The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1914-03-06
The IAUGEE1I!sT'ER
DAVID KERR, .,e -"
y Harry King 'Eoot1e
Illustrations X HT GAT=es %
;oPTRIofT By A.c.rtecLuRG s. CO., 1919

lions, being anxious to get 10 the lne-
alter and at the same time DESTROYS OF
seeing how many years ahead of Lo-
Gust Lawn was this house which she
had been invited to enter. There was
no reason why she could not do both,
since meeting Judge and Mrs. Gilbert
could mean only a few minutes more
delay They could then hurry to the
theater, and if she was pleased with
these new acquaintance she would
urge them to join her. Loyal though
she was, she would welcome any one
who would be a diversion. Gloria
was quick to notice faux pas, and
certain Of her fathers slips OF gram
mar and lapses from punctlllous ell
quette had made her wish some COM
partnership less blunt.
At the door she was met by Judge
Gilbert, who welcomed her to Belmont
with great cordially. Here was a
man who understood the niceties OF
life. Gloria's heart went out to him
almost as much for the manner of his
welcome as for its genuine warmth
AS David Kerr had done when he had
entered the house, the daughter gazed
about her as she passed through the
hall, and all that she saw was given
the stamp of her approval. 1t was
just another step in her growing ap-
probation of Belmont as it really was.
She noted also the familiar terms on
which Judge Gilbert and her father
were She had never doubted her
father, yet this was a pleasing affirm
alive vote in her theory of Belmont
life which had not been without its
contradictions that day.
Il wonder If you remember Mrs
Gilbert?" said the judge as he
ushered Gloria into the library. Al
her entrance, Mrs. Gilbert, really
gracious woman, came forward tt
greet her
How do you do, Miss Gloria" SHE
said, its a pleasure TO nnd ina
you've come back to Belmont"
I'm charmed to meet you, Mrs. Gil
bert. Indeed it is nice to be at home
once more and I'm SO glad to have
you say So"
The next bit of conversation pu2
zled Gloria not little. She remarked
1t at the time, and even thought Of /
once after she had returned to Locus
Lawn that night.
Judge Gilbert said quietly to hi
wife, "Mr. Kerr, dear"
At this Mrs. Gilbert turned, bowe
, slightly and merely said, Good ever
, ing, Mr. Kerr"
| How dye do, ma'am," reptile
} Gloria's father, to his daughters SUI
! prise and also somewhat to her di'
:. gust Mrs. Gilbert's greeting had bee
extremely brief, but her fathers ha
been extremely provincial. Not onl
was it slipshod manner of speaking
Y but it had been accompanied by a bo
! which Gloria thought uncouth. He
z father had written once or tWic
8 about Mrs. Gilbert, and Gloria, afte
the manner of society, was fain
enlarge upon the number.
ITS been my one wish to NEE
you, Mrs. Gilbert" said the girl
went away when | was so young tn;
can't honestly say that | rememb'
you, but in his letters father spoke
! often of you and of visiting her
Didn't you father?"
Thus appealed to, Kerr was force
\ to reply.
"Yes-oh, yes, Gloria, but new
\ mind that now"
Judge Gilbert was quick to come
the rescue, and forestalled furth'
embarrassing remarks by saying:
"I suppose it will be novelty f
you, Miss Gloria-living in the cou
try"
Gloria laughed. and her answer CO
tanned due notice of what she inten
ed to have In the immediate future.
Father hasn't motor car-yt
and | don't know how I'll like It,"
you'll get used to It," was MI
Gilbert's comment Locust Lawn
lovely in summer
But 1t isn't summer yet. And
makes it inconvenient when one wal
to 60 out in the evening. I've oft
wondered why father didn't have
10 town house. He goes out so mu
err and. must be in Belmont so late
to night that to my mind town hor
en- would be necessity. But there.
Id sticks i'll the country like an
lie poke.
lrl Her idea of her fathers duty
ne himself was so strong that she turf
er to him to tell him just what s
to thought of him. During her spec
nd Kerr had been exceedingly uncomft
mt able, but there was no way to S
IN her, $r
,rr That's just what you are. fathe
Gloria asserted stoutly, for stick
In; in the. country when you go so mi
in in society-an old poke"
he Again Judge Gilbert came to