The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1914-05-02
The, I,)A.yJ(aE Err Of +
DAVID KERR, =:
BY Harry King '1ootle
Illustrations X H4/ N1I7=~s %

|
| pictures and descriptions of beautiful
homes. When the plans for the alter
atoms were finally approved, David
Kerr learned with sigh of relief that
the changes could be made without
| driving him from the shelter of his
own roof.
At the same time Gloria was plan
| ming for the changes in the country
place she and Mrs. Gilbert were also
busy preparing for the ball which
| would serve as her formal introduction
to Belmont society. Her time was SO
!! engaged that she thought the sugges-
| ton of her hostess an excellent one
when Mrs. Gilbert said that it might
be better not to become tangled up
with too many social engagements at
time when 1t was more vital to see
that the Locust Lawn alterations were
properly under way. The girl was
aware, from what she had heard her
father and Others say, that things
were dull at present, and she did not
wish to spur them into a premature
activity. When the ball was given for
her it would be time enough to begin.
Mrs. Gilbert was not letting things
drift, although the daughter Of David
Kerr was not aware Of 1t. Every one
| in Belmont knew what Glora did not:
| That she was about to make great
| effort to secure recognition. Belmont
| was not in a receptive mood. It's first
| thought was that she was the child Of
shrewd political trickster who had
fattened at the expense of the town.
The offspring of the leopard should
not hope to be without spots.
Mrs. Gilbert was clever enough to
have girls to luncheon whom she
| thought might become interested in
| Gloria. They came, and in the major
| ity of cases surprised Gloria by their
charming manners and their beautiful
clothes. Her court was to be even
more brilliant than she had dreamed
The girls were invited one at a time,
to give both Gloria and the visitor
the opportunity. of becoming we'll &C
quainted.
The luncheon guests came to call
afterward, but by strange mischance
it was always when Gloria was not at
home She would go to the architects
Office with Mrs. Gilbert, and would
find on her return that several cards
had been left for her The ball was so
near that she made no attempt to pay
any calls herself. She was too busy.
Although railing at the fate which
took him away most of the time. the
first three weeks after Gloria's re-
moval to town were spent by Judge
Gilbert in Chicago. Occasionally he
ran over for day, but even then his
wife and their guest saw little of him.
This would have made their evenings
hang heavy on their hands had it not
been for Joe Wright. He got into the
habit of dropping Ia after dinner every
evening and several times a week Mrs.
Gilbert had him to dine with them.
Late in the afternoons he and Gloria
often drove together, the season of
the year keeping them most of the
time on the city streets. Once he
drove with her to Locust Lawn, but
as 1t was late when they reached there
he did not get out, sitting in the run
about while Gloria ran into the house
for few minutes.
Neither Wright nor Gloria ever made
an effort to direct the conversation
into the intimate channel 1t had taken
the night they first had met in Bel
mont Ono ,,oiobf a1rnOct have fhSupht
they had agreed to consider them
selves merely good friends. SO imper-
sonal were they in what they said.
For this there was a reason; rather,
there were two reasons, his and hers.
Wright was keeping firm grip on
himself because he knew the truth and
was afraid. Gloria was self-possessed
and would not have permitted HIM to
pass the border of friendship, had he
dared, because she wished to know
Belmont we'll Even a hint of an en-
tangling alliance would prove him
drance Thus it was that each was
happy in the others company. And if
perchance they looked the sentiment
that each had inwardly resolved not to
breathe, they were happier still i'll the
thought that some day their dreams
would come true.
The paper was occasioning Wright
no great anxiety. Somewhat to his
surprise the advertising revenue was
showing most gratifying gains caused
by the increase of local business. The
Banner had more advertising, but the
new owner. of the afternoon paper had
no cause to complain. Even his adver-
Using manager could not explain it.
Main street merchants who had been
out of the paper for years began to