The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1914-04-17
|l1e I!)AUGH..L'ERof of
KERR a:
n Harry King 1ootle J /
Illustrations Iy N4Y U1I7=es % =

but III only assisting her" she re-
piled in surprise.
You can tell Judge Gilbert about it
even better than she can. l know how
1t Is when married ladies come to nv
office and when unmarried ladies
come"
Yes" laughed his wife, "he keeps
me poor, contributing to things that
are none Of our business just because
pretty girls come in and he can't re-
fuse them. DR.. Hayes says we won't
be long, Gloria. You don't mind, do
you?"
"Of course not. Where shall meet
your"
Wen come back here"
Gloria turned from saying goodby to
Mrs. Hayes to find only her father in
the room with her. Kendall and Judge
Gilbert had withdrawn to the latter's
private Office.
Where's Joe Wright been keepin'
himself" asked Kerr suddenly.
The girl did not betray the slightest
Interest in the question. She took her
time about answering, and when she
spoke it was in the most nonchalant
manner.
Mr.. Wright? Oh, he's in Belmont"
You don't go with him like you
used to. He amt been to Locust Lawn
once"
He says he's busy when see him.
meet him occasionally"
Il thought you and him was good
friends"
"Oh, we are"
Although she answered his questions
in an off-hand manner, her father was
not deceived From what he had been
told and also from what he had OBJ
served, he felt that his daughter had
genuine regard for the owner of the
Belmont News. OF its depth he could
not decide.
HE amt been near you for a long
time"
Pm not bothering about him. I'm
not bothering particularly about any
oue."
The girl was glad that at this mo-
ment Judge Gilbert came from his pri.
vate office. Her father was question
ing her about matters she preferred to
keep to herself.
IF Miss Gloria can spare you, Mr.
Kerr" said the Judge, "Mr. Kendall
would like to see YOU in my office I've
come back to be persuaded that !
ought to join the cheerful givers."
''I'll tell Kendall, Gloria, that he's
got to join the lodge" were Kerrs
parting words as he went into the in.
ner office
Remembering that Miss Kerr had
not been given the chance to explain
her visit fully. Judge Gilbert took a
chair beside her and said:
Nov, I'm at your service, prepared
to believe the most terrible things
about our fair Belmont"
when you talk like that, Judge
Gilbert, I'm afraid you're laughing at
me-"
OF late GIori s seriousness had fa1
outweighed her old mood of joyous
ness, and she now insisted on being
taken seriously.
You've lectured me so long for be
ing shocked at what I've found that
I'm afraid to say any more"
Judge Gilbert was seeking in his
mind for some plausible reason to ad
vance which would be sufficient to re
move Gloria from the work she had
undertaken, when Williams entered.
81 beg your pardon, sir" said the
secretary, but Mr.. Wright is here"
"Mr. Wright" exclaimed Gloria. She
almost rose from her seat, but feeling
the eyes of the lawyer upon her, sank
! back again and tried to appear quite
at her ease.
"Tell him I'll see him in minute.
Eyes, sir"
Williams went out, and left Gloria
feeling as if she were on the stand, 8
| witness in her own defense. She was
provoked because she knew the attor
ney had heard her exclamation. Some
thing within her made her wish to rush
away. But this wish in an instant
gave place to one more ardent. She
would see him, speak to him, learn the
truth from his own lips If he were
man enough to speak, and then &C
away forever. Deep down in her heart
however, she heard whisper out o.
the leaves of their birthday book,
words he had whispered:
Spring in the hills, Beloved,
On the side of a meadowed slope;
And Love in our hearts Beloved,
Love and Spring and Hope.
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