The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1912-06-15
F re.sll Air


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 8,
young man to deeds heroic or foolish
and it was particularly pretty, fluffy
girl named Ethel who was respons-
IDLE for young Catterburt's risking his
peace of mind, to say nothing of his,
life, out among the pneumonia germs
in the freezing air.
If Ethel had been the sort of girl
who is content to make magazine COW
er pictures Of herself before blazing
log fire, or If she had loved to preside
over steamy chatting dishes young Cat
terburt would have been extremely
happy in her company. But Ethel had
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
been recited in half minute. Sunday
afternoons when young Catterburt
would drop in for comfortable call
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 a jiffy!"
Then she would make young Cattee-
burt tramp nine or eleven miles with
thousand singing needles of cold
jabbing into his agonfzed 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-11l be back
Just as soon as I get my toes ampu-
1tated.'' She would lead him to the
7arctic shores of the lake and ask him
If 1t didn't look lovely, while gallons
of icy breeze sneaked down his collar.
II 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
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 Etheps that he
couldn't talk. He didn't want to talk,
any1Pw, 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. It 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. tits simply
horrid of you! It's all your fault! It's
no way to treat a girl! It's brutal
making me 60 outdoors in w-w-weather
like th-th-this!"
t1-make you!" Catterburt shattered,
aghast. "You were d-d-dying to go!"
It'll prob-prob'ly die, all right"
Ethel told him Indignantly, sbut it's
your fault! You said once you l-l-liked
athletic, outdoor girls-and I've been
one all winter, and hate it, and I
simply won't any more, and / don't
care If I never s-s-see you again!
O-o-oh! My eye-1ashes are all fr-fr-
frozen togeth-gether!"
"Ethel," young Catterburt chartered
wildly, 81 f-f-feel now that I can love
you mad1y. 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.