The Glenwood post., 1912-07-20
Fresh Air

Young Catterburt groaned. Ihen ne
shuddered as he regarded the frost
On the windows. For he was about TO
plunge out into the biting cold.
1t is usually a girl who rouses a
young man to deeds heroic or foolish
and it was particularly pretty, funny
girl named Ethel who was respons-
lble for young Catterburt's risking his
peace of mind, to say nothing OF MS
life, out among the pneumonia germs
In the freezing air
If Ethel had been the sort OF girl
who is content to make magazine coy
er pictures of herself before blazing
log fire, or If she had loved to preside
over steamy chating dishes young Cat
terburt would have been extremely
happy in her company. But Ethel mad
q mania for outdoor exercise. Appar-
emily she never remained in the house
if she could create an excuse to get
out, and young Catterburt, being her
constant shadow, had to go along. He
didn't dare not to go, for fear some
of his rivals would spring in and usurp
his place.
This winter Ethel had led him a
merry pace He had not dreamed
when he became acquainted with her
in the summer than she was going to
turn out to be that kind, for she had
seemed particularly fragile and cling
ing. The things she could not invent
now to do out of doors could have
been recited in half minute. Sunday
afternoons when young Catterburt
;,, g., n
Ethel would greet him with energy.
I'm so glad you've come" she would
say. Isn't it the most perfect day for =
a walk! I'm simply dy-y-ing to get
out. Don't take off your coat. for I'll
have my things on in jiffy!"
Then she would make young Cater
burt tramp nine or eleven miles with
a thousand singing needles of cold
jabbing into his agonized countenance
and his feet growing so numb that he
knew he would have to excuse himself
the instant he got back to her door
and say, BEG pardon-T1l be back
Just as soon as | get my toes ampu.
tated." She would lead him to the
arctic shores of the lake and ask him
if it didn't look lovely, while gallons
of icy breeze sneaked down his collar.
If he asked her to go to the theater
she would beg him to take her skat-
ing instead Skating as an amuse-
ment appealed to young Catterburt as
a very special kind of progressive in
sanity.
This particular evening another skat.
ing expedition was on the carpet.
Young Catterburt's face was so cold
when he reached Ethel's that he
couldn't talk He didn't want to talk,
anyhow. for he was feeling consider
ably abused and harried by fate.
Ethel, so bundled in furs that she
looked like an Eskimo, was full Of gay
chatter. 1t added to his resentment.
Finally even she bent her head to
the bitter night wind and plodded on
in silence, which was broken only by
the clang of their swinging skates.
Suddenly Ethel halted. She got
around back of young Catterburt,
much as though he were an inanimate
windbreak, and made queer little
noises. They sounded like frozen
sobs.
Whaz zhu matter?" Chatterburt got
out. He couldn't force his numb lips
open far enough really to talk.
"O-o-oh!" Ethel wept Its simply
horrid of you! It's all your fault! It's
no way to treat a girl! It's brutal
making me go outdoors in w-w-weather
Ike th-th-this!"
"T-make you!" Catterburt shattered,
aghast. "You We're d-d-dying to go!"
I'll prob-prob1y die, all right"
Ethel told him Indignantly, "but it's
your fault! You said once you l-l-liked
athletic, outdoor girls-and I've been
one all winter, and I hate it, and
simply won't any more, and l don't
care if / never s-s-see you again!
O-o-oh! My eye-lashes are all fr-fr.
frozen togeth-gether!"
Ethel young Catterburt chartered
wildly, 81 f-f-fee1 now that l can love
you madly. After we get somewhere
and drink about two quarts of hot
coffee apiece I'm g-g-going to t-t-tell
you ab-b-bout it!"-Chicago Daily
News.