Just a Platonic Affair.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXV, Issue XXVI, 29 December 1900, Page 1208

Just a Platonic Affair.

A LITTLE HOLIDAY ROMANCE. t>. « " ■ Scene: A Seat by the Sea. ’ i Characters: He and She. Time: Afternoon. She: Funny that we should meet here! I came in quite by chance. 1 was going down the Cliff Walk. He; Yes, I saw you. She: I thought of you as I passed, but of course 1 couldn’t look. He: Odd how things happen. She: We seem to meet so often in the afternoon —quite by chance. He: It’s one of those coincidences—you go by at a certain hour every day. She: And you are always there. He: And it seems as though we always have something to say. She: That’s why our friendship is so delightful! 1 get so tired of sentiment! He: It's such rot —anyhow—but you know there are very few girls like you. Most of them expect a man to throw bouquets at them all the time. Now, you—— She: Oh. I hate that sort of thing! When J first met you—and realised that you weren’t that kind of man—l was so believed! He: Yes. I find myself wishing to consult you about even the most ordinary things. I find your point of view is more direct than my own. You look straight at things. 1 blink. .She: And yet 1 have blinked at the irregularity of our friendship. He: Why irregular? She: Oh, they do say that friendship between the sexes is not good form. In the 20th century people will have outgrown such foolishness. Then friendships like ours will be more frequent. It will be a case 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* Just fancy! Ha! ha! He: Ha! 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. Commonplace people might call it love, but we shall know better.

lie: But suppose .you marry some day—that would spoil everything. I don't suppose your husband would understand She: 1 am quite sure your wife would object! Women are funny that way. Very few girls understand platonic friendships. He: Oh, I shall never marry. There’s only one girl that I like well enough, and she She (quickly): It isn’t Alice—is it ? He: Alice! Now, you know better than that. She’s not at all my style! She: Alice is a well meaning girl. How do you like her brother Jack? He: Hood enough sort of fellow She: He used to call last winter. I thought him rather amusing. He tells such funny stories. He: But frivolous—don’t you think? She: Oh, I prefer a serious man! He: If you should ever marry, what kind of a fellow would you piek out? She: What an idea! He: But really! 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 be an idiot. Do I know him? She: He has charming qualities—■ more so than any man I know! He (moodily): Oh, I see—l’m not even in the race. She (softly): Well, there’s that girl you care for! He: The men accuse you of being something of a flirt— like, to play shuttlecock with hearts, and all that. Is that true? She: Not a man I could respect. He: Oh, hang respect! Could you care for me? She: In that way? He: Oh, there’s only one way when you get to it She: How can people tell when they're really in love? He: Oh, you know well enough—when it really happens! She: But people confuse—all sorts of things with love nowadays. Mental attraction and sympathy. He: Oh, look here—l didn't ask yon for a gOld-blooded analysis. I want—

She: What? * ' He: You. She: Perhaps you only think you do. Wait a few year's, and then we will be sure. Then we may each meet other affinities. Some people have two or three, you know. He: Oh, well —if it’s a joke to you— She: It's so ordinary to just be in love! A platonic 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's much jollier to be engaged. She: But I never thought it would happen like this. He: Neither did I. But have you ever thought what fun it would be to stop all the talk? She: This is certainly not like anythng I have ever read. He: No. this is the real thing. She: Then we must have been in love front the first? He: Certainly. She: Why' didn't you tell me before? He: I was afraid you didn’t care. You do, don’t you? She: Of course. He: Then it's settled? She: Y'es, but I’m not sure that I wouldn't have liked the book way' better.