The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1914-06-26
Copyright by A. G, keClurg = Co., 1913

hlS ludC MS daughter was In the
room with them. Before you speak
further you must know that we're not
alone in this room"
We're not?" He looked about him,
and at the sound of a familiar voice
turned sharply to confront his daugh-
ter.
mo, father; I'm here" She ad-
vanced coolly to the center of the
room, and waited for him to speak.
Gloria! My daughter here!" He
managed to gasp. Wright, determined
not to have his hand forced, waited to
see what card the daughter would
play.
Wait a minute, please" she re-
marked quietly, the most self-pos
sessed of the three. Are you so blind
you can't see you find me here be-
cause | wish it SO? My visit to Mr..
Wright surprised him just as much as
did yours. When you were announced,
told him would stay"
so that's it, is it," her father
ragged. Have you turned against me,
too? Why didn't l raise you like you
ought to a been!" 1t was with an
evident effort that he was restraining
himself even as much as he was.
Would to heaven you had" Gloria
exclaimed in a low tone. You gave
me only the roses of life, and now the
thorns--all that life offers me-seem
sharper than l can bear"
Wright had thought his heart had
been so wrung that nothing could hurt
him worse, but this confession of I'M
happiness to her father made his own
unhappiness greater than he had be-
lieved it could be.
Gloria, this is distressingly painful.
Please don't he begged Then he
turned to her father. why have you
come here?"
Why is she here?"
Father" now she spoke timidly, q
maiden telling of dear, dead love,
for little while Mr.. Wright and +
were engaged-to be married. | don't
think you know what that means to a
girl, what it meant to me. But you
do know how it ended. Yet we're still
such good friends that l felt could
come this afternoon to-"
AS she spoke, a great light began to
dawn upon her father. At the words
good friends" he saw his whole plan
successful, although worked out along
lines a trife different than what had
been in his mind when he had deter
mined to call upon the editor. Your
successful general is great opportu-
mist, and David Kerr was quick to
seize this opportunity.
Good friends!" he echoed, inter
rupting her. Then I'm glad l found
you here Just listen to me a minute.
| amt got much to say, Mr.. Wright,
but we understand each other pretty
well. Now then-you gave US a pretty
hard bump, an | admire you fer it.
OF course, you're new to Belmont an
it looks all right from yer pint O
view" His tone was now suave and
conciliatory But you're too good
man to be blockin' the wheels o prog
ress in this town.
Things were running pretty smooth
when | came here, weren't they?"
Wright was willing to admit that
much
Exactly, exactly" Kerr took a step
forward and glanced at Gloria before
he went on. Now then, what do
you say to this? You switch over an
join me. If it's too strong fer you
to go, I'll cut out that Maple avenue
railway line, an we'll go at 1t some
other way"
Gloria looked at her father in as
constituent. Wright did not interrupt
him. wishing to hear all that he had
to say. This campaigns taught me
I'm CROWN old. Some day somebody's
got to take my place. There amt a
man in the party with your sense.
need you, an'-what's more-you'll
profit by bein' with me"
"Mr. Kerr, it won't take me many
words to give you your answer"
Reading disapproval in the remark,
David Kerr craftiIy replied with his
kindest manner, Take yer time, take
yer time. The more you think it
over, the more you'll like it. Besides,
I'm thinkin' of Gloria. You two talk
il over. She's"
Father" The girl was perfectly
mortified and her sense OF the fitness
Of things outraged by having her name
dragged into the discussion. Would
YOU dare connect my name with such
an affair.""
To the coarse nature all things are
coarse, and her father seemed sur
Drised that she should resent the man.
ner in which he had connected her
with the offer, AN why not?" he
asked. 1--WE been thinkin the mat
Ter over, an you an him would make
/ pretty good team.
II shaltering under tree Just because |