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

One had even raised horse Wnlch
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 pu0ilc eye
That he wished to avoid for Gloria 5
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 IN
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 a 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 gayetles'
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 req
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 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.
her inspection making her give silent
thanks that she had not asked any Of
her friends to join her in her descent
on. Belmont. The wall paper with big
yellow flowers, the carpets with big
, red flowers, the rocking chairs with
the crocheted tides, and the marble
TONED table in the parlor with the
> inevitable plush album upon 1t, were
no less distressing than the wax flow
ers under the glass case, the steel en-
craving Of the Scotch Covenanters
: worshiping in a mountain glen, and
the tin bathtub. She even gave thanks
that she had not brought maid.
"Mistah k" said a negro nanny
y putting her head in the door of the
y living room after Kerr and his daugh
: ter had finished going over the house
:, tom wants to knew eff you is goin
- to town dis mawnin'.'
\ mo, Lily, amt going to town to
n day. Tell Tom to send Yellow San
g with the spring wagon for Gloria''
trunks.
=. "Dey's ben telephonin' you from
70 town. Dey say it's pow'ful impo'tan
business. Miss Glory, she done will
- in to stay wifi me. jes' LAX she use
W to- Amt you, honey?"
q To this Gloria gave laughing as
v sent, but her father shook his head.
10 I'm not going to town today. An
!. tell the telephone operator not to cor
h meet any one with Locust Lawn a.
ID day. l amt going to be disturbed
D. you understand"
n. Aunt Lily, who probably was give
,d that name by some ante-bellum joke
no because of her ebon hue, nodded he
or acknowledgment Of the order and witt
at drew
as The reasons David Kerr had for ne
Ie- wishing to get into communicate
VS. with any one in Belmont were severa
nv but the most potent was his desire
be be uninterrupted while engaged
at studying his daughter and evolvin
ad some plan whereby she could be take
as from Belmont before her slighte'
lot suspicion had been aroused.
-er One episode in their tour of tt
I'D house had given him much comfo1
zee Gloria had paused IN the old-fashione
on parlor and gazed long at his life-sizt
portrait, done IN oils, over the marb
en- mantel. Then she had looked abo
ol- the room, and not finding what 81
ry- sought, had asked
he Where is one of my mother?"
yer There is none" he confessed, al
nix added quickly, but I'm going to ha
one painted for you. That was Civ
ow me recently by the First Ward cluf
ne Whats the First Ward club?"
vuz "a political organization
YES politics! Do you know anythi
to about politics."
David Kerr almost smiled.
hat 81 don't know whether the pre-
go. dent is Democrat or Republican
ovi- she added.
Don't bother about it."
ere "Oh, I'm not going to. / don't we
err TO be suffragette and march in
the parade and be put in Jail on bre
ing and water don't even read abe
t to it."
his Her absolute ignorance Of politi
her nothing remarkable in q girl of
.thy years and training, was no small gr