I Dail Daily Short Fiction ion Story THE FIRST THAW By JOANNA SINGLE Cop Copyright 1714 1114 by the tho McClure Newspaper Newspaper News News- paper Syndicate It was lato late In January ono one of or those first days das of ot tha thaw than when the sun Is hot hoi for 3 a few days and the world orld seems cems to melt molt beneath It After that things freeze again asnin but real is Is' Is lanot not far aW away t On such a n. day Doris Dons Carson waked up It was a simple but strange little Ule circumstance circum stance stanco that waked her Hie hc e overheard what was not Intended for Cor her Her own mother was talking to her father and Doris on the tho sofa after her hard days day's work cau caught ht e cI every word when they thought her saCcI safely upstairs Doris Is s nearly 30 said paid Id her father If It she's over o going to marry she Rhe ought o to marl marry now If Ie J Jerry rr Tier Pier wants her hod hed better marry her ller Hes He's kept other men off orr for for- five years ears now Ive I've a notion to refuse him the he house John Carson growled and rattled his paper Hes He's never really made love to her I 1 Iguess Iguess guess Eald uld the mother I don't dont know wh why but you 1 0 cant can't question She keeps to herself And hes he's an old friend perhaps hes he's never meant any n more moie than friendship Anh Anyhow w I wisht shed she'd wake up She's always s pretty and sweet That Peter Jeffries would give his C- C ears rs to get got her but 1 dont don't want her herto to tobo bo be a n second cond wife with wife with t two vo o children to begin on But I do wish shed she'd see seo that Jen Jerry is taking all her time Ume and giving her nothing lies lie's always alwa's around here here- I sho should ld think shed she'd begin to see sou that she's under his thumb bound and hes he's free It tree It amounts to that Ill I'll bring brim him to his senses of If this goes gOCR on much much- longer said t tho ho father rising Come Conte lets let's get to tobed bed The anxious pair pall turned out the lights and Wont went upstairs but Doris her heart nt In her Mr mouth Sa lay silent spent glad Iad th they y did not nol discover her Sto u-that's u that's what hat probably probably probably proba proba- bly the whole world thought because Jerry did not ask uk her to marry marr him Sho She had been beon very very unhappy about this not knowing whether ho loved her or was Wag simply a most mORt devoted de friend Her Tier parents parents' tall stunt stuns and hurt both her heart henrt and and pride Was Wa ah sh letting her fondness for fOl Jerry Pier destroy all womanly dignity In n herself Then and there thero she resolved to tako take action action ao an her mothers mother's hint about Peter Jeffries s. s She liked tho the blurt bluff hearty heart young oung wid wid- ower Several times ho he had called on her hut but Jerry had always been on the spot and out outstayed him She stole noiselessly to bed but not to sleep It was dawn before she nho lost consciousness s. s but hut she had H decided upon a n course cO of ot action action- Jerry should not think that sho she was wax waxIn waxIn waxIn In his hands The next morning Doris arranged her pretty hair In a new now and less prim fashion fash fash- fashion ion touch touched Id I'd up her dark blue office dress o wi with th a fetching crimson tie and wore her herbest herbest best cloak k and hat She bought ht a bunch of or violets for her lapel and hummed a a song pong as she sho walked Instead of ot rl riding and the fresh wind whipped a glow glop Into her hor smooth dark dar cheeks Sometimes sho met Jerry Jern and ho he turned and walked back hack with Ith her a a. few blocks But this time something now new happened Sho She had hadnot hadnot hadnot not gone one halfway to the office before Peter J Jeffries c came came gayly aJ alon along behind her overtaking o her Well MI Miss II Doris DorIs' Carson Carlon you YO look good to me mo this fine tine morning I May Ilay I walk with you For Im I'm going to to anyhow any any- how only onh Ill I'll have e to mind my feet for Cor formy formy my be bo twisted with looking at you ou ouI I wonder If It you OU know how pretty prett you ou arn are Doris Dorl laughed at al him but It pleased her hor She Sho coquetted with will him delicately and antI It had been beon long since sue soe nad cad played with an any man but Torr Jerry Now Jeffries marked her Rowers flowers Violets ho he said W Nell IJ if it Pier can cnn give Ive you violets violets I can add a pink rose roe Lets Let's stop hero The They stopped a at t a florists florist's flor flor- Ista and Just as the they came out acro across s the street treet Doris Dorl saw Jer Jerry himself lie He lifted his hat and aud she bowed and walked on with the thc theother other man Something made mado Jeffries know kno that his chance had come Wont ont you J go with m mo c to p sec pec Springtide Spring Spring- tl tide e at the Met let tonight Its It's a R pretty play lay Im I'm told and Id I'd enjoy nJ It with it-with with you Teasel Please his hla laughing ping vole olce a coaxer coaxed h her r. r I should like Uk It sh she ISh said Ill be berca rca ready Heros Hero's my office Well goodbye be till this evening In a mom moment nt he was vas gone Doris Dorl In spite o of n a sleepless night had hada a a good goal da day Pe Perhaps it was teas pride or common sense enle e or pique but mentally she sho seemed to f pet ct awa away from T Terry Jerry rry pier At Al A 1 the noon hour she went to a good goat shop and spent so lO near nar a R hundred dollars that she decided not to add up and url and find out exactly how much had har gone one for guy gay U raiment f that site she dl did l not really need need need-A. a pretty prett dress a pretty prett cIa cloak k and antl a R ha hat t tand and gloves fIO and all In shades o of brown and yellow to out tho the browns of tier her hair hall and eyes and nd the tho clear pallor o of h her hN T skin Jerry Pier always s 's came to In Carsons' Carsons when hen he lie liked without warning IIo no had done so o for years and always nl he Ie found Doris walling waiting Ho He was quiet arid and a little v fo and lived with a few othor other m men n in a n sort fort o of half club half haU hoarding boarding house fashion Continued on U nano 9 9 DAILY SHORT STORY Continued on page pace 4 that tha fo fostered the ln male le brutes brute's natural selfishness cl Eo o It hM happened tonight that t he came cameto to Carsons Just jUt as S Dorl looking like a pretty dark doll dolt down clown the stairs les had not arrived I yet Where In the thic world InTO are you going froin In all nil that glory Doris Dons he he asked hIs hla eyes wide To tin tho tIlea theatre with Pc Peter Pc er Jeffries che hie answered ga gaI Iy pulling on her gloves gloveR How do yet yo 1 0 like m my fine feathers Do they make a pretty fine tine There waft VOLO something maddeningly saucy mucy about he her hiet I. I The Th bird hIre was fine without the feath- feath era But BUl they're all right too But But But- what makes you go out with wIth that that man man Ills hut face darkened a little Because 0 I like him hum she replied He Ho amuses me mc And I r dont don't 7 J Jerry scowl deepened Arc Aro you trying to make mo Jealous Doris Doria 2 3 The girl lo looked ke l at him and Our r fr t sobered You always amuse amulio me Jerry There Thoro Is no r reason for Cor friends to he Jealous Mr Jeffries has lias no rl right ht to bo bl jealous whon when I go out with you and you and lie he ha has lias better sense There I There I heal him lihn She glanced toward the hall halt Doris DoriN said hald Jerry hastily wilt will you ou bo he at home tomorrow night She looked hooked ed at him Yes Ye sio sie an in answered n. n s hut I shall halt want to go I to bed early Its It's m my hard da day at the llie office tomorrow and I shall h be out late to to to- night Jeffries entered well dressed confident ronn- ronn dent Tho The two men nien spoke I pleasantly exchanged a row few remarks and Doris anti and Jeffries fald said good night and l left ft Jerry Pier with tho the Carson CaNlon parents Mrs Carson Cateon Carson Car Car- son eon was WM quiet and kindly find and Mr fr r Carson Carson Car Car- son soil his hla bluff blutt self Doris had hald Fald nothIng noth noth- ing Ins to them but thc they secretly SE applauded her action and both talked but kept away from tho the subject of or daughter Jerry lingered a while and then went home with a serious fac face It was nearl nearly two to weeks before he saw Doris again really to tl talk lk with her She Bho wont out with Jeffries or oi with sonic somo woman friend or went to heel bed larl early caily lie He could not believe beHove his hi own senses Wh When Whon n ho lie did ld see pe lt her r there came camp a H r reckoning but Doris Dorl had id rhIn pd She l was frank when he lie questioned hc lie lions Doris vou ou knew I 1 loved ou You luu never hover paid Eald o so 0 she f submitted calmly seeming A thousand miles mUe aWl i Jerry came camo to her and reached reachel for her hand but hut a look hook from om her made him him withdraw w I ills I own o Listen ten r Ive been buying and anil CI ill up lip that Townsend To hOIl house c. c Its It's as nR good gooda a place a Hi as tere Is 15 In lonn and ex ea- ea pensive f I wanted to offer you OU er e everything everything every every- thing I could when I offered UtH Al' Al Are you trying to thrIve E mr Inc mad h arc you 10 treating nu- nu like e this i. i Im I'm not nut Ir treating you O l an any wa way YouIe a hl big mistake c Im I'm not trying to io mako malo you jealous 01 em to l Md you ou on The plain truth Is that I Woke oko up lip to the fact that thal I was war doing doln m myself elf an Injustice 1 0 devoted de nl myself el to you so 50 entirely that lint Ive I've lost good rood friends and Joo good times times all all but hut those you jou 11 0 me mae O we vet We-C more than friends you jou ou and I and le less p t than ha n lovers lover Ivo I been about with Peter Jeffries bC because became I like hike him to to be he I am ama trying tm to fall all In Inlove Inlove love lo with him lie He Is 18 worth It it but but but- Doris Doris' oye oe Ye brightened find widened and andhor her hor check cheek unshod flushed And you yOU don't dont love Jove n mo 01 as I love lore you ou p persisted rI Jerry Jorry I tell thi you right hero that tha l n l' been Mind blInd a and j nl mid and n a fool boLl T have known tIm that t 1 J should have told you that I s I 81 slakIng my whole happl happiness ss o on you OU Dorile Dor- Dor lie ile Theres There's no girl In the world of women for tor mo except you 1011 oti Is It your and amid kind ess s of heart grown rown cold c to me me Doris Dorl lie JIo stopped slopped suddenly sud- sud u ud- ud denly at it a little gesture Irma from rom nor hI norI her I l I do love 10 she slowly Io I 1 dont don't even n mind minI telling you lIU T hut But ut somehow w I J feel le toward you Its iCe a it little hardness 4 in I me a tl a place that's frozen over O ns ne Von ou Ol Olta ay say ta I I Jerry I 1 dont don't want to love Jove you you- your you h r loris Dorl did did not nol finish h rh rime min mall tool stool looking hooking at nt her a moment 3 as sh slat 11 r made inide a il motion for fOI him him to como conic ol Thou suddenly ho lie sprang toward towar 1 her aral ami nd put Pill both hoth n arms armm her She ft st t niggled Id I'd II haul nl hut but he drew her close cinc anti ami spoke C. C his hili voice olce 1 louse f nse lIse viti vit feeling I lo love vou yoi Doris A AntI And Andou nl ou you love lovo ino me you you o Oll e said aId so 50 so I was wa a stupid l fool fool to to wait lt before telling veil vou It sp fo in I sweet Just to be J SUr sure suro of eith ch other without either cither of oC ti us ia so en n. n but bill thu thus this is s I might ha have hap p known that t no woman could thrive on silence C. C But you ou ouarA are arc mine now Ill I'll make up Co for m my si sl sI- i hence lence I hove lovo you 1 I want ant you OU to many marty I m In In now Per Perhaps apI I you'd this the fun of oC helping fix up lIP the place I nave no thought of that Doris Durl If tf theres there's a frozen place In Ii your our Ill I'll thaw It It vu 10 u ti Ical Doris mopped tH pulling a a asay wa And In lii a moment sli II hie turned and antI leaned lie her tacO lacO lI h t hInt him she hi he be begun be- be gun to ru cr cry t Jerry Pier consoled her and amid new that thai all allas was as well She denied him I nothing but he lie han learned d hid 1115 le lesson son