The Raymer enterprise., 1919-09-04
DAWN
BY JACK LAYTON


Jerome Barris In the hour Of his
great success was but a dislllusioned,
disappointed man. Still young, and
having won the golden key to favor, he
drew back YEARLY before those doors
1t might open.
During his years of struggle and
need none of these friends, who now
so eagerly stroye to share his triumph,
had made an effort to stretch forth a
helping hand. Even the girl whom he
had so deeply loved and who had pro-
fessed to return his love had grown
weary waiting and had heartlessly
Tilted him for an acknowledged man
Of the business world.
Now that the dream Of Jerome Bar
ris was realized he smiled cynically at
this same womans proffered notes Of
reconciliation-his former love had be-
come widow, but her charm for him
had vanished before her insineerity,
and all this superficial adulatlon now
wearied him. He longed to get away
from 1t, to get back to a certain spot
which had often been his refuge.
To Barris this small place, with the
sea stretching out before, was home,
bis one sure haven.
1t was here that his great picture
was born-the picture which had won
Tor him fame and fortune. Years ago,
when his heart was sore with its dis
appointment, he had gone, after read
Ing the announcement of the enc girls
marriage, to the seeluslon OF this little
house, there to shut out from curious
eyes his deep hurt. And when ut sun
down he sat upon the tiny porch boat
had come drifting down a golden beam
toward him. And In the boat sat very
young girl. Unbound, her golden hair
rippled over her shoulders, and her up
raised face was glorifled in the light
Barris called his great picture
"Maidenhood."
lmpulsiyely he had called her as she
drifted by, and had run down to draw
her boat In to the shore. The girl, who
was perhaps fourteen or fifteen years
OF age, acceded readily to his request
that she pose thus again for picture
I'll make the arrangement with
your people, Barrls suggested.
Il have no people, the girl told him,
and as she went on with the strange
story OF her own life he knew what
had brought the shadow to her young
eyes. She had been washed to the
shore In a boat tossing upon a stormy
sea before she was old enough to re-
member anything about 1t. A man and
woman found drowned later were
thought to have been her parents, but
she had never known. A fisherman find
Ing the child carried her to his wife
who had befrlended her, until as the
girl grew and the wife became an in
valid the charge was transferred.
They called her Dawn" the girl
told him blushingiy. because II had
been at dawn that the fisherman found
her.
And as days passed and Dawn came
to pose for the artist he learned more
and more Of the hard incongruity Of a
young life which longed for great
things and must be satisfied with com
mon duties. Dawns heart was full
OF music and her mind yearned for
knowledge.
When upon his return later from the
city Barris learned from his old house
keeper that Dawn's invalid charge had
died he sent at once for the girl and
babe her make her home In. his house
on the shore, arranging passage for
her to and from school in the adjoln.
Ing village and finding her music
teacher there. Then In the absorbing
occupation Of his city studio the artist
forgot about the little girl, who never
ceased to think Of him with Feyerent
alteration.
Barris, long absent from the house
by the sea, sought II out again after
one Of his trips abroad and learned
from the old housekeeper that his
protege had secured Il position as
teacher In nearby village and left
word that he would hear from her later,
The artist smiled and frowned "She
should have allowed me to complete
her education he said. Then bis
pleased eyes fell upon the inviting fur
nishing Of his beloved old room.
"You keep the place up we'll" he
commended his housckeeper.
sThat's Dawn the woman replied
"she comes out here and sees that
things is all new an convenient. We
must keep II home-for him, she
says"
After that came TO the artist regu
larly small checks in the name Of the
village bank, with notes In glrllsi
hand.
"Of course | can never repay whai
you have done for me-" wrote Dawn
this is just to assure myself that
would II could.'
And at length, wearied by labor am
surfeited with fattering attentions,
came to Barris a longing wish for th'
restful house by the shore. And wher
he reached 1t at shutdown, sailing agaiI
across the golden water toward him