The Elk Mountain pilot., 1920-10-14
DAWNIE
BY MARY HELFAnr.

Young Jim Standing opened his eyes.
yawned and stretched his long, healthy
body leisurely. He turned over on the
other side. his sleepy eyes falling on
the clock.
Good night !''she gasped In dismay.
Fully awake now he jumped out of
bed, and pulled back the blinds He
groaned aloud as the room was flood
ed with the mild sunshine of an early
spring forenoon.
Young inns thoughts We're bitter Us
be hastily splashed in the cold tub.
As he dressed his thoughts grew more
bitter.
"a fine excuse 1 have to offer
Dawnie for not turning up. Poor kid,
now disappointed she must have been
After all her planning. too. She may
break of for this" The last thought
proved too much for poor Jim's peace
of mind, and gulping his black coffee
without tasting 1t 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, lovely blonde young
person to whom life was one sweet
romance. She was not a giddy. young
butterfly for she could cook and sew
and keep house very nicely. Her old
fashioned mother had seen to that.
Dawn's small head under the crinkly,
baby gold curls held a clever little
brains But Dawnie had to have ro-
nance When life offered none she
would create 1t. She had known and
loved Jim always, as she would naively
tell you. But she would have pre-
ferred her parents to disappr0ve of the
clever young architect, for then their
|, ,courtship would have had many thrills.
1t would have been so jolly to have
had to meet Jim on the sly! But alasl
Jim was as 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.
at amuses Dawnie and 1t does no
HARM" he would say.
Jim had baked at. Dawnie's last
scheme. though in the end he gave in
as usual.
Lets elope." she had coaxed in her
prettiest way. weddings are so dull
and commonplace. What a lark it
would bel"
But we can have the wedding at
home" Jim protested.
"Sillyw Dawn rebuked kissing him
as only Dawn could. 1--WE want to
t,. 81. 81 nj. t,,et
If father would really pursue u.s."
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 a
block from the Cricklin 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
all the romance she craved, even to
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
on some important plans. Saturday
afternoon he took Dawn to matinee.
That evening he worked with his part
ner on an important hurry plan. About
his suitcase and lain down to rest.
The next thing he remembered was
awakening in broad daylight
Small wonder then that Jim's feet
Jagged as he came within sight of
Dawn's home. He had nothing to say
but the truth. and he could not say
that.S
With a grim smile he climbed the
steps Of the Cricklins' front porch.
"What the" he stammered as the
front door flew 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 with me, are
you. dear7 am so sorry kept you
waiting in the damp old garden. You
will forgive me. won't you, dear, when
l explafn?-
"Yes. dear. Of course" Jim assured
her dazedly.
'Oh, I'm so relieved. You see. at
the last moment thought 1t would be
more romantic IL / pretended we had
been discovered. My cruel parents
(Iim smiled at this, even in his be-
wilderment) forced me to stay a pris-
oner in Aunt James room. I pretend
ed had a toothache. so wanted to
stay with auntie. 1t was great fun.
but I'm sorrow for you. Jimmy. Say
you don't mind" Dawnie paused to
catch her breath. her eyes dark with
pleading.
Young Jim breathed fervent
prayer of thanksgiving and aloud said,
with nm air of gracious generosity:
"Yes, forgive you, but you must
never give me another such scare"