The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-02-23

man thought maybe you'd come
down one or two evenings and
when the prowler appears you'd go
out With me ana scare him OF. Pm
Q little afraid to do It alone"
John Dawson, the young man
thus addressed, insisted on coming
that very evening, and then he In
troduced himself. Jane showed her
good faith by asking him TO return
with her then. Il would be nearly
tea time when they returned ano
the prowler usually came as soon
as her lamps were lighted.
Both Jane and John Dawson
were Ill at ease as the meal began,
but before Jane had poured her
! guests second cup Of tea and had
persuaded him to take second
helping OF tho light omelet she had
made for their repast all their en-
barrassment seemed to have van.
ished as II by magic. ut is funny"
Jane was thinking. when one
hasn't seen or talked to young
man for months how easy CONVEX.
sation seems to come" And John
was thinking, Il thought I'd feel
embarrassed and shy when first
had chance to look into tho eyes
and hear the voice OF a young and
pretty woman again-but was new.
or less shy In my life"
/ Meantime they forgot the object
of Johns visit. 1t was not until
John said something abou: going
home like sure enough caller that
Jane thought OF 1t. II forgot oil.
about the prowler." she laughed.
he might have come and gone
while We were talking"
John laughed heartily and sug-
gcsted that they try the expert.
ment again the next evening, only
"Of course not for supper" And
Jane said tea would have to be In.
Guided as 1t was teatlme that the
| prowler always came.
So 1t 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 ankle
Ties, she had not succeeded IN get.
ting him TO tell how 1t was that he
was living 'out here on the inhos.
pltable rocky soil OF Berwick town.
ship.
Next night they listened atten.
! lively for the prowler, but no sounds
were heard. After a half hour of
vigilance, during which they talked
but little, Jane took up the subject
In mind.
! The explanation was simple
enough. After two years in France,
Dawson explained simply, he had
come back 10 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 place open for him there
came the collapse that made him
and his doctor realize that his war.
time experience demanded a com.
plete change and rest. 1t fitted in
with his mood TO go as far away
from humankind as he conveniently
could without taking a long and
fatlguing journey. Hence his re-
tirement to a cabin in Berwick
township.
When he had explained all this 10
Jane he rose to so.
But We haven't heard the prowl.
or. He must have seen you CONF
and been frightened away"
John Dawson laughed. 1.-THE
prowler couldn't come when | am
here because, Jane Burchard, ! was
that prowlcr. / didn't dream tina:
you heard me or that annoyed you.
But us ! was getting my grip on
things / grew Internally lonely
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 IT
YOU knew how 1t helped Just to get
n glimpse of q human being when
| wasn't quite sure had my nerve
back again"
II Jane had shown resentment
and n lack OF understanding, that
might have been tho end OF II all.
But instead she put a hand out to
John that showed an intinity OF
comprehension.
John Dawson took the hand in
his and looked deep into James
frank eyes. II can't keep 1t from
you any longer. Jane" he said. I'm
ready To go back and buck MP
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"
Copyright. 1922, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.)
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