dear love

PLATONIC FRIENDSHIP

HE doctor slammed down the cover of his medical treatise, while a mutter of impatience

issued from his lips which

sounded very much like a word com-

mencing with D, and ending with MN,

accent on the M. At least, that is

what the parrot thought, and, being

the doctor's own pet as well as vocal

register, as far as profanity was con-

cerned, he made special note thereof.

But the doctor was too much im-

mersed in thought, too " far gone,'' in

fact, to notice the bird. He leaned

back in his office-chair, re-adjusted his

spectacles, clasped his hands behind

his head, and stared at the ceiling.

Then a tender smile o'erspread his

features, and he heaved a great sigh.

Now when a man, for no apparent

reason, stares into space, smiles tender

smiles, and heaves great sighs, it is safe

to assume that he is crazy, — or — in

love. The doctor was not crazy ; even

his enemies, of whom there was a mul-

titude, could not have admitted he

was other than a highly intelligent

young man of wit and more than ordi-

nary ability. It naturally followed,

then, that he was in love. Would he

have admitted this ? Never ! He

counted himself far too sensible for

that.

Yet there was no denying the fact

that something was the matter with

him. Things had certainly changed

since last Thursday. But, hang itl

Why will a woman, an irresistible

woman, with melting brown eyes, and

glossy brown braids, and a pale pink

dressing-gown, and only a slight head-

ache, send for an impressionable young

doctor ? And a married woman, too !

The doctor heaved another sigh, and

uttered again the soft imprecation

"There was the vision of his dreams."

which was, in this case, a most unsatis-

factory way of giving vent to his feel-

ing. Well, there was no use trying to

read or study that day. Brown eyes

and soft shades of pink came between

his eyes and materia medica.

A ring of the bell, a swish of silken

skirts in the hall, followed by a soft tap

at his door roused the doctor from his

reverie.

" Come in," he said, in his soft pro-

fessional tones, while he squared his

shoulders and looked properly stern and

dignified. The next moment his heart

gave a great overwhelming thump, and

then stood quite still. There was the

vision of his dreams 1 the idol of his

fency I the woman who had tormented

his flesh and his spirit since he had seen

her last Thursday.

The doctor's usual manner with

women was one of easy assurance. Only

for an instant did his calm suavity for-

sake him. The next moment he

pressed her hand gently, and led her to

a comfortable chair, put a couple of

cushions behind her back, closed his

ofHce door, and proceeded to enjoy

himself in his own way.

"I — I suppose you wonder why I

called," she said slowly. Her dulcet

tones and soft beseeching eyes affected

him like strong wine, yet he said in a

self-possessed voice :

" My dear Mrs. Judson, were I to

say I am delighted to see you, you

would hardly be pleased. I dare not

hope you would honor me in other

than my professional capacity, so I

ought to be real sorry to see you, and

yet Vm glad. Of course you under-

stand ? How is the head-ache ? "

With one hand he clasped her wrist,

while the other was laid gently on her

forehead. Was there ever such an ex-

asperating doctor? Her pulse was

normal till hb pressed it, and her head

and face cool, till contact with his hand

flushed them crimson.

"I — I don't know what the matter

is, but Fve not been at all myself,"

she said hesitatingly, casting down her

eyes to avoid his keen yet sympathetic

gaze. " I have headaches and am rest-

less, and do not sleep well."

"My symptoms, exactly," thought

the doctor, and he thought some more

things that were unutterable. Aloud

he said reassuringly :

" Indeed ! Well we must see to

that right away. We must exert our

powers to the utmost." He busied

himself at his medicine chest a moment

and produced a little pellet.

"Now put out your tongue," he

said gently, and authoritatively. She

made a wry face but obeyed orders.

Next he wrote out a prescription. The

thought occurred to him, " Physician,

cure thyself! "

She watched him silently, with a

peculiar look in her eyes. She had

nestled into her chair with a sigh of

contentment, and he leaned back and

watched her covertly. For a moment

there was silence; then a hoarse but

distinct voice from the bay window

ejaculated, " Look out ! "

" Dear me, what was that !" she

exclaimed in startled tones, while a

guilty flush spread over her face.

He laughed.

"That's only the parrot! Did he

frighten you ? If he did, he'll die an

ignominious death ! He's a nasty bird,

anyway."

The parrot muttered an imprecation

that made the doctor's hair rise. He

coughed, apologetically ; but he could

see by her compressed lips, and the

clearly amused look in her eyes, that

she understood.

" I must get rid of that animal with-

out delay ! I wonder where he gets

that round of abusive language ? *' he

fumed.

" I suppose he hears nothing but the

mildest of terms from your lips ? " she

queried, laughing outright.

The parrot lapsed into silence, but

he had said just enough to lift the

feeling of restraint that had oppressed

her.

" How comfortable it is here," she

sighed. ** Do you know, I think my

headache is almost gone."

" Keep right on thinking/' he said.

" Ah, these doctors I Aren't they

wonderful ? *'

" Do you think so ? "

" Yes, yes ; don't you ? "

They looked at each other earnestly

for a moment, then both laughed. Yet

she was visibly embarrassed.

" If I keep on thinking, it will be

the supremacy of mind over matter

that cured the headache! Not the

skill that would justify you in calling

yourself wonderful I Do you believe

in that?"

"What? my skill or the power of

mind aver matter ? I believe in both

to a certain extent. Some minds exer-

cise a large amount of influence over

certain kinds of matter."

" Oh dear, that isn't what I meant,

at all ! " she pouted.

He couldn't help wishing she

wouldn't pout. Doctors are but hu-

man after all.

Again they both laughed, not at

what had been said, but in sheer sym-

pathy with each other.

" Do you know, doctors are not like

other men, are they?'* she queried,

with a pretty, bird-like motion of the

head. She made a move as if to di-

vest herself of her wrap. He hastened

to her assistance. Then he took the

pins out of her hat, and removed it,

that she might rest her head more

comfortably against the cushions.

Next he brought her a glass of claret,

and hovered solicitously over her as

she sipped it.

"No," he answered in reassuring

tones, "doctors are not at all like

other men." He wondered what was

coming next, and wherein they dif-

fered from other men, but he was in

the habit of humoring patients.

" You see, you meet them once, and

once only, and they are already con-

fidential friends and advisers. You can

talk freely to them as you couMn't to

other men."

A light was beginning to dawn on

him. She was evidently trying to find

an excuse for herself. She was in-

terested, then, she was — Thank

heaven! He drew a deep breath,

but only said lightly.

"Quite true, quite true! We are

not only medical advisers, but safety

valves, as well as general utility men."

She scrutinized his face rather closely

for a moment, but seemed satisfied.

" May I ask you a question not per-

taining to medicine ? '*

" Ask anything of me, and if it is in

my power you shall be satisfied,*' he

said, rather eagerly.

"Will you answer as truthfully as

you can ? You have a large and varied

knowledge of the world. I would

greatly value your opinion, as you must

be able to tell me just what I want to

know."

** I promise to answer as freely and

truthfully as I can. What is it?" His

curiosity was great, but he tried to

assume a calm exterior. He did not

wish to have her guess, his emotions,

or frighten her in any way that might

close the interview, or rob her of her

apparent confidence in him. It was

happiness supreme to have her near.

Anything to prolong the time of her

stay.

" Do you believe in platonic friend-

ship between man and woman? By

platonic, you know, I mean what is

generally accepted by the term."

The bomb had burst, and yet he

was calm. His eyes did not leave her

face for an instant. " Under what

conditions?" he asked gently. "It

all depends upon circumstances, you

know."

Her eyes were cast down. Had she,

just then, seen the expression of his

face, she probably would not have had

the courage to continue.

" You see," she said, hesitatingly,

** this is something I have long wanted

to know. I wanted the opinion of one

of your s*x. The ideas of one*s — 'er —

husband on such a subject are not apt

*'Do you believe in platonic friendship between man and

woman ? ' '

" The situation you name is indeed

a difficult one for mortals. But I be-

lieve such a thing could be possible

between an innocent woman and an

honorable man ! '*

Her pent-up feelings gave vent in a

long-drawn sigh of relief.

He watched her very closely. Just

then the familiar voice from the vicin-

ity of the window where hung the

cage, shouted, " Look out ! '*

" Isn't that a funny parrot ? " she

laughed, rather nervously. The doctor

laughed also, and procuring a piece of

white linen he proceeded to tie it

around the cage.

" Look out, you're falling! " screeched

the bird, then thinking it was bed-

time, he said ** Good-night '' and lapsed

into silence.

** He learns words and phrases, and

springs them on me without rhyme or

reason,'* said the doctor. "But he's

great company, even if he hasn't any

morals ! "

" That's the way with most people.

isn't it ? They're great company when

they haven't any morak! Why is it,

I wonder, that the evil is so much more

fascinating than the good ? **

" Is it ? ** he queried, innocently

raising his eyes. " Well, it shouldn't be.

The evil is, after all, only an impulse,

and is fleeting. The good usually

conquers, and lasts."

**I suppose much depends on our

ideas of what is right and wrong, good

or evil. It is, after all, one's own con-

ception, that rules. What is good and

proper from one point of view may be

hopelessly evil from another. It's the

way we look at things, isn't it ? "

" I quite agree with you," he said,

not too enthusiastically, for fear of

alarming her, but with just enough

force to be convincing. " That is my

idea, wholly 1 Each man should feel

himself a power and an authority. He

should have his own ideas of what is

proper and healthful for him, and a

well-balanced sense of right and wrong.

Such a man is a natural leader. He is

H

unmindful of a narrow and prejudiced

world's standards and laws. He is in-

dependent, just, and sensible. He is

governed by the laws of common sense

within himself! "

He paused a moment to note the

effect of his words, then said slowly.

" Shall I tell you what I honestly

think about a condition such as you

named a few moments ago ? *'

Although his manner was calm and

his tones collected, yet there was a

peculiar gleam in his eyes. She watched

him narrowly.

" Yes, tell me,*' she said. " Some-

times I like the truth, even though it

hurts."

He leaned over and possessed him-

self of one of her hands. He was un-

conscious, authoritative, and professional .

" There is no law under Heaven that

is justified in separating two loving

hearts," he said, in a low, tense voice.

" Because one or both have been so

unfortunate as to have construed obsta-

cles that debar them from a union

i6

such as our law recognizes, is no reason

they should renounce forever all hopes

of happiness. Mistakes should not be

abided by, but rectified as soon as pos-

sible. Our lives are very much what

we ourselves make them. We create

conditions. We are born free human

beings into a free world. Why should

we be hampered and made miserable

by laws which were made for fools,

who fear to chance the adverse opinion

of the world, by exercising their own

wills. It has truly been said, 'Our

inclinations are our wisest guides ! ' ''

" I do not believe that, not wholly,**

she said, slowly. " We cannot live in

this world and be wholly unmindful of

what may be said of us.'*

"Shall we then, forswear our

chances of happiness because of idle

gossip ? ''

He did not mean to be personal, but

he had certainly presented the situation

in a personal light. She flushed crim-

son, and moved uneasily in her chair.

I — I — We may not ourselves

€€

care for what may be said of us ; but

others who love, and are consequently

interested in us and our welfare, may

be hurt and scandalized. We are mas-

ters of ourselves only to a certain ex-

tent. We owe a duty to our near

and dear ones. To always follow our

inclinations, unmindful of others,

would be selfish indeed."

He still held her hand, and his keen

gaze never left her face. She seemed

to gain self-control in the same pro-

portion as he lost it. Yet he gave

no sign of the raging torrent within

him.

"You say no law under heaven

should separate two loving hearts,"" she

continued. ** Are marriage vows, then,

nothing ? *'

" I think our marriage laws and regu-

lations are absurd and a farce ! " he de-

clared , vehemently. "Vows are required

which soon are, and in a great many

instances must be, broken. Love, true

love, requires no laws, heeds no restric-

tions. As for vows, should they at any

18

time go against our inmost convictions,

conflict with our better, truer selves,

they are better broken than kept ! ** He

spoke earnestly and forcibly.

" I do not agree with you ! '* she

said quickly and rather indignantly.

"And I don't believe you honestly

mean that, either ! No civilized, law-

abiding citizen should advocate such

principles. The might of a nation

rests upon its home life, and the close-

ness and purity of its family ties. What

would become of our domestic peace,

if the government lay in your hands ? '*

" I think it would be in safe hands,

and a happier condition prevail, gener-

ally. I would lay no restraint on hon-

esty. Each individual would be free

to work out his own salvation.*'

" Yet in working out his own salva-

tion according to his own light, he

might prevent others from doing like-

wise. We can't all be satisfied at the

same time, but we ought at least to

agree to laws that contain the largest

amount of good for the largest number

of people. Among these laws are the

ones you proclaim all wrong.**

She spoke earnestly, and there was

a glimmer of admiration in his eyes

which he could not quite hide. He

gave a long, indrawn sigh.

" Do you know," she continued,

quite calmly, and mistress of the situa-

tion, **when a man talks like that, I

always believe he has an object in view.

A man never tries to imbue his wife

with such extremely broad-minded prin-

ciples. Yet he is. sure to exploit such

ideas before another woman, especially

when he — when he has an object in

view. Men are never honest with

women! Isn't it deplorable? They

say anything that suits their purpose ! *'

She cast down her eyes, and he no-

ticed a slight, tremor of her lip. He

possessed himself of her other hand.

" You have not a very good opinion

of our s*x, evidently,*' he said, very

softly. " I wish I could teach you to

change your mind. I wish I could

show you that a gentleman counts his

honor before his inclination, if they,

unfortunately, happen to be inconsis-

tent''

" You can ! *' she said, raising her

eyes almost appealingly. Then she

dropped them, and flushed hotly.

The doctor smiled, his peculiar, fas-

cinating smile. "I didn't know the

situation when I said it. was possible

between an innocent woman and an

honorable man,'* he said gently. " That

is, I knew, but I did not know you

knew that I knew/'

" And isn't it possible — the friend-

ship, I mean ? " she asked in almost in-

audible tones.

" I'll do my level best," he said,

softly. "Angels cannot do more.

Will you also try and — and help

me?"

She bowed her head, and suppressed

a sob. He rose and bent over her,

placing his arm gently about her

shoulders, and patting her cheek. His

clasp was exquisitely tender, and gentle,

and she leaned back with a satisfied

sigh, like a tired child in the arms of its

mother. He held her in silence for

some moments. Presently he bent his

head and pressed his lips to her cheek.

** Look out ! You're falling ! *' yelled

a voice from the window. The parrot

was the snake in Paradise.

" Ypu're a liar ! *' muttered the doc-

tor viciously beneath his breath. Aloud

he said, as he clasped her more closely

in his arms :

" Are you afraid ? "

" No/* she whispered softly, confid-

ingly.

" You may trust me ! You are safe,

so help me Heaven ! *'

The doctor stood upright and squared

his shoulders. A tiny drop of blood

trickled from his lip where he had

bitten it, and the nails from his clenched

hands indented his flesh. For some

moments he breathed heavily. He

walked over to the window and turned

from her to conceal his emotion.

When he faced her a few moments

later, a wonderful metamorphose had

 taken place. He beamed on her with

a kind and gentle smile. His face was

pale, but all traces of passion had van-

ishedy leaving it calm and placid, as

the surface of the ocean after a storm.