugh
ter.
"Oh. oh, OH" she gurgled. Hes fat
and bearded and looks like the wild
man from Borneo more than my
Franz. 1 can't see any resemblance to
the man at -a1l-Fd never have known
him at all. l could never marry this
man in a thousand years. He's a per-
feet stranger-an awful strangeri"
Half laughing and half crying, she
went to her desk and tore off a cable
gram. 1t was a long one. but evil
IDENTIFY great relief to her mind.
.IFe been wrong, Franz" she wrote
him. I'm not the girl for you at all.
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 some one over
there to take my place. You deserve
the best. Wire at once. Phebe."
After sending this message, Phebe
locked the photograph in her desk
drawer and Tor the rest OF the DAY
she kept her room, pleading a head
ache. When Seaton came in the after
noon, she sent word she would see
him later in the week, and an hour
later received a box of roses, with a
few pencilsd words On c card.
Two endless days dragged by, and
then the answer came. Phebe seemed
to like it i:nme .sely, altho it showed
no signs of a broken heart.
II compliment your wisdom and
follow your advice. l realized we were
not suited to each other and your
words release me. There is a young
lady, sin2e you ask me, and shall
marry her at once. My undying re-
spect and gratitude. FRANZ"
And 1 thought he loved me-
laughed fheoe, WAVING me cpie