The Washington times., 1936-01-30

her name below his, loving the
two names together Donald La
than, Christie Latham. two
people who were building house.
A small house. mere begin
ming, just two big rooms. and a
little bathroom, and a smaller
kitchen, adjoining the garage in
an L shape, and some day, when
Donald was rich and famous,
they'd build out in a hollow
square, and the little patio would
be all enclosed.
It was a miracle to Christie. A
miracle Of wonder and beauty. To
see the mortar being mixed, for
the foundation, to smell the lum-
Der the trucks brought for the
house. To follow Mr.. HaineS, the
contractor, around, getting in his
way, asking questions
"Are you sure that the window
planned for the south side Of the
living room will really get that
bay view? You won't forget, Mr..
HaineS-DARK floors, with wide
boards-not just light hardwood?'
As he confided to Mrs. Haines,
every night, if she had been one
degree less young and pretty, he
couldn't have stood it, and neither
could the carpenters, for she was
all over the place, climbing up
ladders, balancing on plankS,
jumping over chasms like q noun
tain goat.
Long before the house itself was
finished, decorators and furniture
people began to call.
When she tried to refer them to
Donald, he just waved them away.
Whatever you want, Beautiful!
Have ii your own way!"
But, Donald. you must know
what you like!"
ooh, you know what I like.
Something comfortable, and plain,
and good. And maybe you better
not buy too much just at first.
because I really don't know where
the moneys coming from"
"Well, I thought-your new sal
ary. If I cut everything else down
that maybe"
He looked little sheepish.
Fact is, with the lab equip
ment I had to get, there won't be
much-any! You see, the stuff
they had was all antiquated, so
DR.. Whitley and I decided to get
what We needed, right in the begin
ming. Cost a lot, though. More
than I thought. But We'll weather
it through"
But, Donald, wouldn't the uni
versity pay?"
"You don't understand, honey.
My salary will be for the little
while I put in their work, but this
lab work isn't really university
work. It's that old problem White
ly and I started on four years
ago. Don't you remember? I told
you what a blow it was when I
had to give it up, and waste my
time with a lot of nonsense for
Ewes sake"
He would have gone on. He
would have told her again, about
Whitley, and the lab. Whitley,
with his iron gray hair and his
iron gray suits, and his big car,
and his big house, and the money
he could afford to throw away If
he wanted to. The dirty, smelly
old lab, that Donald thought more
Of than their own new home. The
lab that was going to take the
very money they needed to live on.
Her teeth closed firmly over
her trembling lower lip. She got
up, walked swiftly towards the
bedroom.
Christie! I'm talking to you!"
But she had gone, slamming the
door so violently that the whole
room reVerberated, and shook.
They weathered that quarrel,
and others.
IF I didn't have such a rotten
temper!" she'd say, smuggling into
his arms, rubbing her flushed
cheek on his shoulder, nuzzling up
to him, like a repentant puppy.
you're perfect" he'd tell her,
laughing, but serious. IT wouldn't
have you changed a bit. Not even
the rotten temper!"
That always hurt ,because-well
she could have endured a few
changes in him.
ITO be COntinued)
Copyright, 1885, King Features
y Syndicate. Incl