River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1914-01-15
The DkUGH*rERof
DAVID KERR ,te
BY Harry Kin5 'Iootle
Illustrations 1y HHI IAI7=~s %

L q
| the world, but then at the supremest
moment of my life he robbed rae OF
it all. Would a father do that" she
asked tiercely. What allegiance do
owe him. The claim OF blood Bah.
He's always wished Id 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
'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 child wanted to shir1 the
lesson life was teaching her.
Surely I've not been mistaken in
YOU" he began. tits 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 knowI-
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 ne pain. But you don't
believe that"
From the depth or his world-scarred
heart he pitied her. She was so
young, and SO rebellious. He yearned
with great longing to protect her.
Its easy enough TO talk and give
advice" Gloria flung back at him
What has suffering taught you?"
Here was question he could an
swer, and answer decisively
1T 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 ac-
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, l didn't mean to be harsh
just now. God knows / would spare
2.4l ali you have been through could
| have done so. Blot out 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 of the desert.
And you are the flame of my 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 = So hard Tor me, Joe
dear" she begged. when you kissed
me / though ss211aw ny heart, but
now nothing in the whole world will
ever be the same again. You mustn't
blame me; | still like you, more than
ever, but in a 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 l 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