The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-12-04
Es SERIAL STORY 1.-THE EDGE 0F DARK ESs
 KcopyRicAr
 kBY WILLIAM WOODS ssA agNyss9 ssse:

had once pretended to be a woman, and now could no longer be a girl.
 So they had talked it over, Mar git more frightened than ever when she saw how serious her friend was about this most dan- gerous affair.
 But he's German" she had said. He's an enemy"
 q don't care" Karen had cried violently. He's not like the rest He can't help it If he wasn't born in Norway"
 Once, in the midst of quarrel. the younger girl had shouted, I'll kill you if you .say another word. If I could trust you I'd tell you why, but I will not stop seeing him"
 So Margit had fallen silent, and said never another word. She had seen the weeks pass, counted their stolen meetings, and prayed no trouble would come of 1t.
 Night after night, ignoring her fathers scoldings, Karen had slept at the farm. She had grown quiet and thoughtful, and full of a strength and decision that not even Margit had ever suspected in her.
 She looked at her watch. It was later than she thought, so she got an old broom out of the corner and began to sweep, then dusted, and got three red pillows down out of the wardrobe for the chairs, and when the cottage was all clean and in order, and the things from the knapsack were laid out on the table, last of all, she went to the shed, collected wood, and brought it back in.
 The flames spread and grew as if the logs were finder. cracking and roaring with the wind down the chimney. The whole cottage became bright, and gradually a warmth spread into the farthest corners. Half an hour later, going out to get water for cooking, she was surprised to see how cheerful the little yellow windows looked in the middle of the dark field. By the time the pots started bubbling on the move, there were already red candles out of the knapsack and set carefully in the center of the white table cloth, and gleam- ing plates with knives and forks on either side. When all the work was done, and the food stood cov- cred on the stove, steaming and filling the whole cottage with good odors, and the tea simmered in a pot, making piping noises, and the wind roared down the fiue and set the logs to cracking, Karen changed her clothes. put on 8 white shirt, open at the neck, and combed her hair again.
 Then it was not long and she heard his loud halloo outdoors and jumped. trembling, fused at the white cloth. looked for matches. lighted the candles on the table, then ran and flung open the door. Karl" she cried. "Karl." !" He threw up an arm in greeting and swirled about in a great circle in the darkness. She plunged out into the snow to meet him.
 Happy birthday, Karl. Happy birthday" She danced about ex- citedly, nearly losing her balance in the drifts. He unbuckled his skis and propped them up next to hers at the door. "Where have you been?" she cried. T thought you'd never come. I was sure something had happened"
 He laughed, flung an arm about her shoulders, and took one last look out at the field. Well, wife, it's a long story. Just as I was leaving ny last class. the Dean stopped in ny 0ffice. and We had talk. Herr Doktor Fischer he said, T have been listening to your lectures ." He walked into the cottage, pulling of his hat. and his voice trailed away. She slipped in front of him and turned to see his face.
 DO you like it?" She swallowed. and kept watching him tensely. DO you. Karl2"
 His eyes tkaveled over to the fire, to the supper, the white cloth on the table. It was like years. ago when he was ten and twelve, and had come home from school in the late afternoon, and found his mother in the kitchen. He srnelled the food and heard the cracking of the flames, and felt suddenly such a warmth rise up in him he could not speak.
 They ate supper together quietly. looking at each other over the cups and saucers. He started teli- ing her about what they would do when peace came. An old coi- league, now in Switzerland, had promised him a teaching appoint ment at the University in Lau- same. "Lausenne," he said, "Lau- same. It's such a pretty place. He talked about their house near the lake. and how he would go in to his classes in the worning and come back at four every afternoon. We'll have a dog would you ike a dog. Karen7 and neigh bors you could gossip with" ses
 The wind blew hard outdoors. pii- ing deep drifts up against the win. dOws. Somewhere in the dark an owl booted. Karl leaned back, looked