The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1914-02-13

Will COulu lGfCcl' nc pASoH3A"
part of it all was that Gloria was still
queen by right of inheritance. If the
kingdom was. more extensive than she
had thought, the court life would also
be more brilliant.
Gloria had not long to wait for her
father. An old-fashioned carriage COW
cred with mud and drawn by fat bay
horses drew up before the drug store.
Out of the vehicle a somewhat pom
derous individual pulled himself-a
| smooth-shaven man who appeared to
be something over fifty, with heavy
Jaws and piercing eyes which looked
clear through you from under beetling
eyebrows With a cry the girl flung
herself upon him and smothered him
with kisses.
You old dear!" she exclaimed.
you haven't changed 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 If 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
terfly; 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
J past, and thought of Gloria's mother.
Then the present with its obligations
and it's 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
j swering kiss. With David Kerr kiss
3 ing had long ago become>an obsolete
- custom. Then, too, no one had evel
e accused him of being unduly demon
t strative,
|. Seeing the negro driver bowling ant
e scraping, Gloria left her father Il
speak to him. She might have for
d gotten Locust Lawn, but she had no
forgotten Locust Lawns chief fac
e totum. Old Tom, who had been Il
1T Kerr's employ for generation. ha'
been her constant companion whel
e she had outgrown the continuou
e vigilance of her nurse.
o "How d you do, Tom," she said, e.
If tending her hand. Il don't beliey
e. you remember me. Now, do your?
u BLESS yo heart, Miss Glory,
grinned the old negro, I'D sho1y kno'
Y you anywhares. An 1t does me
,e pow'ful sight O. good to see you. Wh.
II chile, when you went away you WI
st jes' little gal. An now look at you
IN you's regular growed-up woman. A
lit reckins you'll want to git mahrie
soon. Hey?"
:" Gloria laughed; that same fresh, Il
1T fictitious laugh of hers which ha
y warned many wary sutton that I
MT had not found the combination to III
of heart and had brought him to th'
n plane of friendship on which he WI
A. always welcome. AS we'll try to q
ST. scribe PATHS singing, in the da.
al when her charm was greatest, as Il
to describe Gloria's laugh. There
I1a those persons so presumptuous tn
on hearing it would aver she b;
never loved. Whether David Kerr WI
one of those his countenance did n
betray. AS he waited for her ansW
| to the question put her by the o
| negro. a privileged servitor, his ia
l was as impressive as ever 1t was
n the night of an election.
4 why, Tom" she explained VIII
vi she had ceased to laugh at the TO
III ishness of the question, II love evel
body, of course, but nobody in t
nj wide, wide world like that. I'm new
u going to marry any one; do you thi
so?"
Miss Glory, you neveh do kn'
what de Lord'll pervide. Look at
All done say dat, too, when y
young lax you; but Abs had TO wiz
already, an nah time amt come
y die yit."
"All right, Tom | don't know wi
4 the Lord will provide, but I'm not
Ing out of my. way to help Pre-
dence."
The words of this colloquy W.
IL neither more nor less than David K
!, $. had anticipated 1t was from
spirit rather than from the word
as of her reply that the father sought
ces. | ascertain the answer 1t had been
hat one hope that somewhere on
cen travels she would meet man wor
The the love of woman such as she, t
Ised she would marry him and never
the turn to Belmont Almost unconscit
With ". with that end vaguely in view,
Of had been diminishing his actiyit
,ard He had money enough for Gloria's
ture, already she had her own inco
not and his age made even power
SIN. some. He would move away 4
rred Belmont when Gloria married,
the when she came to visit him 1t VIZ
over be to some charming rural spot in
tME around the bottom of which was a
of black-brown fur, which seemet
I, !, -. =. be bearskin. The skirt was close