New Britain herald., 1922-06-06
What Is the Reason for katie's
 Fear?


 In obedience to Lillians whispered command, l listened carefully to tho faint chatter from the distant kitch' en which told of Katie's nightly strug' gle with the dinner dishes. And wher the sounds finally ceased, l rose un' obtrusively, and with a perfunctorS little excuse, I went toward the real of the house meeting Katie coming toward me.
 Fl shoost tink I go round, ses me if everything locked oop goot, she said quaveringly.
 There was nothing at all unusual in her action, for il was her nightly duty-whose importance she cher ished mightily-to do this very thing But her explanation Of 1t, her teremul- ous. apologetic attitude. was most foreign to her usual fippant de meanor, and I looked at her search ingly
 You are tired, Katie" I said sooth- ingly. Co to bed right away, and I'll see to everything tonight"
 A look Of panic leaped into her eyes and for several seconds she stood motionless. Then she spoke croak- ingy, and I guessed that her throat was dry with fright.
 "Missis Graham :"
 I waited until 1 saw she could say nothing further and said encourag- ingly:
 What is it, Katie? Is there any thing you wish o.
 She swallowed painfully, and her words, when she finally gave them ut terance, were jerky, with long pauses between them.
 You pleeze-ven you-lock oop- not forget-und look upstairs off kitchen side. I-so scared-off dere by myself
 '.I So Fraid"
 I controlled a little start of amaze ment at her precedence, for she had uncannily named the very thing which had been in my mind. Like many other old farmhouses, this had doors both upstairs and down, which, when bolted, effectually cut off the kitchen wing from the rest of the house. We had never used the fastenings but l had planned to fasten these bolts when I finally should have satifed myself that Katie was asleep, Then with the outer kitchen door securely locked and as the windows were COW cred with screens, I could be sure there would be no danger of her reaching our part of the house for the eavesdropping which Lillian evidently feared from he.
 "Ill remember, Katie" I said promptly salying by conscience with the nenta! reservation that I had not told her what I meant to remember. But aren't you foolish to be fright ened, after I had those bars put on your windows so no burglar could possibly get in?''
 T no 'fraid of burglars she an- swered sullenly, then with sob in her voice she stretched her hands to me appealingly, But oh, Missis Graham, I so 'fraid all time '
 I slipped my arm around her com fortingly and grasped her trembling, toll l-caloused hands with my unoc- cupied hand
 "I'n tell you what I'll do, Katie v I said cheeringly. "I'll go with you now to your room, and look all around, under the bed and every where to be sure nobody is hiding that's what you're afraid of, isn't it? And then you can lock your door and go to sleep in peace
 Madye Seeks Advice.
 Again the look of panic flashed into her face, and I saw that my offer had not soothed the unknown terror which was swaying her, but instead had intensified it. She spoke hur- riedly, twisting away from he.
 You awful goot, but l no let you do dot Me. I'll be all right ven I vunce go sleep. I no remember about bars on windows I no afraid any more"
 She caught up my hand, kissed it i'm patiently-a familiar gesture, which brought back many memories of Katie's tempestuous ways - then moved hurriedly back toward the kitchen.
 I stood irresolutely watching her, until she began the ascent of the back stairs and waited until I heard her own door close before following her. Then I went swiftly, noseless- ly, to the kitchen, tested the lock of the kitchen door from which I took the key, and retreating with stealthy