The Washington times., 1933-04-17
Writer Pens Gripping Tale
Or a 1893 Courtship

omethlng. something sou ana
bulky that made the oldest
craaking sound as she fell
across it. AS soon as her hands
touched it she knew what it
was-the wicker wash basket,
piled high with the weeks
washing.
She was laughing when Edna
and her mother turned on the
hall light and stood looking at
her as she sat on the floor,
blinking up at them from the
pile of clothes.
Heavens, how you frightened
us!-We couldn't imagine what
the noise was!" Her mothers
voice was shrill with fright and
her eyebrows were drawn to-
gether in a frown. What were
you Sneaking off to bed for,
without saying a word to us?
Where have you been until
this time of night, anyway"
Sharlie, shaken by her tumble,
in the darkness, went on laugh
ing helpleSsly. She heard her
teeth begin to chatter a little.
She's all upset, poor thing!
And no wonder! It's enough to
scare anybody to death-to fall
over a heap of clothes like that
in the middle of the night"
And Edna knelt down beside
her on the floor and began to
put the clothes back into the
wicker basket. She's been cry
ing"
Confession
She tossed the last of the
rumpled garments back and
showed the basket against the
wall. Then she took hold of
the younger girls arm. Get
up, honey, and hop into bed"
she said, drawing her to her
feet.
Now, wait just a minute,
Edna!" Dodie's voice came
again, high and shrill. Before
she does anything or goes any
where I want to know where
she's been all evening""
Sharlie turned her tear
stained face to her. I'll tell
you-after a WHILE" she said
jerkily. He teeth had stopped
chattering and she felt better
with Edna's hand on her arm.
There was something so
warm and comforting about
Edna. She was so firm and
quiet, and so sure of herself
and of what she was doing.
Let her alone until she gets
quieted down, Dodie," she said.
"She probably wants to talk to
you alone"
"She's been drinking, that's
what" declared DodiC, follow
ing them into Sharlie's bed
room. She shifted the air of
the room as if it we're tainted.
Il can smell liquor on her
breath from way across this
room!-She's been drinking!
knew she was up to some
mischief or other when she
didn't come home for dinner
tonight"
Edna nodded. Maybe we'd
better not talk to her until
tomorrow morning." she muir.
INJURED in her low voice as she
began to strip Sharlie's stock
ings from her feet. "She's not
herself right now. That's GER
tain"
Sharlie began to laugh and
cry at that. That certainly
is certain she agreed foolish
ly. Il was Il right when I
left Mr.. Collins-I don't know
what struck me all of a sud-
That was the last thing she
said that night, and by the
next morning she had COM
pletely forgotten that she had
mentioned Mr.. Collins the
night before. The two women
got her into bed, and she slept
as if she We're drugged for
IL hours.
The Morning After
Her mother was sitting alone
at the dining room table when
she opened her eyes and got out
of bed the next day. She read a
book propped up against the
fern dish on the dining room
table and she read as she ate
her lunch. Sharlie, still sick and
weak, turned her eyes away
from the plate of sandwiches
and the tall glass of iced
coffee, the tin box of sardines
(COntinued on 2nd. Comic PGRs)