South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-03-25
WHAT HAPPENED on THE
ENENTFUL MORNING OF THE
FIRST DAYS OUTING.

awoke Tuesday morning before
daylight with a feeling that some
thing pleasant was going TO happen.
remembered having a similar SEN
sation years before when. as a child
I wakened on Christmas morning
Then ! revelled in the prospect Of
toys and bOnbons and a Christmas
tree. This morning / was happy in
the anticipation Of a long. delightful
ramble in the country With Dicky.
II would be our first whole days
outing together since our marriage
! slipped my hand under my pill
low and pulled out my small electric
torch. one of Dicky's gifts. Press
ing the button. its light struck the
face Of the tiny clock which stood
on the stand near my bed. Six
o'clock, / did not need to get up
for another hour
Shifting my pillow 10 a different
position. / tried 20 20 10 sleep again.
But il was no use. was like a
child in my excitement over the
days pleasure. 7 tossed and turned
until / was sure it was Z o'clock.
When / flashed my little light again
it was 10 minutes after 6.
l can dress very quickly. so that
really there was no excuse for get
ting up so early. But if there was
no sleep 10 be had, there was no use
lying in bed awake. so / resolved to
get up and read until it was time
to rouse Dicky.
A terrifying thought came to me.
Fastening my movements. Suppose
il was raining or showing, or had
turned cold in the night, so that We
could not gol / had not realized
how much 1 was counting on this
trip until the possibility Of not be-
ing able TO take it came to my mind.
Hurriedly l drew on my stocKmgs
and my furrej bedroom slippers.
Then / put on my heavy bathrobe.
knotting it's cord securely, and
throwing a scarf over my head,
tipped my way to the kitchen. Nov
ing as quietly as I could. / unlocked
the outside door and stepped out on
the porch. The air was delightful
even with the chill of the early
dawn upon it. 1 had never expert
enced such weather in January.
There was no hint OF dampness.
such as threatening rain or snow
would bring. / drew long breath
of relief The weather was perfect
We were sure of our outing.
The porch was very dark. /
fumbled for quite a minute before
| found the door knob. AS / pushed
open the door. / was startled by a
long, pitched shrek from
Katie.
"Oh, help! help! There's burglars
getting in. Help Oh. ohr
[ heard Dicky's feet strike the
floor Of his bedroom and come run
ming. 1 turned on the electric switch
as / entered the kitchen, and the
three of us met in the middle of the
floor.
What in blazes!" Dicky's exclam-
alton held disgust and relief cur
iously mingled.
why did you scream. Katie?" I
asked calmly, for l had realized the
cause Of her fright
oh, Missis Graham. joost wake
up, and hear somebody outside on
porch. Den 1 hear door go squeak,
and 1 hOller and jump. / so 'fraid.
Where dot burglar go?"
Il am the only burglar, Katie" /
said smiling. 81 went out on the
porch to see if it were raining or
l did not intend to
brighten you"
To an outsider the picture we pre-
scented must have been highly lu-
dicrous. Dicl<y had rushed out in
Katie had on her pink
fannellette nightgown. while my
bathrobe and slippers completed
the collection Of bedroom attire.
Katie was the first to realize her
a appearance. She gave one frighten-
ed glance at her attire, then with
a hysterical giggle vanished into
her bedroom.
Dicky gave a whimsical glance at
his pajamas.
since I don't have to grapple
with a murderous burglar, I sup
pose I might as we'll put on some
clothes" he said. What on earth
are you up so early for?"
7 couldn't sleep. Dicky. 1 woke