The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1908-04-23
you SEE, I'VE sPRA1NED MY ANKLE"

YOU SEE, I'VE sPRAINED MY ANKLE"
had steadfashy pleaded a full card
every time ChcSterton approached her.
Chesterton didn't know what was the
matter. Her coolness had been first
perceptible on Christmas day and the
thermometer had dropped steadily un-
til it had, he realized, reached absolute
freezing point. In his steadily grow
ing desire to see the image of Johnson
in every kickable object he finally
overreached himself and sat down on
the ground with a badly sprained an
kle
Esther Dillon, whose father was a
teacher of mathematics and lived with
In the college grounds, on her way
home from an afternoons shopping
came upon him suddenly as he was
trying his foot to see if he could man
age to hObbIe to the dormitOry.
"You develop new traits daily, Mr..
Chestcrton," she said i'll the politely
frigid tone she had used for six weeks.
81 never dreamed any one could find
pleasure in sitting on the ice covered
edge Of n carriage drive. Does the ap-
preaching twilight seem more soulful
from such standpointE"
He stood up hastily on his one sound
foot and smiled grimly
standpoint seems an inaccuracy of
speech, Miss Esther and really | have
become so acclmated to Chiliness in
the last few weeks that didn't notice
the temperature Of the pavement being
anything but normal. Perhaps you
wouldn't mind being friendly long
enough to help a fellow reach the
dormitory. You see, I've sprained my
ankle
"Oh," she said, quickly sympathetic,
"let NE run to the gymnasium and send
some of the boys, Does it hurt muCh"
"Prctty bad, but | don't mind the
pain SO much if | can manage to hob
bic on. | was just taking long
breath to shout for one Of the fellows,
but | would rather have you help me If
you don't mind I'll put my hand on
your shoulder to steady myself, and !
think | can manage some kind of a
hating gait"
The girl in her sympathy forgot the
grievance she had against him, and
with every limping step Chesterton
grew more firmly convinced that being
cripple for life might have its com
penSatiOns.
"What made you do it?' he asked
abruptly. The shoulder he was lean
ing on tWitchcd violently.
do what she asked, with perversc
feminine ignorance
Freeze me, ignore me, cut me, slight
me, neglect me-
perhaps if You wait until you reach
the library You might consult the die
tionary and find few more transitivc
verbs she suggested. with gurgle of
amusement.
Chesterton heard the note of laughter
and came down on his lame foot with
so buoyant a step that he grimaced
with pain.
"Why did you do it, Esther?" he ask
ed pleadingly
"Why didn't you even thank me the
tiniest little bit for the Christmas pres
ent | sent you?" she faltered.
Chesterton stopped and, balancing OF
one foot, faced her in unfeigned aston
iShment.
"Why-my dear girl, this is the frs
have heard of it"'
Really! Didn't you even get It?
with joy that scarcely seemed an az
propriate show of feeling for the los
of an article that she had spent s
much time in selecting. I'm 20 glad!
she said impulsively.
He was filled with compunction 70
having cherished such malicious feel
ings toward Johnson-Johnson wasn'
half a bad fellow. He remembers
that he had once liked him immensely
THAT'S the reason you were not mic
to me at the Christmas night recep
tion?" he hazarded hopefully.
"Of course that was the reason
When | thanked you for the roses an,
you didn't say word-not even tin
word about the package sent you
thought that-men were so queer,
dolefully.