Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1913-09-18
The IkUGEll.<[ERof
DAVID KERR a&s
BY Harry Ki1s5 1ootle
Illustrations by ~ UAT=@s %

what I'd missed. 1 didn't want her
to know
He lapsed into silence. which ne
finally broke himself with the explain
atory remark:
Gloria thinks I'm the social leader
OF Belmont; that the whole town
hangs breathless on what I say shall
be the fashion at pink teas
Hasn't she often wanted to come
back"
Kerr WAS not 10 be hurried. lie
began to pace up and down in front
OF the fireplace When he paused,
the lawyer, to secure continuation
of the story. said:
'Well?"
This morning she came home"
Now Judge Gilbert understood; yet
he could scarcely believe it possible.
What, Gloria here!"
Yes. here. echoed Kerr. Come
home. that's what she calls it. She
been visiting school friends since she
came back from Japan, and had just
started TO California when the party
fell through when they'd got to St.
Louis So she jumped on the train
and came to belmont unannounced-
to surprise me"
So here was Gloria in Belmont. 1t
was more than embarrassing Gilbert
recognized that it was tragic Kerr
never mentioned his daughter. and
Belmont had almost forgotten her
existence Much that the boss had
told the lawyer was news 80 him.
Gloria Kerr the little girl. had been
allowed to slip out OF his mind and
he had come 10 regard the political
leader. just as every one else did as
a thing apart. as a power almost as
impersonal as the force of gravity or
the freezing OF water. The easy boss
was regarded as just as much a Bel
mont fixture as WAS the river which
flowed past the town, and those good
people who laid aside the Tose-col-
ored spectacles OF Belmont's laissez
faire doctrine felt that it would be
Just as easy TO remove one as the
other
The lawyer III Gilbert now rose to
the surface and he began to question
girl was here The only thing now
TO discuss was what to do with her.
she can't help but learn the truth. "
Gilbert exclaimed at last
lie sank back in his chair. over
come By the weight Of the problem.
On the wall. where he could see it.
hung the picture OF his own daughter
Julia, now away at school. and the
bitterness OF the whole thing was
brought home to him all the more
pOignantly because he, too, was d
father
The hopelessness of Gilberts tone
when he declared Gloria would learn
| the truth if she remained reused Kerr
to his old self When he had entered
the room he seemed crushed beyond
recovery. Now he suddenly developed
all the spirit. all the calm resourcefui
ness. which he had ever displayed
when listening to the report of sons
! political revolt which would call forth
| hitherto latent strength
with all his old dominance. Listen
/ to me-. Amos G:lbert--that girl must
/ be recognized. | know what people
/ say OF me. and I've abided by the yer
, dict | amt been no hypdcrite. I've
| played a mans game, and I've deal,
| with men. amt asked nothin' OF
your women folk but now | do. In
bringing Belmont girl any of you
could be proud OF. She's got to be
took mp by the right people-I've kept
her away all these years. and she
don't lno@ my story, and I don't in
tend she shall She's the equal OF any
girl in Belmont. and. by God, shell
have an equal chance"
| What can do" asked Gilbert
| 1t WAS Tor this Kerr had waited
/ fl was for this moment that he haG