River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-09-11

/
out of the chrysalis had come the but
terf1y; and this radiant girl was his
daughter. For one brief instant he
unlocked the neglected chamber of his
heart which was the prison of the
past, and thought of Gloria's mother.
Then the present with it's obligations
and its stern realities recalled him to
the life that was from the days that
once had been.
Welcome home, daughter" he said,
making a peck in the general direc-
ton Of her mouth do duty for an an
swering kiss. With David Kerr F'ss-
ing had long ago become an obsolete
custom. Then, too, no one had ever
accused him of being unduIy demon
strative.
Seeing the negro driver bowling and
scraping. Gloria left her father to
speak to him. She might have for
forgotten Locust Lawns chief fac
totum. Old Tom, who had been In
Kerr's employ for a generation, had
been her constant companion when
she had outgrown the continuous
vigilance of her nurse.
How d you do, Tom," she said, ex-
tending her hand. Il don't believe
you remember me. Now, do your"
Bless yo' heart, Miss Glory,
grinned the old negro, "I'd sho'ly know
you anywhares. An it does me a
pow'ful sight O. good to see you. Why,
chile, when you went away you wuz
jes' little gal An now look at you;
you's a reg'lar growed-up woman. All
reckins you'll want to git manfred
soon. Hey?"
Gloria laughed; that same fresh, in
fictitious laugh of hers which had
warned many a wary sutton that he
had not found the combination to her
heart and had brought him to that
plane of friendship on which he was
always welcome. AS well try to de-
scribe PATHS singing, in the days
when her charm was greatest, as try
to describe Gloria's laugh. There be
those persons so presumptuous that
on hearing it would aver she had
never loved. Whether David Kerr was
one of those his countenance did not
betray. AS he waited for her answer
to the question put her by the old
negro, a privileged servitor, his face
was as impressive as ever 1t was on
the night of an election.
why, Tom" she explained when
she had ceased to laugh at the fool
ishness of the question, 81 love every
body, of course, but nobody in the
MID "a Vuid hot
going to marry any one; do you think
sol"
Miss Glory, you neveh do know
what de Lord'll pervide. Look at me.
All done say dat, too, when l wuz
young lax you; but Abs had TO- wives
already. an nah time amt come to
die yit."
"All right, Tom. don't know wha$
the Lord will provide, but I'm not go
ing out Of my way to help Provi-
dence."
The words of this colloquy were
neither more nor less than David Kerr
had anticipated. 1t was from the
spirit rather than from the wording
of her reply that the father sought to
ascertain the answer. 1t had been his
one hope that somewhere on her
travels she would meet a man worthy
| the love of a woman such as she. that
she would marry him and never re-
turn to Belmont. Almost unconscious
ly, with that end vaguely in view, he
had been diminishing his activities.
He had money enough for Gloria's fu-
ture, already she had her own income.
and his age made even power irk-
some. He would move away from
Belmont when Gloria married, and
when she came to visit him it would
be to some charming rural spot in the
east she loved so well. Other men
of his type had retired, why not he?
One had even raised a horse which
had won the greatest classic of the
English turf. But for him, he had
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 I'M
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 conversation
alist, was content to listen, hoping
some chance speech might aid in clear
/ ing up the situation. Everything
Gloria said, however, seemed only a
confirmation of her determination to
enter at once into Belmont's gayeties.
Oars de first sight O. Locust Lawn,
Miss Glory"
They had just reached the top of
hill and Tom pointed with his whip
to house on the next eminence.
Looking up, Gloria saw, not the estate
OF her imagination, but 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 it as such.
The interior of the house was no
! more inviting. AS soon as possible
| Gloria wandered from room to room,