The daily monitor leader. [volume] (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1942-19??, 1942-12-17

crossed il, was a frozen series Of
l e n d er stalactites, dropping
shelf on shelf downward from
the hills. When she got to the
bare and desolate fields she
Travelled faster, came down in @
long glide to the saeter cottage
swirled about, and stopped tC
catch her breath. Then she slip,
ped off the knapsack, unbuckled
her skis, and opened the door
to the dark house.
Margit was the only one who
knew everything, from the be-
ginning. II was to her that kar'
en- had poured out the whole
story when she came back, gid
dy and frightened from her first
meeting with Karl. "Oh, Margit
Margit, he really loves me-" she
had cried. What must / do?'
1t was if she had once pretended
to be a woman, and now could
no longer be a girl.
So they had talked it over
Margit more frightened thar
ever when she saw how serious
her friend was about this most
dangerous affair.
But he's German" she hao
! said. Hes an enemy"
Il don't care" Karen hao
cried violently. Hes not like
the rest. He can't help it If nc
wasn't born in Norway"
Once, in the midst Of quar-
rel the younger girl had shout
ed, I'll kill you if you say an
other word. If / could trust you
I'd tell you why. but ! 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 it.
Night after night, ignoring her
fathers seedlings, 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 sus-
pected in her.
She looked at her watch. II
was later than she thought, sc
she got an old broom out of the
corner and began to sweep, then
busted, and got three red pill.
lows down out of the wardrobe
for the chairs, and when the
cottage was all clean and in or
der, and the things from the
knapsack were laid out on the
table. last of all, she went TO the
shed, collie ctcd wood, ano
brought it back in.
The flames spread and grew
as if the logs were finder, crack
ling and roaring with the wind
down the chimney. The whole
cottage became bright, and grad
ually a warmth spread into the
farthest corners. Half an hour
later, going out to get water tor
cooking, she was surprised &c
see how cheerful the little vel
ow windows looked in the mid
die of the dark field. By the
time the pots started bubbllnS
on the stove, there were already
red candles out of the KNAPP
sack and set carefully in tho
| center of the white table cloth
and cleaning plates with knives
and forks on either side. When
all the work was done, and the
food stood covered on the stove
steaming and filling the whole
cottage with good odors, and the
tea simmered in pot, making
piping noises, and the wind roar
ed down the flue and set the
logs to cracking, Karen chang
| cd her clothes, put on a 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 fol
| 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. Hap
by birthday" She danced about
excitedly, nearly losing her bal.
ance in the drifts. He unbuckled
his skis and propped them UP
next to hers at the door. where
have you been?" she cried. 81
thought you'd never come. 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 was leaving my last
class, the Dean stopped in my
office, and we had a talk. Herr
Doktor Fischer he said, I have
hoon I;etopino IN vpttr lectures