xterm phenomena

[Harry Putnam]

I'm a recent inductee to xfce.  I'm noticing a phenomena with xterms
in my current setup.

I use .Xdefaults to set the parameters for xterms to
-bg black -fg khaki -fn 10x20

   [...]
   xterm*font:    10x20
   xterm*fullCursor: true
   xterm*reverseWrap:   true
   xterm*titleBar:      false
   xterm*background: black
   xterm*foreground: khaki
   [...]

I've used this same .Xdefaults with several desktops.  

Calling an xterm and then typing
ncftp <ENTER>

Always gave a prompt like this:

NcFTP 3.1.3 (Mar 27, 2002) by Mike Gleason (ncftp at ncftp.com).
ncftp> 

But now I get 
         (Mar 27, 2002) by Mike Gleason (ncftp at ncftp.com).
    >

The missing part usually appears as bold white on my black xterms

Its still there, because cut and paste reveals it.  Or calling a
white xterm will reaveal it.

So for some reason it is comming up in black on a black xterm.

If I call up gnome/sawfish as wm.  And call an xterm, then type
ncftp.  It appears as I expect.  In both cases the xterm is black
and is called by `xterm' not gnome term or some other term name.
Same .Xdefaults in both cases.

Anyone know why this is happening?