The Dolores star., 1919-01-31
NOT BY PROXY
BY KITTY PARSONS.

|
It's ridiculous! I couldn't bear to
think of your being married by proxy
either-it sounds too awful"
But 1t isn't. mother. II the Dutch
won't allow unmarried women TO land
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. ITS your own fu-
neral--wedding, I should say. But ]
must say don't think his cablegrsms
on the subject have been too ardent"
Phebe flushed slightly, but ignored
the thrust.
"The proxy wedding will take place
In two weeks. so l suppose I'll have
to find bridegroom pretty soon." she
announced calmly.
"Who wants n 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
I do, please?"
ASK Phebe," laughed Mrs. Burn
ham. shaking hands with him cor
daily. "Tll leave you to give her
some good advice-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"
| Il 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 a joke" cried Phebe
quickly, and her eyes filled with sud
den tears. II have to be married and
60 to Sumatra in two weeks and need
a bridegroom dreadfully! Mother
doesn't want ne to do 1t. but I've got
to- promised him five years ago."
"Who's the lucky mah?" asked Sea-
ton. "You must care lot about him
to do all this. Do you love himr'
II don't know-of course did-but
lately I'm not so sure. He says he
loves me-"
II believe him; 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"
| "It's almost more than a man can
bear, but 1 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.
do open 1t, dear. think It's pho
tograph from Franz"
The girl ripped open the package
nervously, and pulled out the contents.
1t was really a picture of her fiance.
but she did not turn 1t over to her
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 and looked
at 1t 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, oh!" she gurgled. "He's
fat and bearded and looks like the wild
man from Borneo more than my Franz.
He's perfect stranger-an awful
stranger
Half laughing and half crying, she
went to her desk and tore off cable
gram. 1t was long one, but evidently
great relief to her mind.
1--WE been wrong. Franz" she wrote
him. "Tm not the girl for you at all.
I 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.
"Pi4EBE."
Two endless days dragged by. and
then the answer came. Phehe seemed
to like 1t immensely. alth ough It
showed no signs of a broken heart"
II compliment your wisdom and fol-
low your advice. I 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.
IT shan't need you in that capacity"
Phebe returned smiling.
Indeed! Is the wedding post.
poned7" he asked blankly.
Phebe turned her back on him and
looked out of the window. Then she