Just a Platonic Affair.

Southland Times, Issue 14788, 3 November 1900, Page 2 (Supplement)

Just a Platonic Affair.

.» . Scene — Asevt by the sea. Characters— He and She. Time— Afternoon. She — 'Funny that we should meet here ! I came in quite by chance. I was going down the Cliff Walk.' He — 'Yes, I saw you.' She — 'I thought of you aa I passed, but of course I couldn't look.' He — 'Odd how things happen.' She— 'We seem to meet so often in the afternoon — quite by chance.' He— 'lt's one of those coincidences— you go by at a certain hour every day.' She — 'And you are always there.' He — 'And it see ma as though we always have something to say.' She — 'i hat's why our friendship is bo delightful. 1 get to tired of sentiment.' He— 'lt's such rot— anyhow— but you know there are very few tjirls Ike you. Most of them expect a man to throw bouquets at them all the time. Now, you — ' She— 'Oh, I hate thab eort ot thing ! When I firet met you — and realised that you weren't that kind of a man— l was so relieved !' He— 'Yes? I Bad myself wishing to consult you about even the most ordinary thing?. I find your point of view is more direct than my own. You look straight at thing ; I blink.' She — 'Yon never do quite open your eyes, do you 1 Let's see — grey-blue eyes mean that you are very detei mined — you will be quite desperate when you fall in love.' He — 'Never intend to— it's too slow ! What does the colour of your eyes mean ? Look at me. I knew they were blaok. If yon should ever love there would be no halfway about it.' She — 'But) no one does nowadays ; it's not good form. In the twentieth century people will have outgrown such foolishness. Then friendships like ours will be more frequent. It will be a jase of mutual — respect and — er— people won't remark it. Why.you have no idea what silly ideas people get sometimes. For instance, I know some of them think— oh, well, it's too ridiculous !' He— 'What?' She— 'That we are engaged ! Jußt fancy ! Ha ! ha !' He— 'Ha I ha ! But.by Jove ! that doesn't seem fair to you !' She — 'Oh, I don't mind it in the least. They will soon see we are only friends. We shall go on— and on — for ever, just being good friends. Commonp'aoe people might ca.ll it love.butwe shall knov better. 1 He — 'But suppose you marry some day — that would spoil everything. I don't sappose yoar husband would understand — ' She — 'I am quite sure your wife would object ! Women are fanny thab way. Very few girls understand platonio friendships.' He— 'Oh, I Bhall never marry. There's only one girl that I like well enough, and she—' She (quickly)— 'lt isn't Alice, is it?' He — 'Alice ! Now, you know better than that. She'd not at all my style.' She — 'Alice is a well meaning girl. How do you like her brother Jack V He — 'Good enough sort of a fellow — ' She— 'He used to call last winter. I thought him rather amusing. He tells such fanny stories.' He— 'But frivolous— don't you think ?' She - 'Oh, I prefer a serious man.' He— 'lf you should ever marry, what kind of a fellow would you pick out V She— 'What an idea !' He — 'Bnfr, really 1 You will have to think about it some day.' She — 'I shall never marry. The man that I might like— well, he doesn't care for me in that way.' He— Doesn't care for you ? He must bo an idiot. Do I know him V She— 'He has charming qualities— more ao than any man I know.' He (moodily) — 'Ob, I sse — I'm not even in the race.' She softly)— ' Well, there's that girl you care for, After all, a pUtonio affair may not laßt any more than the other sort. I suppose I should get jealous — just like any other girl !' He — 'But there is no other girl but you.' She — 'Now, you are beginning to make love. Next thing jou'il tell me I'm the only girl you ever — ' He— 'l know you've cured for lota of men. They accuse you of being something of a flirt — like to play shuttlecock with hearts, and all that. Is it true ?' She— 'Not with a man I could respect.' He— 'Oh, hang respect ! Could you care for me V She— 'ln that way ?' He — 'Oh, there's only one way when you get to it ' She— 'How can people tell when they are really in love f 1 He — 'Oh, you know well enough— when it really happen?.' She— 'Bat people coDf use all sorts of things with love nowaday?. Mental atlraotion and He — 'Oh, look here, I didn't ask you for a csld-blooded analysis. I want ' She— 'What V He— 'You.' '

She— 'Perhaps you only think you do. Wait a few years, and then we will be sure. Then we imy each meet other affinities. Some people have two or three, yon know.' He — 'On, well— if it'd a jike to you — ' She — 'It's so ordicary to be in love ! A p'.atonic affair is more up to date.' He — 'I want an answer. You can't play with me.' She— 'Ha! ha! ha! I've heard that somewhere before !' He — 'I dare say. So I suppose it must be good-bye.' She — 'No, wait a minute. It's all new to me !' He — 'Well, try to absorb the idea and tell me—' She — 'It seems so funny ' He — 'Yes, it'a much jollier to be engaged.' She — 'But I never thought it would happen like this ' He— 'Neither did I. Bab have you ever thought what fun it would be to stop all the talk?' She— 'About our being engaged ? But how?' He — 'Eieily enough ! Announce that we are.' She — 'Do you really care V He— 'Do I really ? Doei a man talk like this for his health, do you think ?' She — 'It's not a bit like a book or a play, certainly not like anything I have ever read.' He — 'No, this is the real thing.' She — 'Then we must have been in love from the first ?' He — 'Certainly.' She— 'Why didn't you tell me before ?' == I