The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1901-08-21
Where PfatonicS
Were Strained
A STORY WRECKED
CANCERS

~, -. - -. - - =" -. -" "
Their relations were purely platonIc.
At least she pridcd herself on that fact.
possibility Of an attachment more ten
der and ahectonatc, she poohpoohed
1t with an emphasis indicative of an
absolutely sure state of mind She was
not Hike other girls, she said Several
men had found that out They began
by being friendly. She encouraged
them perhaps in a certain liking TINT
she had for masculine companionshp
which they not infrequently msunder-
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 uttcranccs.
"pear me, she would say, Il don't
see why man and woman emit go
on being just friends here In New
York. Bob never acted this way. Why, |
we rowed and sailed and tramped to-
gcthcr summer In and summer out, and |
he never thought of making proposal |
Dear old Bob, lie had more sense. |
liracc up now. BE n man Forget II. |
and so will |. and Wen Just go ON being
comrades"
Some OF them got angry. Others ae- |
copied II rs matter of course. There
Is ut least one instance on record of n
chap who really tried u second time
and ended by responding TO the usual
throw down with whistllng popular
air Tint 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 over since
\ few weeks ugo she went TO spend
the summer with friends In little
hamlet up the Hudson. Thlther also
lourneyed Bob. She Is II strong, hand
some athletic creature. fond of out
door sports She begins her seasons
swimming long before the daring small
boy thinks the water hns lost enough
of It's chill. When she IL not golnng,
she Is In the tennis court In the win
ter basket ball and long raInbles
through snowy woods serve to keep
her cheeks rosy and her eyes bright.
passably good pedestrian, for she will
coon 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 nm aquatic turn. The long tramps
over the country roads were varied
With ,@.ling, swimming and an ocea-
slonal 'ur of padding IN Bob's beau
tiful 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
started out for I'M early morning pad
desc early In fact. that the rest OF
the household wns still asleep. But the
air was crisp, and the sun rising behind
the jersey hills mndc n picture 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 the canoe trailing her hands In
the still water and enjoying 1t I'LL SO
much that 1t startled her when Ilob's
aimlcss conversation took another turn.
He did not say much, but 1t was all 40
sudden, there was such IL depth Of ten
dcrncss I'm the tone and 1t was 80 i'm
presslve that she gave sudden start.
That did the trick. The cnpoe turned
turtle, nnd IA mn Instant they were
both Goundcrlng In the water.
"Grent Caesar" he shouted. Il didn't
mean IT, Cnn't you take II joker
He was clinglng TO one end Of the en-
nor, aud she had found safety by
throwing her arm over the other end.
1T was too much of n shock" she nm
swcrcd 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 WINS not gallant, and she
may have resented It, but she only add
ed.
well, you oughtn't to talk nonsense
in a canoe It's apt to upset one"
$50 | observe. But II you weren't so
set up Ia your notions | might DO
tempted"
There, now, you're beginning again.
I'm going 10 swim ashore"
ITS II mile or more" he shouted.
For heavens sake. not TO speak Of
mine. don't thlnl, Of it,"
"Well. You stop talking nonsense,
then"
1T isn't nonsrnsc"
at is."
I'm scrious."
THAT settles IT," Her arms came
down from the canoe. I'm going to
Try tor the shore"
| lie tried waddling along the side of
| the canoe to get ut her arm and detain
her. The shell trcmbled along its en-
tire length and sank far down under
his weight She laughed dcrIsyely.
and he grew pale,
Every funny Isn't ~" he asked.
"Decldedly DO you think II you sink
It we'll be q : better OFF,
As she / ceased 10 make demon
stratlons .horewnrd lie felt that his
purpose Vas accomplished and SO said
nothing. u moment later he made an
other mistake.
Its getting along he said. Some
body will be out fishing soon and pick
us UP"
1t was her turn to look scared.
What would they think II they
found rs like thlst" she ycntured. Il
won't permit IT,"
"But everybody around here knows
we're Just friends" he said. GU
know you've talked Plato till'-
Don't be silly. 1t wasn't that fear
ed. L don't care what they think on
that subject. But | don't propose 10