The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1914-01-02
The DAUGHTER Of
DAVID KERR ate
BY Harry King 'lootle
Illustrations ly K@I U1H=~s %

word yet. He & We me everything in
the world, but then at the supremest
moment of my life he robbed me Of
it all. Would father do that" she
asked ferceiy. What allegiance do
owe him. The claim OF blood. Bah!
He's always wished I'd been boy.
He didn't lie to me because he loved
me. He didn't even know me. Do
you think it wrenches my heart to
leave him now? No; a thousand times
no. We've lived too many years apart.
What have we in sympathy? We'd be
strangers though we lived under the
same roof for years"
But when you go abroad what are
you going to do?" He could see no
future for her.
Just drift There is so much that
want to forget"
Much, Gloria?" he asked gently
Yes, much" She would not let him
trap her into a damaging admission.
'Everything?"
Everything painful"
Her attitude, he felt it was antago-
nistic, impatient even of his kindly
questioning, stirred him to vigorous
reply. After all, she was but a child
and like a child wanted to shiTk the
lesson life was teaching her.
Surely I've not been mistaken in
you" he began. Its by suffering that
we learn to live. You've only come
to see life as it is, that's all. Would
you throw away the precious knOwl-
edge that is power for an Arcadian
ignorance akin to weakness? You've
just said that you've come to warn
me of something. Were you true to
your theory of life, you would leave
me in ignorance, because the truth
| would give me pain. But you don't
believe that"
From the depth of his world-scarred
heart he pitied her She was so
young, and so rebellious. He yearned
with a great, longing to protect her.
cts easy enough to talk and give
advice" Gloria flung back at him.
What has suffering taught your"
Here was a question he could an
swer, and answer decisiYe!y
''It has taught me to be true to my
better self" He spoke sternly Then
he regretted that he had seemed harsh
with her, for it did not soften her. and
she made no comment.
Please sit down." he said She &C
copied the proffered chair stiffly and
waited
Wright came as close to her as he
dared. AS he spoke, she abandoned
the rigid attitude she had felt con
strained to assume and sank back in
the big chair.
Gloria, | didn't mean to be harsh
Just now. God knows / would spare
you all you have been through could
I have done so. Blot cut this terrible
week Can't We go back to that head
long courtship crowded into half an
hour? Let everything be as it was
Then | begged you to go away. Now
since you are going, let US go togeth-
er. Listen, don't you remember?
The sun is the fame or the desert.
And YOU are the flame Of nv heart
Dreary indeed is the desert unsunned
And dreary without you my heart.
You know it's the truth, Gloria
Let us go together"
Don't make it SO hard for me, Joe
dear" she begged. When you kissed
me l thought l knew my heart. but
now nothing in the whole world will
ever be the same again. You mustn't
blame me; l still like you, more than
ever, but in different way. Can't you
understand? You have told me I'm
more than shallow, frivolous girl
| honor you for the offer, Joe, but |
wouldn't be true to that better self
you talk about if | accepted"
Il make no offer, Gloria he plead
ed. I'm begging you to love me, to
become my wife.
She trembled visibly at his words.
Yet her resolution was such that she
was not shaken from her purpose. She
did not dare look at him, however, as
she answered:
I'm afraid the love one must beg
a