Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1913-09-05
TheDKUGHTE Of
DAVID KERR AZ
BY Harry KIM 1OOtle |
Illustrations 5y H1Y U1lT=~' %
YRIcr oY A.checLuRC 81 CO.. 1919

book to show a mar the plat OF an
addition and out would drop your
other handkerchief. | guess the mirror
in your room wasn't big enough to
hold a handkerchief on your wash
day" He looked about the library,
absorbing It's quiet elegance. Things
mighty different now. amt they?"
Then | was struggling to get a
start"
1t seemed to be a m%onologue Kerr
was delivering. His questions were
answered, but he made no sign that
he heard. His remarks were delivered
at random, and he eve took his gaze
from the fire, except the n time he
had looked about the room to note
the contrast of the present with the
time when Gilbert had first come to
Belmont.
Bout that time you wanted to git
married to a mighty nice girl"
Yes, that a about the time was
elected prosecuting attorney"
Exactly" then after a pause. land
you got married"
Gilbert could not understand the
drift Of the conversation, but he rec
ognized that Kerr was reviewing the
past step by step.
Then | gave up my desk In your
office, and moved to the courthouse"
But you still came to see me,
Amos"
This was said as quietly as had
been his previous remarks. Taken
by itself 1t was a harmless utterance.
but in conro ion with what had gone
before 1t as of great significance.
Yes, A'3Os Gilbert, the rising young
prosecuting attorney, had gone to see
David Kerr after he had moved his Of
flee to the courthouse. The boss let
that remark sink in well before he
asked.
After that how long was you on
the bench?"
six years"
rs that SO! I hadn't an idee 1t
was that long. What made you give
that up?"
Il had a family on my hands and
needed more money. | didn't run
again, you remember, because | want
ed to be attorney for the new street
railway company"
Korr aaomad IN ha rayoluipo ooma-
thing In his mind, for 1t was some
time before he reminded Gilbert of a
step in his rise which he had not
mentioned.
Il thought you was lawyer for one
Of them crowds that was flghtin' for
a franchise"
We'll, we got the franchise"
That was what Kerr wanted to
bring out.
Exactly. And you're still their law
yer"
YES"
And for the water company"
unused Kerr. And for the 'lectric
light company. And you, still come to
see me, Amos"
why, yes, Mr.. Kerr, I'm not un-
mindful Of"
Kerr seemed to throw off some OF
the gloom in which he had appeared
to be wrapped as he interrupted the
attorney.
This time, Amos, I've come to see
you. It's the first time I've ever been
in this house"
"Well-Mr. Kerr" stammered
Gilbert.
The boss pulled himself together in
his chair, sat up straight and looked
at Gilbert.
But you've got a telephone" Then
he added in a gentler tone: That's
all right, Amos, I've always under
stood 1t seemed to be with an eff
fort that he continued, Pm going tc
tell you some things that you know
and some things that you don't know
and some you've guessed, and some
I've thought nobody'd ever have to
know. Bout the time you come here
| was married, and my wife died or
giving birth to a girl"
Gloria"
Yes, Gloria. | was just gittin' into
politics. Things might ave been diff
ferent II my wife had lived. 1t didn'
seem long before there | was with
big girl on my handsome, Davit
Kerr" The old feeling Of power
surged through him as he added will
spirit, III it had been a boy!"
This thought held him silent for
minute, and when he took up tn,
thread of his story again it was tn,
old weary tone.
Well, 1t wasn't. There | was witt
a girl en- my hands. Her mother didn'
have any relatives, Her father was
minister, same's my father a
didn't have anybody, either, / coul,
send her to, kept her al long as
could, but by that time my house
even in the country-warn't a fit plac
for a child-specially a girl. So
sent her away to school and she ain