The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1914-03-28
Tl,eDAUGHcE of
DAVID KERR ste
.1y Harry Kin5 1ootle
Illustrations 1y 7<1y I@l7=es %

"Many's the time rye opened that
book to show a man 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 its quiet elegance. Things
mighty different now, amt they?"
Then l was struggling to get a
start"
1t seemed to be q monologue Kerr
was delivering. His questions were
answered, but he made no sign that
he heard. His remarks were delivered
at random, and he never took his gaze
from the fire. except the one 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 mighty nice girl"
Yes, that was about the time l 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 l 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 it was harmless utterance,
but in connection with what had gone
before it was Of great significance.
Yes, Amos Gilbert. the rising young
prosecuting attorney. had gone to see
David Kerr after he had moved his Of
fee 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."
els that SO! l 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. l didn't run
again, you remember, because l want
ed t. be attorney for the new street
railway company"
Kerr seemed to be revolving some
thing in his mind, for 1t was some
time before he reminded Gilbert of q
step in his rise which he had not
mentioned.
Il thought you was lawyer for one
Of them crowds that was fghtin' 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 1ectric
light company. And you still come to
see me. Amos"
why. yes. Mr.. Kerr. I'm not un-
mindful Of"
Kerr seemed to throw OF 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-I-" 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" It seemed to be with an ef
fort that he continued. I'm going to
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
l was married, and my wife died on
giving birth to . girl"
Gloria"
Yes. Gloria. l was Just gittin' into
politics. Things might ave been DIFF
ferent II my wife had lived. It didn't
seem long before there was with q
big girl on my hands-me. David
Kerr" The old feeling OF power
surged through him ~ he added with
spirit. III it had been q boy"
This thought held him silent for .
and when he took up the
thread Of his story again it was the
old weary tone.
well, It wasn't There WAS With
Z girl on my hands. Her mother didn't
have any relatives. Her father was .
same's my father was.
didn't have anybody. either. I could
send her to. I kept her a. long -
could. but By that time my house