The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1914-02-13
1heDAUGHTER Of
DAVID KERR ,,e
b Harry k,.5 1ootle
Illustrations y HY IAl7=es %
lcnT ~ A.c.NecLuRc s. Co. 1919

what she had been led to expect. Just
how much only . dip into the social
whirl could reveal. The p~leasurable
part Of 1t 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 GOV
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 beetliIg
eyebrows. With q cry the girl flung
herself upon him and smothered him
with kisses.
you old dear!" she exclaimed.
you haven't changed a bit. I'm so
glad to be at home with you. Isn't
it just dandy to be back in Belmont"
The mar smiled. Even II he had
not changed. rs she had sworn, he
recognized that she had changed. In
the W 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 its 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 = 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
Kerr's employ for . generation. had
been her constant companion when
she had outgr0wn the continuous
vigilance Of her nurse.
How d. you do. Tom." she said. ex-
landing her hand. II don't believe
yeu remember me. Now, do you!"
"Bless 70 heart. Miss Glory
grinned the old negro. I'd sho1y know
you anywhares. An It does me .
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'iar growedsup woman. All
reckins you'n want to git married
soon. Hey?"
Gloria laughed: that same fresh, in
fictitious laugh Of hers which had
warned many . wary suitor that he
had not found the combination to her
heart and had brought him to that
plane Of friendship on which he wal
always welcome. A well try to de-
scribe PATHS singing. In the days
when her charm was greatest. u try
to describe Gloria's laugh. There be
those persons - Dresumptuous that
on hearing Il wo1ld aver she had
never loved. Whether David Kerr was
one Of those his c~ountenance did not
betray. Al he waited for her answer
to the question put her by the old
negro. = privileged servitor. his face
was - impassive - ever It was on
the night Of IN election.
SUM- NA- 80 --~a~R--A -A~-
she had ceased to hugh It the fool
ishness Of the question. Il 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'l pcrvide. Look at me-.
All done say dat. too. when I wu1
young LAX you: but Abs had TO- wives
already. an NAH time amt come to
die VT"
IAN right, Tom. I don't know what
the Lord will provide. but I'm not 60
ing ont Of my way to help Provi-
dence."
The words Of this colloquy we're
neither more nor less than David Kerr
had anticipated. Il was from the
spirit rather than from the wording
Of her reply that the father sought to
ascertain the answer. It had been his
one hope that somewhere on her
travels she would meet 4 man worthy
the love Of . woman such 10 she. that
she would marry him and ' re-
turn to belmont. Almost unconscious
y. with that end vaguely in view, he
had been diminishing his activities.
He had money enough for Cloria's fu-
ture. already she had her own income,
and his age made even power irk-
some. He would move away from
Belmont when Gloria married. and
when she came to visit him It would
be to some charming rural spot Ia the
Arnnnd fho hnftnVr - u,hich -