Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-01-09
Purely Plantonic of Course

1T does seem so absurd to me that
a friendship cannot exist between a
man and a woman without considera-
lions of love, matrimony and all that
nonsense being introduced"
The speaker was a tall, handsome
girl, with the physical beauty and
grace of figure which athletic exer-
else has bestowed upon the typical
end-of-the-century maiden, and though
Florence Masters could be soft, and
even sympathetic upon occasions, it
was only within her own family circle
that she INDUCED mas she termed
them-these weaknesses.
Her companions were two men in
boating flannels, both good looking,
but in totally different ways; for while
Captain Charles Courtney was dark,
with his olive skin bronzed by service
in India, Edwin Norton was fair, of
the pure AnglO-Saxon type
eff you are abiding to platonic
friendships, Miss Masters" answered
Captain Courtney, Il am sorry to say
that I cannot agree with YOU
But why should friendship, and
friendship alone, be more impossible
between a man and woman than be-
quired Florence impatiently.
Il think you are quite right, Miss
Masters" observed Norton. "Presum-
ing that their dispositions are similar,
that they have the same tastes and in
clinations, [ don't see why a man and
two fellows"
Simply because it is impossible"
replied Courtney. 1T is contrary to
nature, and can never endure"
But I assure you I have known
cases of the purest platonic friendship
between girls and men," persisted
Florence.
mo doubt" answered Courtney.
80 have I, but how long did they
last?"
''Why should they not last as long
as friendship between men?"
Because one of three things is
bound to happen" answered Court
hey. E1Ill6I Tie l1du 1dllS III 1ONS
with the girl, or the girl falls in love
with the man, or else she becomes Of
Tended because he does not pay her
that tribute of admiration which
every properly constituted woman nat
urally expects from a man who seeks
her society in preference to that of
other people,"
"Oh, that's all nonsense, Captain
Courtneyw exclaimed Florence, i'm
petuously. Take Mr.. Norton and
myself, for instance. Do you mean to
say that we could not go out every
have a set at tennis or game of golf
without one of us falling in love- as
you call it?''
eff you are meeting every day, Miss
Masters replied Courtney, Il should
consider it a very dangerous expert
ment. In fact, [ should call it play
ing with fire.
Upon my word, Charlie exclaimed
Norton. 81 am surprised at a man
of your experience talking so ridicu-
lously! Surely you must have known
many instances of such friendships,
both in India and on the voyage out
and home
Eyes, l have" replied Courtney, sig
nifcantly. And l also know how
they have invariably ended"
Look here, Mr.. Nortonr' exclaimed
Florence. LET you and 1 form a
oh +1ic cf11h-
born skeptic that we can practice what
we preach"
with all the pleasure in life" cried
Norton.
But Courtney gave a somewhat Gym
ical smile as he noticed that his
friend was not quite as enthusiastic
in his reply as he might have been.
"That is a bargain, then" said Flor
ence; "and now is it not time that we
returned to our boat?"
The above conversation took place
in the early summer, and for the next
TWO or three months Florence and
Norton were inseparable. The latter
was an eligible parti, both socially
and financially, so that Mr.. Masters
made no objection to the young man
calling at his house every day and at
tending his daughter on her various
boating and cycling expeditions. The
autumn was well advanced, when one
day Courtney and Norton happened
to meet up in town, when the latter
said:
"Oh, I'm glad I saw you! Florence
told me to ask you to come down to
a bazaar arrangement which she is
setting up for next week
"Oh, has it got as far as Christian
names?" asked Courtney, raising his
eyebrows and ignoring the invitation.
why not?" said Norton L call
YOU Charlie-why should l not call
her Florence?"