Evening journal., 1911-03-09
WINNIE AND
FRANK
BY F. A. Mitchell
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.
BY F. A. Mitchell

The question Is whether we shall be
more than friends. We like each other
pretty well. but for my part there is
one other that I'm not sure ! love bet
ter than love him. One day Mr.. Scar
borough and | went out in a boat, and
II was evident before we had been to
gether long that our minds were on
the great question, "Shall we be more
than friends?" We were very prac
teal about It, exchanging views with
a frankness not usual in such cases.
''For my part he said, II feel that
love you better than any other per
son in the world excepting one That
person. ! confess, do not approve
of--one whose intellect is not by any
means Of the highest and whose good
intentions are often not carried out
How singularw ! exclaimed. You
have spoken my case as well as your
own. There is one whom l prefer 20
you. But. gracious, how fnultyl l con
fess I am often put to the blush on
account of Franks shortcomings
"Selfish7"
Selfish at times beyond measure"
That's just the way with my Win
ME"
How is II, then. that we prefer
these unworthy persons 20 each
other7' I asked.
There was a brief silence, at the
end of which he asked:
How long have you known this
person?"
MANY years"
II have noticed that the longer
have known Frank the greater selfish
ness find"
Same here. We have been compan-
ions since we were wee little things.
My theory is that It is propinquity.
have known my Winnie and you have
known your Frank so long that asso-
citation has begotten love"
But love Is blind. II this is love we
feel for those persons how is It that
we see their faults so plainly7'
Are what we see in them really
faults?"
What do You mean by-that?7
"I will explain. / snatched a kiss
from you. You are angry and blame
me. In other words, you consider that
! l have committed a fault, whereas
I have simply been following a natural
instinct. Now. your Frank may place
you in an embarrassing position with.
out any intention to do so, yet you
consider him at fault"
"That may apply TO your Winnie,
but not to my Frank. I confess you
are much more worthy Of my love
than Frank. Ny love for Frank ad-
init is inexcusable, and yet I can't
help it,"
And / VIII admit that my Winnie's
thoughts and acts are gross in com
parison with yours"
How can you love such a person p
IT would rather call 1t preference
than love-"
"There again we agree; it is prefer
= Ience IN my case too"
While we were talking a cloud had
been gathering behind us. Our backs
being turned toward it. we did not sec
r. We were sitting in the stern Of the
boat. while held the main sheet in m
hand. Suddenly a squall struck u'
and capsized the boat, which sank
Three Of US were in the water TO
gether. Mr.. Scarborough. and one life
preserver. Mr.. Scarborough could not
swim at all, very little. A few
strokes took me to the corks. Mr.
Scarborough could not reach them
though they were not mans length
from him. He went down. and when
he came mp, by a desperate effort,
reached him with the life preserver.
Take hold OF st." cried.
mo: It VIII bear but one OF US"
II can swim"
mot enough TO save yourself"
He went down a second time. Wher
he came up fought to get the pre-
server around him. He was uncon
scious. and partly succeeded. Ther
boats nose poked itself against US
The rain and the wind beating up tn,
waves had concealed IL from us.
hand grasped each one of us anC
dragged us into the boat
hung over him anxiously until VI
got him to shore, where we applied tn
usual restoratives in such cases. Aft
er awhile he showed signs Of life ant
finally came to himself.
The same evening. after having beel
revived, we resumed the talk that ha'
been interrupted by the squall. Blu
we now chatted under very differen
conditions We had been dumped Il
the water with-sO far as we knew a
the time-a chance for but one to b
] saved. Each had preferred that th
other have that chance. We sat loci
ed In each others arms.
1T has been proved conclusively tC
d day" he said, "that these other lover
, Of ours must take a back seat.
would not have done for Winnie wha
l did for you"
Nor / for Frank
Its an I'll wind that blows nobod
any goodl The squall blew US int
the water. but It blew away at th
same time our INDIGESTION between eac
other and these two other lovers"
Thank heaven for that. was sv
fully tired OF II. But tell me who
l this winifred thst has been my rival :
D "who is Frank?"
: "Ten me and I'll tell you"
D "My name, as you know, IS Edwar
p ". Scarborough. Winnie is not Win