The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-10-15

norlng her question, that women re
tain their youth so much longer than |
menp'
She paused with her hand on the
candle and looked back 81 think" she
replied thoughtfully, its because they
insist on doing youthful things"
There it is again" he thought, with
an internal groan. He would be obliged
to skate and dance and do all the other
uneomfortab Bile things which forty years
and go pounds shrink from. Still as
he watched her move about the room
the burden of it did not seem so oner-
GUS after all.
Therefore he danced not badly, bat
laboriously, all the while admiring the
graceful ease of Gertrude Angeles mo-
lions.
"At least" he determined resolutely,
"TlI not be caught skating, as l was
dancing, without a bit of practice" It
was 1 a. N. when he made this resolu-
ton and issued the command to his
man, Peter. get me up at unless"
In sudden inspiration, "it should be
storming.'
Promptly at he was awakened in
rebellious frame of mind. Stiff as a
cart horse,'' he grumbled. II hope it's
showing like blazes."
The man raised the shade and looked
out Sky clear as a whistle, sir.9'
So, with his sleep cut short two hours
at both ends Of the night, Merriwether
dragged himself and the pair of skates,
produced by his thoughtful nephew,
out to the pond behind the hill For
an hour he skinned his knees, bumped
his head and disturbed the equanimity
OF his temper before he was able to
move alone with moderate speed and
keep his feet under him.
When he went in to breakfast he was
thankful for a few moments alone in
front Of a glowing CRATE fire. He
stretched his aching legs toward the
heat and rubbed the back of his head
where a bump was appearing which is
not laid down in chronological charts
and pains from which were darting in
every direction He listened idly to
voices in the hall until his attention
was chained by two comments made
| Just outside the door.
isn't she perfect delight of a chap
eron? And so young tool She can't be
thirty"
The reply was given in a doubtful
tone 'Why-e-e, yes, she must be all
of thirty
"Forty-one," muttered the listener
doggedly, the light of his new resolve
shining again IN his eyes.
At 10 o'clock the entire party went
out to the pond, and Merriwether skat-
teeth were clinched in desperation and
his forehead knitted in his efforts to
hold out as long as Mrs. Angel did.
That he was becoming q man Of one
idea he acknowledged to himself that
afternoon on the sleigh tide. What
Gertrude dares, 1 dare" he told him
self in feeble jest. That sleighing par
ty was a nightmare to him for days
afterward. The drifts were deep, ant
the sleigh was overturned again and
again, generally with Merriwether a
the bottom Of the heap, owing to the
fact that sleighs incline readily in thu
direction of 220 pounds. Then, to vary
the monotony of the tip-overs. there
were miles Of hillsides with a souther
~ exposure where the sun had melted
the snow and obliged the party t.
walk.
Merriwether toiled up the slopes, hus
banding his wind by maintaining 81
lence, watching Gertrude's elastic step
ruefully and feeling his resolutions il
respect to youthfulness ooze from hi
chilled finger tips.
Cali out for our last climbr' crie'
Roy as the horses stopped at the foo
: of a steep rise. This Is our last hill.
THANK the Lordv' said Merriwethe
devoutly behind his mustache. II