The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1942-12-07
confession
CHAPTER XVIII

In the cold gray darkness Karen
came down the hill. and vas met
BY an anxious Msrrit AZ the
fsrmyard gate. They slowed the
skis and the knapssek safely
away. and erept upstairs into the
chilly bedroom.
Margit had hardly slept IRE
two girls lay in their cold bed.
wrapped the heavy quilt tightly
around them there was no heat
upstsirsD. and talked hurriedly In
low whispers. But only . few
minutes passed before they heard
osterholm come driving Al q furi-
ous rate up the road and into the
farmysrd. Margit looked out the
window. and saw him unhitching
the sweating horses.
"oluf. oluf." he kept calling In
q muffied voice. A young lad ran
out OF the house beating his nit
tened hands together. and helped
him get the horses into the barn.
Then both Of them. blowing clouds
Of steam out from under their fur
hoods. got to work lifting several
large metal barrels out Of the
sleigh and rolling them one by one
down into the cellar.
The girls erept back into bed
Margit WAS shivering with a
strang presentiment. karen's
news that Karl might have to
leave Trollness. her fathers In
applicable movements down In the
court. and her own sleepiess hours
combined to make her more
frightened than she had ever been.
And yet 1t was she who had TO
comfort Karen. The younger one
had needed all her strength the
night before 10 remain firm and
show Karl that she was not afraid.
Now she chung TO Msrgit ~ " TO
her mother. After . while, they
both fell asleep.
A furious pounding on the door
woke them. Margit sat UP quick
iy, blinking In the bright morn
ing light. The wind kicking up
outdoors had blown . fine sitting
of snow in at the open window.
ia" she called. shivering. and
pulled the quilt UP.
The housekeeper. q big woman
In a gray skirt. apron and blouse.
came in with a frown on her
round. good-natured face. up
with you," she called. up with
YOU" and waddled across the
room. In my day girls didn't lie
in bed until half past nine In the
morning."
Karen sat up guilty. pulling
the sheets around her shoulders
against the cold. rs It really %
late. Fru Erikseny ?" she cried.
so iate7 so late indeed.
Breakfast II done. and everybody
gone 10 work hours ago. oluf
and Einar have been cleaning the
barn ever since eight o'clock. and
we In the kitchen havs half the
baking done. Shame on you"
She bent. and In one quick move
ment. whisksd the heavy guilt
away.
NO, Yu Eriksen," thsy orssd.
and eiutched 81 Zach other 10
keep warm. But the woman went
off laughing: they isapsd out Of
bed and ran barefootsd over TO
the closet To get their clothes.
A few minutes later whsn they
started down into the Kitchen. they
heard rru Eriksen's voice from
a. far away ~ the upstairs land
ing. Large and hearty. II was
crying. Look sharp in the oven.
I smell Fru RoledsKs biscuits.
You'il never get fat on your arms
II you stand Etiil" And then she
must have heard them. for she
called. "Ha. In. here they come.
the larry sleepsrs. CossipinE all
night long. and can't get up in
the morning"
And down the stairs came Karen
and Margit with their faces
washed. but looking very shsspish.
both In brown dresses and heavy
stockings coming 10 their knees.
and each one with three wooden
petticoats biiio~inT beneath her
skirt.
Get back up and put on your
shoes" Fru Eriksen cried at them.
oh. please don't make us." said
Karen. trying very hard 10 keep