Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-11-19
Where Piat0niCS
Were STRAINED
A STORY OF WRECKED
CANCERS. -.

.: WOI " VII OIiIOO -.
:: A STORY OF WRECKED !:
:; cANoERs.... /;
49, 49,. !.."..! !."..*
Their relations were purely platonic.
At least she prided herself on that fact.
When any one suggested to her the
possibility Of an attachment more ten
der and affectionate, she poohpoohed
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 a certain liking that
she had for masculine companionship
which they not infrequently misunder-
stood. Then when the night and the
moon and the soft breezes stirred them
to declarations fraught with more than
passing interest she was forced to more
heroic utterances.
"Dear me-" she would say, 'T don't
see why q man and woman can't go
on being just friends here In New
York. Bob never acted this way. Why,
we rowed and sailed and tramped to-
gether summer In and summer out, and
he never thought Of making proposal
Dear old Bob! He had more sense.
Brace up now. Be man. Forget It,,
and SO will l, and we'll just 60 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 q
chap who really tried second time
and ended by responding to the usual
throw down with wh!stling n popular
air that begins, Comrades, comrades,
ever since we were boys" Upon which
occasion she told him 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 little
hamlet up the Hudson. Thither also
journeyed Bob. She Is q strong, hand
some, athletic creature, fond OF out
door 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 golfing,
she is in the tennis court. In the Win
ter basket ball and long rambles
through snowy woods serve to keep
her cheeks rosy and her eyes bright.
And the man who accompanies her on
such 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 training
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 occa-
sional hour of padding In Bob's beau
tiful new canoe. The last, In fact, was
rapidly becoming the faverite sport.
But now she AYERS that canoes, like
men, are mighty uncertain creatures.
It happened this way: They had
started out for an early morning pad
desc 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 that
she will remember 1t. 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 1t all Sc
much that 1t startled her when Bob's
aimless conversation took another turn.
He did not say much, but 1t was all SO
sudden, there was such depth of ten
derness in the tone, and it was so i'm
pressiye that she gave sudden start.
That did the trick. The canoe turned
turtle. and In an instant they were
both floundering in the water.
"Great Casarw he shouted. =" didn't
mean 1t. Can't you take a joke"
He was clinging to one end of the ca
noe, and she had found safety by
throwing her arm over the other end.
Tt was too much Of shock" she an
swered. I'm surprised at you. How
dare you! Oh, Bob, I'm so disappointed
In you"
"But, tell you, didn't mean It,"
The speech was not gallant, and she
NAV have resented It, but she only add
ed:
"Well, you oughtn't to talk nonsense
In canoe. It's apt to upset one.'
$50 observe. But If you weren't SO
set up In your notions l might be
tempted
"There, now, you're beginning again
I'm going to swim ashore"
ITS O mile or more" he shouted
"For heavens sake, not to speak oi
mine, don't think Of it."
"Well. you stop talking nonsense
then"
1T isn't nonsense"
at is."
'T'm serious"
"That settles It," Her arms came
down from the canoe. "Tm going tt
try for the shore"
He tried waddling along the side ol
the canoe to get at her arm and detair
her. The shell trembled along Its en-
tire length and sank far down unde1
his weight. She laughed derisively
and he grew pale.
every funny. Isn't itT' he asked.
Decidedly. Do you think IL you sini
II we'll be any better OFF,
As she had ceased to make demon
strations shoreward he felt that hl
purpose was accomplished and SO sal
nothing. A moment later he made al
other mistake.
Tts getting along" he said. "som'
body will be out fishing soon and pic
US up"
II was her turn to look scared.
"What would they think II the
| found us like this" she ventured.
| won't permit it."
"But everybody around here kno"
\ we're just friends" he said. "fo
know you've talked Plato till
"Don't be silly. It wasn't that l fea
do,,t oora xvhat they think O