The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1922-04-20

returned and the prowler usually came
as soon as her lamps were lighted
Both Jane and John Dawson were
III at ense as the meal began, but be-
fore Jane had poured her guests sec
ond cup Of tea and had persuaded him
to take second helping OF the light
omelet she had made for their repast
all their embarrassment seemed to have
vanished as II by magic. 1T is funny"
Jane was thinking when one hasn't
seen or talked TO young man for
months how easy conversation seems
10 come. And John was thinking,
II thought I'd feel embarrassed and
shy when first had chance TO look
into the eyes and hear the voice of 4
young and pretty woman again-but
was never less shy In my life"
Meantime they forgot the object Of
Johns visit. II was n6 until John
said something about going home like
a sure enough caller that Jane thought
Of 1t. 81 forgot all about the prowler,"
she laughed. "He might have come
and gone while we were talking"
John laughed heartily and suggested
that they try the experiment again
the next evening, only "of course not
for supper" And Jane said tea would
have to be included as II was tea time
that the prowler always came.
SO II was agreed and after John
had gone down the road Jane re-
preached herself that, while she had
told John Dawson all about her own
work and her own anxleties. she had
not succeeded in getting him to tell
how It was that he was living out
here on the lnhospltable rocky soil OF
Berwick township.
Next night they listened attentively
for the prowler, but no sounds were
heard. After a half hour of vigilance.
Jane took up the subject in mind
The explanation was simple enough.
After two years In France. Dawson ex-
planned simply, he had come bacl; to
this country, and then at the end OF
few months effort to get his grip back
on the affairs of the business concern
that had left a place open for him
there came the collapse that made him
and his doctor realize that his war
time experience demanded a complete
change and rest. 1t fitted In with his
mood to go as far away from human
kind as he conveniently could without
taking a long and fatiguing journey.
Hence his retirement to a cabin in
Berwick township.
When he had explained all this to
Jane he rose to go.
"But we haven't heard the prowler.
He must have seen you come and been
frightened away"
John Dawson laughed. "The prowler
couldn't come when am here because,
Jane Burchard, l was that prowler. l
didn't dream that you heard me or that
I annoyed you. But as | was getting
my grip back on things / grew infer
nally lonely-I wanted TO see and talk
TO n woman. SO used to come around
here and watch you when you lighted
the lamps | knew you'd forgive me II
you knew how II helped just to get a
glimpse of human being when
wasn't quite sure l had my nerve
back again."
If Jane had shown resentment and a
lack of understanding, that might
have been the end of 1t all. But in
stead she put hand out TO John that
showed an Infnlty of comprehension.
John Dawson took the hand In his
and looked deep into James frank eyes.
"I can't keen IL from, Won. any longer
Jane" he said. "Tm ready to go back
and buck up against the world again
and want to take you with me-"
And when Jane came back to town
at the end of the school term one OF
her old friends commented that she
must have exaggerated things little.
"She said there weren't any men In
Berwick. but she managed to find
one"