The Saint Paul globe., 1901-07-20
G0here Platonics Oere Strained.
New York Times.

New York Times
Their relations were purely platonic.
At least she prided herself on that point.
When any one suggested to her the prob
ability of an attachment more tender
and effectionate, she pooh-pooned it with
an emphasis indicative of an absolutely
sure state of mind She was not like
other girls, she said. Several men had
found that out They began by being
friendly; she encouraged them, perhaps,
in certain liking that she had for mas
cultne companionship, which they not in
frequently misunderstood. Then when
the night and the moon and the soft
preezes stirred them to declarations
fraught with more than passing interest
she was forced to more heroic utterances
Dear me-, she would say, ''I don't
see why man and a woman can't go on
being just friends. here in New York
Bob never acted that 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, be man, forget it, and so will I,
and We'll just go on being comrades"
Some of them got angry Others ac-
cepted 1t 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 whistltng a popular air that
begins Comrades, comrades, ever since
we were boys" Upon which occasion
she told MIN that he was a. dear to take
it that way, and they have been better
friends ever since.
A few weeks ago she went to spend the
summer with friends in a little hamlet
up the Hudson. Thither also 1ourneyed
BOD. She is strong, handsome, athle-
nc looking creature, fond of outdoor
sports. She begins her seasons SWIM
ming long before the daring small boy
thinks the water has lost enough of it's
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 bright. And the man who ac-.
compan es her on such walks needs to
be more than passably good pedestrian,
for she will soon tire him whose limbs
are not of iron
BOD is not easily tired His training
with the college boat crew came in
mandy, 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 padding in Bobs 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.
1t happened this way They had start
ed out for an early morning paddle So
early, in fact, that the rest of the
household was still asleep But the
air was crisp and the sun rising behind
the Jersey hills made picture long to
! be remembered. She Is quite sure thar
she will remember It, He has no
doubts on the subject She was sitting
In the bow Of the canoe trailing her
hands in the still water and enjoying it
all so much that it startled her when
Bobs aimless conversation 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 a sudden start.
That did the trick. The canoe turned
turtle, and, in an instant they were both
foundering in the water.
Great Caesar" he shouted II didn't
mean it. Can't you take joker"
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
care you! On, Bob, I'm so disappointed
in you"
But, I tell you, 1 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 canoe. It's apt to upset one"
80 observe"
But if you weren't so set up in your
notions might be tempted
There, now, you're beginning again.
I'm going to swim ashore
ITS a mile or more" he shouted.
For heavens sake, not to speak of
mine, don't think Of it."