The Washington times., 1930-08-28

again." she promised, II won't
turn into one Of these crying
wiveS!"
He went on holding her in
his arms. TOO much family"
he said, that's it. I tell you,
well go on a New Years party
to one Of the big hotels. just
you and me. Would you like
that!" !.
She didn't care. really. She
didn't care If she ever went
anywhere again. But she nod
ded and kissed him, and when
New Years eve came and he
did not mention 1t she was sur
prised at her own disappoint-
ment. It would have been fun
to go. To dress UP, and listen
to the music. She thought Of
reminding him, but he looked
tired, and he had been COM
planning of pains in his head
lately. perhaps she had bet
ter not.
Towards 10 o'clock he fell
asleep in his chair by the libra
ry fire and Cathie read one Of
the Christmas novels, and nib
bled milk chocolates. trying hot
to care.
When the sirens blew at
midnight, proclaining the new
year she opened one Of the long
French windows and stood out
on the little balcony until she
was chilled, picturing the
crowds. the laughter, the lights
of the celebration downtown.
Ma and Ruth would be having
a hot egg-nog In the kitchen
about now. They always had
egg.nog and .fruit-cake at mid
night Of New Year Eve. Last
year Frank Prout was there,
too, and Eddie, and Eddie's
friend with the yellow hair
:. was his name Sergeant?
And little Jean. and maybe
Ruth's friend Mr.. Browning
this year -.
"Happy New Year"
She came in and shut the
window.
Come, dear, it's late!" Cathie
wakened her sleeping husband,
gently.
He said, IT must have drop
ped off. Happy New Year,
Catherine!"
"The same to you, dear!"
And so to bed, but not to
sleep.
Insomnia laid grizzly fingers
on Cathie. It wasn't only the
sleeplessness she dreaded. It
was the dark, creaky house, at
night. Sometimes, lying awake
in the early morning hours
when the sky was still black
and the whole world seemed
hushed and brooding, waiting
for the dawn, her fear mounted
almost to terror.
Creak. Sigh. Tap. Whisper.
Whisper. She would lie, tense
and listening, while the dark
ness pressed on her eyeballs,
and the thud of her heart al
most shook the bead. If there
were just someone she could
call, someone she could talk
to-
Marguertte9 But that
wouldn't be dignified. She
couldn't do that. And her huS-
band, worn after strenuous
days at the office, was al
ways weary at night. She could
not waken him t. tell him
she was frightened. It wouldn't
be right.
Afraid Of Dark
Tonight, after what seemed
an eternity of Sleeplessness,
she slipped on a dressing gown,
and padded down the dim hall
to his room. She wasn't going
to wake him. She could curl
up on the chaise lounge at the
foot Of the bed and be CON-
forted just being near him,
even if he was asleep.
It was cold in the hail.
Cheong must have turned off
the heat. Maybe she had bet
ter go back to her room and
get blanket. She started and
then stopped suddenly
There it was again. That creak-
ing. You could hear that some
one was coming up the stairs!
Silence again. bsolute
silence. Cathie'S teeth were
chattering. She pressed her
cold hands over her thuddi1g
heart and waited E. This was
nonsence. A grown woman,
afraid of the dark. What
would ma say if she knew?
What would anybody say?
She snubbed the desire to
run. She'd go back quietly
and get the blanket, and
"oh,, God! Help mel" The
words tore themselves out Of
her contracted throat. -
A little circle of pale light
was bobbing steadily upward,
'':st above the stairs.
Continued Tomorrow
(Copyright. 1880. King Features