The Lamar register., 1920-10-06
DAWNIE
sy MARY HELFANT.

oihei siue. HE- sleepy eyes ihiluk w
the clock.
Good night 90 he Easped in dismay.
Fully awake now he jumped out Of
bed and pulled back the blinds. He
groaned aloud as the room was Hood
ed with the mild sunshine OF an early
spring forenoon.
Young Jim's thoughts were bitter a.
he hastily splashed In the cold rub.
AS he dressed his thoughts grew mers
bitter
"A fine excuse have to Offer
Dawnie for not turning up. Poor kid,
how disappointed she must have been
After all her planning. too. She may
break on for this" The last thought
proved too much for poor Jim's peace
of mind, and gulping his black coffee
without tasting II he dashed of to
wards Dawn's home.
on the way he tried TO think of some
excuse less humiliating than the
truth.
Young Jim was engaged TO little
Dawn CricklIn Il lovely blonde young
person TO whom life was one sweet
romance. She was not giddy. young
butterfly for she could cook and sew
s,nd keep house very nicely. Her old
fashioned mother had seen to that.
Dawn's small head under the cr1nkly.
baby-god curls held clever little
brain. But Dawnie had to have ro-
nance. When life offered none shs
would create 1t. She had known and
loved Jim always, as she would naively
tell you. But she would have pre-
n. 80 h..
clever young architect. for then their
eourtship would have had many thrillA
II would have been so jolly to have
had 10 meet Jim on the sly But alas
Jim was ms welcome In the Cricklin
home as Dawn herself.
So Dawn made up all manner Of
stunts for Jim TO go through with. Jim
agreed to "clandestine" meetings and
hurried partings with tolerant good-na,
ture.
1T amuses Dswnie and II does no
harm" he would say
Jim had balked at Dawnie's last
scheme. though IN the end he gave in
as usual.
'Let's elope :" she had coa1ed In her
prettiest way. Weddings are SO DUN
and commonplace. What a lark II
would ber
PUT we can have the wedding at
home" Jim protested.
"Snlyr Dawn rebuked. kissing him
as only Dawn could. 1--WE want to
steal OF In the dead Of night Just as
II fsther would really pursue u.s.
And 50 Jim. feeling rather foolish.
gave In. They agreed that about two
o'clock Sunday morning was the best
time. lin WAS TO leave his roadster a
block from the Cricklln home. and
Dawn would wait for him In her room.
Her room was on the second floor over
looking the garden. so she could have
ali the romance she crsved. even 10
the proverbial ladder
And AT the last moment Jim had
failed her for the most prosaic OF rea-
sons He had worked hard all week
an some Important plans. Saturday
AFTERNOON he took Dawn TO matinee.
That evening he worked with his part
ner OH on Important hurry plnn. About
ten he had gone to his room. packed
his suitcase and lain down TO rest.
The next thing he remembered was
awakening In broad daylight.
Small wonder then that inns feet
Jagged as lie came within sight of
Dnwn's home He had nothing to say
but the truth. and he could not say
that.
With grim smile he climbed the
steps OF the Crickiins' front porch.
'Ivhai the" he stammered as the
front door few open and a lovely
vision IN pink silk and laces threw
herself into his arms.
"Oh. jim" the vision cried between
kisses, you aren't angry " lth me. arr
you, dear7 ! am so sorry I kept you
waiting In the damp old garden. You
win forgive me. won't you. dear. when
] eXplainf"
Yes dear. Of course" Jim assured
her dazedly.
"oh, I'm so relieved. You see, at
the last moment I thought II would he
more romantic II I pretended we Ind
been discovered. Ny cruel parents
tIlm smiled at this, even In his he
wlldermenD forced me to stay pris-
oner In Aunt James room. | pretend.
ed I had toothache. 90 wanted to
stay with auntie. II was great fun,
but I'm sorrow for you. Jimmy. Say
you don't. mind" Dawnie paused 10
catch her breath, her ewes dark with