Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1920-08-21
DAWNIE
BY MARY HELFANT.

body leisurely. He turned over on the
other side, his sleepy eyes falling on
the clock.
Good night" he gasped in dismay.
Fully awake now he jumped out of
| bed. and pulled back the blinds. lie
| Eroaned aloud as the room was flood
ed with the mild sunshine of an early
spring forenoon.
Young Jim's thoughts were bitter as
he hastily splashed in the cold tub.
| AS he dressed his thoughts grew more
bitter.
"a fine excuse l have to offer
Dawnie for not turning up. Poor kid,
| how disappointed she must have been
| After all her planning. TOO. She may
break of for this" The last thought
| proved too much for poor Jims peace
of mind, and gulping his black coffee
without tasting IT he dashed off to-
wards Dawn's home.
On the way he tried to think of some
excuse less humliating than the
| truth.
Young Jim was engaged TO little
| Dawn Cricklin, u lovely blonde young
| person to whom life was one sweet
romance. She was not a giddy. voting
| butterfly for She could cook and sew
ana keep house very nicely, Her old
| fashioned mother had seen 10 that.
| Dawn'S small head under the crinkly,
| baby-gold curIs held clever little
| brain. But Dawnie had TO have ro-
/ nance When life offered none she
| would create it, She had known and
| loved Jim always. as she would naively
/ tell YOU But she would have pre-
! ferred her parents to disapproye of the
! clever young architect, for then their
| courtship would have had many thrills.
| It would have been 50 jolly 10 have
| had r. meet Jim on the sly But alas
! Jim was as welcome in the Cricklin
home as Dawn herself.
| SO Dawn made M all manner Of
/ stunts for Jim to go through with. Jim
/ agreed to "clandestine' meetings and
hurried partings with tolerant good-na-
/ ure..
at amuscs Dawnie and it does no
! harm" he would say.
Jim had baked at Dawnie's last
| scheme. though in the end he gave In
| as usual.
'Lets eloper she had coaxed I'm her
nrettieSt way. weddings are 50 dun
and commonplace, What a lark it
would be-"
."Eut we can have the wedding at
home" Jim protested.
"S0lyN Dawn rohuked kissing him
as only Dawn couia 1--WE want 10
steal off in the dead Of night Just as
If father would really pursue us"
And so Jim. feeling rather foolish
/ gave in They agreed that about two
/ o'clock Sunday morning was the best
! time Jim was TO leave his roadster
block from the Criclilin home and
/ Dawn would wait for him in her room.
/ JIel room was ON The second aoGr over
/ looking the garden. so she could have
an the romance she craved. even to
I the proverhial ladder
And Mt the last moment Jim had
! failed her for the most pr0saic of roa-
| sons. He had worked hard an week
/ on some important plans Saturday
afternoon he took Dawn TO a matinee
/ THAT evening he worked with his part
ner on au important hurry plan. About
! ten he lad gone 70 his ROOM packed
i his suitcase sind lain down 40 rest
! The next thing he remembered was
awakening In broad daylight
Small wonder then that Jims feet
| Jagged as be came within sight of
Dawn's home He had nothing to say
! but the truth. and ne could not say
/ that
With n grim smile he climbed the
steps of the CrlcklinS' front porch.
"NVhat the" he stammered as the
front door flew open and a lovely
vision in pink six and laces threw
/ herself into his arms.
"Oh, jim" the vision cried between
! kisses, you aren't angry with me are
you, dear? I am so sorry I kept Won
waiting in the damp old garden. You
! will forgive me, won't you, dear, when
I explain?"
Eyes, deer, of course" Jim assured
/ her dazeily.
"Oh, I'm so relieved You see. Mt
the last moment thought it would he
more romantic If l pretended we had
heeH discovered. NJ cruel parents
| (lim smiled at this, even in his he
| wildermenD forced me 10 stay pris-
ouer in Aunt James room. / pretend
| ed I had q toothache, so wanted 70
stay with aunte. 1t was great fun,
| but I'm sorrow for you, Jimmy. Say
You don't mind" Dawnie paused 70
catch her breath, her eyes dark with
! pleading
| Young Jim breathed a fervent
prayer Of thanksgiving and aloud said,
with an air Of gracious generosity:
Yes ! forgive YOU. hut you must
| never give me another such seare