Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1913-11-27
By Harry King Totle
Illustrations by Ray Walters
OopyrisA. By A Q. Mecluru . Co, 1919

a knowledge of his family affairs
which astonished Gloria. After they
had passed, the girl questioned hel
about the workman and how she came
to know him.
His wife came to the mission fol
help last winter when he was sick,
Mrs. Hayes explained.
Gloria looked at the man in the
trench, bending his back in pain that
she might have place to serve tea In
the afternoon and loll in swinging
seat in the moonlight He was but a
unit out of those teeming millions OF
units to whose existence she had al
ways been Indifferent. Had she been
told In other days that this mans
family had almost died of want she
would have let 1t stay in her mind no
longer than the news that hundred
poor girls had been burned to death
In fire trap bribed factory inspec-
tor had branded as safe. In other
words, she would not have considered
the matter at all. To have dominion
over palm and pine to Gloria meant
only that from these lands should be
gathered the best there was for the
lords of the earth. And of that order
she knew herself to be one.
Sin and suffering we're familiar to
her in the abstract, sodden wretches
she had seen invade even Fifth ave
nue., but that back of all we're stories
Of weaknesses, misfortunes, oppres-
sion, inhuman exploitation, and mans
inhumanity to man she had not con-
sidered. She believed they were born
into their caste Just as she was born
into hers.
Now as she listened to this work
man talk, heard his story from Mrs.
Hayes, learned that he had little chill
dren dependent upon him just as she
had been dependent upon her father
before he had made settlement upon
her, making her Independent, Gloria
began to realize that there was such
thing as the fellowship of man. She
was not uncharitable. Whenever any
appeal had been made to her she had
always emptied her pocketbook
thoughtlessly and considered her duty
done. Now the thought of personal
service came to her. She was igno-
rant of what she could do, even of its
power to bring her any measure of
happiness, but 1t was worth trying
They had driven in silence almost
to town before Gloria turned to Mrs.
Hayes and said:
Mrs. Hayes, the next time you go
to the mission / want you to take me-"
Several days later Gloria went with
Mrs. Hayes to view at close range the
work being done in the poorer quar-
tiers Of Belmont by the Presbyterian
Mission. She met Mrs. Wallace, the
matron, and from her learned the
story of the humble but unfortunate
toilers, and the evils to which they
were constantly a prey through their
ignorance and inability to protect
themselves. Gloria then accompanied
her on round Of visits, and soon the
girls interest was such that on the
days Mrs. Hayes went to the mission
she was glad to go with her.
The boss was disturbed at his
daughters trip into the lowest quar-
ters of Belmont.
This amt no kind O. play, GIRL"
he complained. why don't you stick
to society?"
Society,"" she replied with fine
scorn. why doesn't society stick to
me?"
whats the matter?"
He had been quick to catch the note
of unhappiness. His daughter had not
meant to say anything, but the words
had slipped out before she could think.
She now tried to erase the impress
sion by saying:
Natter Nothing. Whyf"
The boss suspicious were not to
be 80 lulled.
You're keepin' somethin' back from
me, Gloria. What is it?"
mo, I'm not" she insisted.
HAS anyone done anythin' or said
anytnln 10 your
Nothing"
But sometimes back O. all this. You
amt happy. Anybody can see that.
Now what's 1t all about?" He wait
ed for her to reply, but she would
not speak. "Can't you answer?"
"It's-it's-well-it's just an atmos-
phere."
you go every place."
ITO all the big things. yes"
people are nice to you"
She hesitated, but finally said,
"Ye-es."
Amt they?"
"Oh, suppose So" she admitted in
a lifeless manner. Perhaps I'm not
used to western ways, yet the nice.
people look just like nice people look
back East"
whats different. them"
"They seem to keep me at arms
length. | don't see why. You'ra the