The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1901-11-08
WHERE PLATONICS
WERE STRAINED
STORY OF WRECKED Ca
NOERS.

IneIr reIaLlOnS were purely pla'
tonic. At least she pri1ed herself on
that fact. When any one suggested tc
her the possibility Of an attachment
more tender and affectionate she
pooh poohed it with an emphasis In
dicative 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 per.
haps in a certain liking that she had
for masculine compauionship, whict
they not infrequently misunderstood
Then when the night and the moor
and the soft breezes stirred them t
declarations fraught with more than
passing interest she was forced tC
more heroic utterances.
"Dear me-" she would say, II don't
see why a man and woman can't "a
on being just friends here in New
York. Bob never acted this way.
Why, we rowed and sailed and tram p.
ed together summer In and summer
out and he never thought Of making
a proposal. Dear old Bob! He had
more sense. Brace up row. Be a
man. Forget it, and so will l, and
we'll just go on being comrades"
Some of them got angry. Others
accepted 1t as a matter OF course.
There is at least one instance on
record OF chap who tried second
time and ended by responding to the
usual throw down with whistling a
popular air that begins, Comrades,
comrades, ever since we we're boys. /"
Upon which occasion she told him he
was dear to take 1t 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
journeyed Bob. She Is a strong, athe.
letic creature, fond of outdoor sports.
She begins her seasons swimming
long before the daring small boy
thinks the water has lost enough OF
its chill. When she Is not goliing,
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 accompanies hev
on these walks needs to 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 train.
ing with the college boat 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 paddllog ir
Bob's beautiful new canoe. The last
in fact was rapidly becoming tn,
favorite sport. But now she aver.
that canoes are like men, very uncer
cain creatures. l.s
1t happened this way: They hal
started out for an early morning pad
desc early, In fact that the resi- o
the household we're still asleep. Bu
the air was crisp and the sun risini
behind the Jersey hills made a pic
ture long to be remembered. She Il
quite sure that she will remember II
He has no doubts on the subject
She was sitting In the bow Of th'
canoe trailing her hands In the still
water and enjoying 1t so much thai
It startled her when BOb's aimless
conversation took another turn. He
did not say much, but II was all sc
sudden, there was such depth oil
tenderness In the tone and II was &c
impressive that she gave y sudden
start. That did the trick. The ca
noe turned turtle and 10 an instant
they we're both hounderIng 10 the
water.
"Great C.ssar!" he shouted, II did
not mean it. Cant you take . joke?'
He was clingIng to one end OF th(