The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1914-04-04
The DkUGE'<Z'ERof
DAVID KERR, s,e
.by Harry Mr5 '1ootle !
Illustrations X HH/ 0AI7=~s %

what she had been led to expect, Just
how much only a dip into the social
whirl could reveal The pleasurable
part Of it all was that Gloria was still
queen by right Of inheritance. II 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
past, and thought of Gloria's mother
Then the present with it's obligations
and its 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
swering kiss With David Kerr kiss
ing had long ago become an obsolete
custom. Then. too. no one had ever
accused him of being unduly demon
strative.
Seeing the negro driver bowling and
scraping. Gloria left her father to
speak to him. She might have for
gotten Locust Lawn, but she had not
forgotten Locust Lawns chief fac
totum. Old Tom, who had been in
Kerrs employ for generation. had
been her constant companion when
she had outgrown the continuous
vigilance of her nurse.
How d you do, Tom," she said. ex-
tending her hand. Il don't believe
you remember me. Now, do your"
BLESS yo' heart, Miss Glory"
grinned the old negro, "I'd sho'ly know
you anywhares. An it does me a
pow'ful sight O. good to see you. Why,
chile, when you went away you wuz
jes' little gal. An now look at you;
you's reg'la growed-up woman. All
reckins you'll want to git mahried
SOON Hey?"
Gloria laughed; that same fresh. in
fictitious laugh Of hers which had
warned many q wary sutton that he
had not found the combination to her
heart and had brought him to that
plane of friendship on which he was
always welcome. AS well try to de-
scribe PATHS singing, in the days
| to describe Glorias laugh. There be
those persons so presumptuous that
on hearing it would aver she had
never loved. Whether David Kerr was
one of those his countenance did not
| betray. AS he waited for her answer
to the question put her by the old
negro, a privileged servitor, his face
was as impressive as ever 1t was on
| the night of an election.
"Why, Tom." she explained when
she had ceased to laugh at the fool
| ishness of the question. II love every
body, of course, but nobody in the
| wide. wide world like that. I'm never
going to marry any one; do you think
so?"
Miss Glory, you neveh do know
what de Lord'll pervide. Look at me.
All done say dat, too. when l wuz
young lax you; but Abs had TO- wives
already, an nah time amt come to
die yit."
"All right, Tom. I don't know what
the Lord will provide, but I'm not go
ing out of my way to help Provi-
dence."
The words of this colloquy were
neither more nor less than David Kerr
had anticipated. 1t was from the
spirit rather than from the wording
of her reply that the father sought to
ascertain the answer. 1t had been his
one hope that somewhere on her
travels she would meet man worthy
the love Of a woman such as she, that
she would marry him and never re
turn to Belmont. Almost unconscious
". with that end vaguely In view. he
had been diminishing his activities
He had money enough for Glorias fu'
ture already she had her own income