The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-09-29
A STORY or WRECKED CANCERS.


state OF mind She was not ike other
girls, she said Several man had found
that ont. They began by being friendly
She encouraged them perhaps IN a certain
liking that she had fer masculine com
panOnship which they not intreQuentls'
misunderstood. Then when the night and
the moon and the soft breeze stirred them
to declarations fraught with more than
passing interest she was forced 10 more
heroic utterance.
Dear me" she would say. Il don't
see why a man and woman cant go
on being just friends here IN New York
Bob never acted this way. Why. we
rowed and sailed and tramped together
summer in and summer out, and he never
thought of making a proposal. Dear old
Bob, He had more sense. Brace up now"
Some Of them got angry. Others &C
cepted it as a matter of course. There
IS at least one instance on record of a
chap who really tried a second time
and ended by responding to the usual
throw down with whistling a popular air
that begins. Comrades, Comrades, ever
since we were boys" Upon which oc-
casion she told him he was dear TO take
it that way. and they have been better
friends ever since.
A few weeks ago she went TO spend the
the Hudson. Thither also jouTneyed Bob
She is a strong, handsome. athletic crea-
ture, fond Of outdoor sports. She be-
gins her seasons swimming long before
the daring small boy thinks the water
has lost enough of its chill. When she
is not golfing, she Is in the tennis court
In the winter basket ball and long
rambles through snowy woods serve to
keep her cheeks rosy and her eyes
fuh hr71 rT,.o -
her or such walks needs 10 be more than
a passably good pedestrian. for she will
soon tire him whose limbs are not of
iron.
Bob is not easily tired. His training
with the college bat crew came in handy
too. now that the form of sport took an
aquatic turn. The long tramps over the
country roads were varied with sailing
swimming and an occasional hour Of pad
ding in Bob's beautiful new canoe The
last. in fact, was rapidly becoming the
favorite sport But now she AYERS that
canoes, like men, are mighty uncertain
creatures. q
1t happened this way: They had start
ed out for an early morning paddle-so
early, in fact, that the rest of the house
hold was still asleep. But the air was
crisp, and the sun rising behind the Jer-
sey hills, made a picture long to be re-
membered. She is quite sure that she viii
remember it. He has no doubt on the
subject. She was sitting in the bow of
the CAME trailing her hands in the still
water and enjoying it all so much that it
startled her when Bob's aimless CONVEX
sation took another turn. He did not say
much. but it was all so sudden, there was
such a depth Of tenderness in the tone.
and it was so impressive that she gave
sudden start. That did the trick. The
canoe turned, and in an instant they were
both houndering in the water.
Great Caesari' he shouted. "I didn't
mean it. Can't you take a joke?"
He was clinging to one end of the canoe,
and she had found safety by throwing her
arm over the other end.
1T was too much of a shock" she
answered. I'm surprised at you. How
dare you. Oh, Bob, I'm so disappointed
in your
But, tell you. didn't mean it" The
speech was not gallant, and she may have
resented it, but she only added:
We'll you oughtnt to talk nonsense in
a canoe. It's apt TO upset one
so I observe. But if you weren't so
set up in your notions 1 might be tempt
ed
There, now. you're beginning again.
I'm going to swim ashore"
heavens sake, not to speak of mine, don't
think of it."
well. you stop talking nonsense, then"
1T isn't nonsense"
1T is.
Tn serious
THAT settles it." Her arms came down
from the canoe. I'm going to try for
the shore
He Tried waddling along the side of the
L.
The shell t-embled along its entire length
and sank down under his weight. She
laughed derisively. and &c grew pale.
Very funny, isn't it,? he asked.
Decidedly. Do you think il you sink
it wen be any better off?''
As she had ceased to make demonstra
tons shoreward he felt that his purpose
was accomplished. and so said nothing
Its getting along" he said Some
body viii be out fishing soon and pick
US up"
1T was her turn to look scared.
What would they think If they found
US like this?" she ventured. i won't
permit it
But everybody around here knows
we're Just friends" he said. You know
you've talked Plato TILL
Don't be silly. 1t wasn't that I feared.
I don't care what they think on that sub
ject But I don't propose to have them
think I went out with a stupid man who
couldn't paddle q boat without upsettiug
it"
Not to speak Of a girl who didn't know
enough to keep still"
For answer she gave 2 kick that sent
the spray into his eyes. Then she sllrieked
with laughter. His arms were beginning
to get very tirsd, and it suddenly occur
red 10 MIN that she also might be
fatigued.
If you keep quiet moment" he said,
I'm swim around TO you and hold you up
That viii rest you
"Pshaw. Rest your self. I'm all
right"
He paid no attention. 70 the injunction.
and q few strokes brought him to her
side. The tide was running strong. and
they were drifting farther and farther
from the shore.
just place on hand or me. # you
dare. she shouted. and I'll let 20 the
canoe Then see how quickly tn be cut
Of sight"
the threat was affective II was such
a pretty canoe. and ne had no desire TO
lose II. So. commenting on her stubborn
ness. ne waddied back and took hold of
his end gain.
Tnen sound Of oars were heard. ard
soon two men IN A boat we're within
few yards OF them.
"say. there" was Bob's inquiry, ''whar
are you two trying 20 do2'
Hold or a little longer came back
the answer. wen nave you safe in o
we're al right; don't trouble" said
the giTl.
Keep on shouted Bob. If you come
ans closer. you1l scratch the paint or aly
canoe
..What DO you nean7" inquired ere
oT,o you mean - say that you care more
for the canoe than 1o7-fort- ne hesi-