Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1913-08-22
VheDKUGHIERQf
DAVID KERR AZ
BY Harry Nir5 TOOtle |
Illustrations Iy ny MTse' .
,ovyocn py AcnqcLuNc & CO.. IS2

" IhN ~ AtoN kSNN
how much only a dip into the sociai
whirl could reveal, The p~leasuraDie
mart of II all was that Gloria was still
queen by right OF inheritance II the
kingdom was more extensive than she
had thought, the court life would also
be more brilliant.
Gloria had not long to walt for ner
father. An o~ld.fashioned carriage COW
cred with mud and drawn by tat Day
horses drew up before the drug store
Out OF the vehicle a somewhat pom
derous individual pulled himself-a
smooth-shaven man who appeared 70
be something over Atty. with heavy
laws and piercing eyes which ookeo
clear through you from under beetiing
eyebrows. With a cry the girl hung
herself upon him and smothered him
with kisses.
you old dear!" she exclaimed.
you haven't changed a bit. I'm so
glad to be at home with you. Isn't
It Just dandy to be back In Belmont!
The man smiled. Even II he had
not changed, as she had sworn, he
recognized that she had changed. In
the two years since he had seen her,
out of the chrysalis had come the but
terfy; and this radiant girl was his
daughter. For one brief instant ne
unlocked the neglected chamber OF his
heart which wal the prison OF the
past. and thought Of Gloria's mother
Then the present with It's obligations
and It's stern realities recalled him to
the life that vas from the days thai
once had r n
"Welcc..e home, daughter" be said
makirg d peck In the general direc'
ton Of her mouth do duty for al an
swering kiss. With David Kerr kiss
ing had long ago become an obsolete
custom. Then, too, no one had evel
accused him of being unduly demoH
strative.
Seeing the negro driver bowling ant
scraping, Gloria left her father U
speak to him. She might have ftr
gotten Locust Lawn, but she had ne
forgotten Locust Lawns chief fac
totum. Old Tom, who had been II
Kerr's employ for a generation. ha'
been her constant companion whel
she had outgrown the continuous
vigilance Of her nurse.
How d. you do, Tom," she said, e1
tending her hand. Il don't believ
you remember me. Now. do your"
i Bless yo' heart. Miss Glory.
grinned the old negro, I'D s~holy>kno'
you anywhares. An 1t does me
pow'ful sight O. good to see you. Whl
chile, when you went away you WI
les a little gal. An now look at you
you's a regular growed-up woman A
reckins you'll want to git mahrie
soon. Hey?"
= Gloria laughed; that same fresh. II
t fectious laugh Of hers which ha
warned many a wary sutton that I
t had not found the combination to h'
heart and had brought him to th'
l. plane of friendship on which he wi
l. always welcome. AS we'll try to q
l. scribe PATHS singing, In the Ia
when her charm was greatest, rs t
TO describe Gloria's laugh. There
= those persons so presumptuous IN
on hearing 1t would aver she hi
never loved. Whether David Kerr W
one of those his countenance did II
betray. As he waited for her ansW
to the question put her by the
negro, a privileged servitor, his ia
| was as impassive as ever 1t was
l the night of an election,
why, Tom" she explained VIII
she had ceased to laugh at the 70
ishness of the question, 81 love eve
l body, Of course, but nobody In
wide, wide world like that. I'm ne'
going to marry any one; do you thl
so?"
Miss Glory, you neveh do KIN
what do Lordll pervide, Look at
All uOIt cay uhS WV "hSH '
young lax you; but Abs had TO wi
already, an nah time amt come
die yit."
"All right, Tom. | don't know W
the Lord will provide, but I'm not
ing out Of my way to help Pr
dence."
The words Of this colloQuy W
neither more nor less than David X
had anticipated. 1t vas from
spirit rather than from the WORD
as of her reply that the father sough
ces. ascertain the answer. 1t had been
hat one hope that somewhere on
cen travels she would meet a man VOL
The the love of a woman such as she,
sed she would marry him and never
the turn to Belmont. Almost unconsci
With ", with that end vaguely in view
of had been diminishing his activi
ard He had money enough for Gloria''
ture, already she had her W inct
not and his age made ever power
.sm. some. He would move away
red Belmont when Gloria married,
the when she came to visit him It W
,ver be to some charming rural spot II