The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1914-06-20

DUTY as a nurse. Snc suOoh Ter StHtiJ,
and soon was rewarded by seeing her
eyes open.
What you WANT" asked the pa
tient.
Time to take your medicine Clio
ria answered unblushingly. This was
only a subterfuge. and it hurt her to
receive the profuse thanks which 1t
evoked.
How are we going to begin to make
things right down here?" Gloria asked
when Little Ella had sunk back upon
her pillow.
"Begin?" The girl did not under
stand.
Yes, you and l, Things can't go
on as they are"
Why. begin with the boss. OF
course"
Gloria could not have been stabbed
by a more cruel reply.
"Ah, yes" she sighed, but how?
That's up to you and yer pa"
Little Ella recognized that the boss
was out of her sphere of influence.
Yes, yes, know Tell me--does-
David Kerr" she spoke the name with
an effort, Overcome down here7"
Him? Nav We never see nothin'
O. him" His daughter gave a sigh of
relief. I'VE don't know nothin' bout
him much. We don't see him, but we
feel him. He lives alone. out in the
country"
Then can he really known"
He's a man, amt he?" demanded
the woman of the streets fiercely. HE
knows, but what does he care? wisht
he had daughter"
Whats that" Gloria asked The
manner in which Little Ella had
spoken made her catch her breath
with feeling that was akin to dread
II wisht he had daughter, an that
she'd have to suffer what we down
here suffer"
Gloria held up her hand. bidding her
cease from even thinking such thing
mo, no, no. no. that"
why not?" the other went on dog
gedly Gould she be any better'n |
L
a daughter of his here, and watch her
struggle to keep the breath In her
body"
Have you no mercy?" begged Clio
ria.
What mercy hev l had shown me
by Noonan-'cept fer his own profit?
What mercy from David Kerr?
Wouldn't he laugh to see daughter O.
his in this hell-hole?" Gloria convul-
sively covered her eyes with her haids
as If to shut out even the thought of
such a sight Little Ella went on
harshly, What a joke it would be!
But I'd laugh. I'd watch her. the little
darling, to see that she paid the price
as I've DONE"
Gloria could stand 1t no longer.
stop, you senseless girl. You make
a mockery of pity and compassion. It's
absurd to vent your rage upon some
thing that doesn't exist. David Kerr
has no daughter"
Little Ella accepted this answer
without question. unmindful that q
short while before her visitor had de-
MED all knowledge Of the man.
Il wisht he had" she said regret
fully
A door slammed suddenly overhead
Aren't you afraid here alone" Clio
ria asked.
Nav. amt scared in the daytime,
| an at night I'm out most O the time. "
The sound of a scufile on the floor
above brought both women to atten-
ton. There came sudden, smothered
cry for help which made Gloria's blood
| run cold. Then there was a heavy
| thud as II some one had been felled by
blow.
| whats 1t all about?" she cried
springing to her feet in terror
"Nothin'. Stay where you are.
We're safe as long as we dom open
that door,"
| The sounds of the ARRAY grew
louder Again came the cry for help
What's going on: must know.
Some ones in trouble. Didn't you hear
some one CALI"
They're maybe just foolin'." Ella
was listening intently. Don't you
butt in
| But I can't stand here doing moth.
ing. l must see what's the matter"
One could never accuse Gloria OF
| lack of courage She had never seen
the horse she was afraid Of, and sail
boat in a heavy sea made her laugh
the more the louder the wind whistled
through the rigging. Her feeling OF
personal power inherited from her IA
Their, had been strongly developed. She
had by this time overcome her first