The Ordway new era., 1913-12-26
rescue. "You forget ht doesn't go out
n much no uhar ho uas unnnuo, ~.


as much as when he was younger.
Exactly. l don't git out like did
when was younger" Kerr repeated.
Il think every one will have to like
me very much" Gloria complained
with whimsical air OF doubt. ito
come way QUITO Locust Lawn to see
me-" She knew well that they would
come. but town apartment. some
thing modern. loomed large in her
mind. These remarks were only the
pioneer work preliminary to siege,
I'm afraid Belmont will seem mean
compared to the places you have
lived" suggested Mrs. Gilbert In the
short time she had been with Gloris
she had. seen enough to make her GER
tain that there were breakers ahead.
Not at ALL" answered the girl.
Judge Gilbert was talking earnestly
with her father. and this gave her
chance to confess privately to Mrs.
Gilbert.
ut seems good to me because 1t is
home, and l can do as please with,
out comment l mean to live my life
to the full. Just as do other girls
whom visit. Except when I've been.
with them. it's been chaperon and
school. school and chaperon for so
long that I'm honestly glad to get into
| house where no one rushes in every
few minutes to see II I'm reading a
French novel or writing love letters
to the chauffeur" ta.
Mrs. Gilbert laughed heartily at the
martyrdom Gloria had suffered, and
promised that such would not be her
lot In Belmont. When Mr.. Kerr Joined
them she went to summon her other
| guests. :,
Judge Gilbert has been telling me.
Gloria" Kerr began, that things was
quiet here just at this season. Now
California"
Telling you'll" repeated Gloria. Why
| did her father need to have any one
tell him anything about Belmont?
Then wasn't she excuse enough for
all the gayety possible?
"Ain't got nothin' against California,
have your" Kerr asked. ignoring her
exclamation.
II don't know" She turned away
from him, conscience-stricken at her
tone of indecision. "I wanted to come
home. yet"
Don't you like Locust Lawn. girl?"
"Yes, yes," she answered quickly.
"But-everything is 30 different from
what imagined 1t would be. Give
me little time to think about the
California trip"
At that moment Mrs. Gilbert re-
turned with the guests who for some
little time had been entertaining
themselves in the drawing-room.
Mrs. Hayes and her husband were
first introduced to Gloria While they
exchanged q few pleasantries, Wright.
in charge of Judge Gilbert. was meet
ing David Kerr. 1t was not until Mrs.
Gilbert Called him to her to present
him to Miss Kerr that the editor Of
the Belmont News and the daughter
of David Kerr came face to face.
To the surprise Of the others pres
ent Gloria gave little scream OF de-
light and came forward with both
hands outstretched to greet the young
man. He no less gave evidence of his
pleasure at the meeting. His face
lighted up with smile and the way
he grasped both her hands betokened
his happiness at seeing her again. II
the others could not share their graft
fication. they could at least share
their surprise.
Joe Wright. of all persons!" ex-
claimed Gloria, shaking his hands
heartily. her face radiant with smiles.
Miss Kerr! You here!" 1t was
all he could say, but he put into it a
wealth of feeling which made it i'm
possible to mistake his meaning. He
na,yfH
| one but this girl whom now he met
again after 80 long time.
You're the last person I'd expect
to find in Belmont" !sl ~
But you're not the last person I'd
hope to find here" he replied.
Whereupon they both laughed and
shook hands again.
Mrs. Gilbert was the first of the
others to recover the power OF
speech. You know each other."
Indeed we do" replied Gloria 1--WE
travelled abroad for time In the same
party. How do you happen to be
here %. asked Wright. Tell me all
about it."
There isn't much to tell. live
here now
How funny"
I'm not apologizing for it." he
laughed.
Il don't mean 1t that way. Belmont
is my home, too. I was born here"
Here! In Belmont" He made no
effort to conceal his surprise.
Yes" she said proudly; Il am the
daughter of David Kerr"
Had she struck him a blow full in
the face she could not more have stag
gered him. In the Joy OF meeting her,
Wright had forgotten everything but
the pleasure. of seeing her again and
the memories her presence contured
up of what he called their mad old,
glad old Paris days when, they had