Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1913-08-22

unused. there would be no such pur-
suits to bring him into the public eye.
That he wished to avoid for Gloria's
sake. And now all his plans seemed
to be coming to naught-Gloria had
come home, free of heart and anxious
to mingle in Belmont society.
The drive to. Locust Lawn was un-
eventful. Gloria watched for land
marks along the way, and commented
on the changes twelve years had made.
Locust Lawn seemed closer to town
than In the old days. Most OF her re-
marks about places they passed were
addressed to Tom, because together,
when she was a child. they had been
over the road many times. David
Kerr. never much of a conversation
alist, was content to listen, hoping
some chance speech might aid In clear
ing I'D the situation. Everything
Gloria said. however. seemed only q
confirmation OF her determination 10
enter at once into Belmont's gayeties.
Oars de first sight o Locust Lawn,
Miss Glory"
They had Just reached the top OF q
hill and Tom pointed with his whip
to a house on the next eminence.
Looking up, Gloria saw, not the estate
of her Imagination, but q square red
brick house looking rather desolate
through the bare branches OF many
trees. Locust Lawn at the end OF
winter was no enchanted fairy bower;
but she was far too clever a girl, and
far too good at heart. to betray any
disappointment. To her the place was
home, and she was anxious to recog-
nize 1t as such.
The interior Of the house was no
more inviting. As soon as possible
Gloria wandered from o to room.
her inspection making her give silent
thanks that she had not asked any OF
her friends to Join her In her descent
on Belmont. The wall paper with big
yellow flowers, the carpets with big
red flowers, the rocking chairs with
the ~crocheted tides, and the marble
topped table In the parlor with the
> inevitable plush album upon 1t. werf
no less distressing than the wax flow
ers under the glass case, the steel en-
craving Of the Scotch Covenanters
: worshiping in a mountain glen, ant
the tin bathtub. She even gave thanks
that she had not brought a maid.
"Mistah K" said a negro nanny
: putting her head in the door Of thu
living room after Kerr and his daugh
. ter had finished going over the house
: Tom wants to knew eff you Is goin
to town dis mawnin'."
4 mo, Lily, I amt going to town tc
- day. Tell Tom to send Yellow Sar
q with the spring wagon for Gloria
trunks.
r. "Dey's ben telephonin' you fror
a town. Dey say it's pow'ful impo'tan
business. Miss Glory, she done vii
!" In to stay wifi me, jes' lax she -ss'
W to. Amt you, honey"
a To this Gloria gave laughing o.
" sent, but her father shook his head.
~ "Tm not going to town today. An
!. tell the telephone operator not to Col
h meet any one with Locust Lawn a
day. I amt going to be disturbe'
D you understand"
n. Aunt Lily, who probably was give
Id that name by some a%nte-bellum JOKE
no because OF her ebon hue, nodded m
acknowledgment Of the order and wit
at drew.
as The reasons David Kerr had for n
Ia. wishing to get into communicate
va with any one In Belmont were sewers
nv but the most potent was his desire
he be uninterrupted while engaged
lat studying his daughter and evolvil
ad some plan whereby she could be TAX
as from Belmont before her slighte
lot suspicion had been aroused.
,er One episode In their tour of t
old house had given him much comic
zee Gloria had paused in the old-fashion
ON parlor and gazed long at his life-siz
portrait, done In oils, over the mari
len mantSl. Then she had looked abe
Oh the rOOGl anu HoI AhuihS "ho1 q
,ry- sought, HAD asked:
the where is Gne of my mother?'
YER There Is none,' he confessed, q
ink added quickly, but I'm going to ha
one painted for you. That was CIV
low me recently by the First Ward clu
me. whats the First Ward club?"
"A political organization
yes Politics! Do you know anyth
to about politics?"
David Kerr almost smiled.
hat II don't know whether the pr
TO- dent Is a Democrat or a Republics
owl she added.
Don't bother about It."
we're "Oh, I'm not going to. don't W
Serr to be a suffragette and march II
the parade and be put In jail on br
ding and water. | don't ven read ab
It to It,"
his Her absolute ignorance OF pom
her nothing remarkable In a girl OF
rthy years and training, was no small g
that of comfort to her father.
/, re- II was not until after luncheon
ious. Gloria disclosed the subject nea
,. he Asy heart. Her father, like a '
tiles. general, permitted her to open
q fu- engagement. He had never bee
ONE, man to exert more strength tnan
,rk. necessary for the discontinue Of
from enemy. He wanted all her bate