The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1911-02-17
WINNIE AND
FRANK
By r. A. mitchell
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.
By F. A. mitchell

The question is whether we snail pc
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 boat, and
it 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-
tical about it, exchanging views with
q frankness not usual in such cases.
"For my part" he said, 81 feel that
1 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 slngularw / exclaimed. you
have spoken my case as well as your
own. There is one whom l prefer to
you. But, gracious, how faulty! ] con-
fess l am often put to the blush on
account of Franks shortcomings"
"Selfish?"
"Selfish at times beyond measure"
That's just the way with my Win
ME-"
"How is it, then, that we prefer
these unworthy persons to each
other" / 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 l find
Same here. We have been compan-
| ions since we were wee little things.
My theory is that it is propinquity. l
have known my Winnie and you have
known your Frank so long that asso-
citation has begotten love-
"But love Is blind If this is love we
feel for those persons how is ii that
we see their faults so plainlyT
"Are what we see in them really
| faults?"
"What do you mean by thatY"
81 will explain. | snatched kiss
from you. You are angry and blame
| Ilt. III OllttI NplbSs Nbu NOllNihCl Nhdt
have committed n fault, whereas
have simply been following 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. l confess you
are much more worthy of my love
than Frank MY love for Frank | ad-
NIT Is inexcusable, and yet / can't
help It,"
"And ] will admit that my Winnie's
thoughts and acts are gross in com
parison with yours"
"How can you love such persona?
81 would rather call 1t preference
than love"
'Tbere again we agree; 1t is prefer
ence In my case too"
While we were talking a cloud had
been gathering behind us. Our backs
being turned toward It, we did not see
1t. We were sitting in the stern of the
boat, while held the main sheet in my
hand. Suddenly a squall struck us
and capsized the boat, which sank
Three of us were in the water to
gether Mr.. Scarborough, and one life
preserver Mr.. Scarborough could mo-
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 wheI
he came up, by desperate effort,
reached him with the life preserver.
"Take hold Of it," cried.
mo; it will bear but one of us"
~ can swim"
"Not enough to save yourself"
He went down second time. WheI
he came up | fought TO get the pre-
server around him. He was nncon
sclous, and | partly succeeded. TheI
n boats nose poked itself against us
The rain and the wind beating up tn,
waves had concealed 1t from us. 4
hand grasped each one of us anC
dragged us into the boat.
hung over him anXiously until w
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 wlth--so far as we knew a
the tlme-a chance for but one to b
saved. Each had preferred that tn
. other have that chance. We sat lock
. ed In each others arms.
ut has been proved conclusively tc
day" he said, that these other lover
of ours must take back seat.
would not have done for Winnie wha
did for you"
Nor l for Frank"
, Its an i'll wind that blows nobod
l any good! The squall blew us Int
. the water but 1t blew away at tn
same time our indecision between eac
1 other and these two other lovers"
l "Thank heaven for that. l was NV
{ fully tired Of 1t. But tell me who
. this Winifred that has been my rival?
HNNhO 10 Ero nh 90