El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-04-16
Life the Third Year
Helen and Warren Try to Help the
Flood Sufferers. and Ii DeVel-
Opes That Warren Spends
Twice as much on His
Clothes as Helen
Mabel Herherf Trner

! BY Mabel Herbert DrneF
6tVW7 ILL, that's pretty fought
w fTowned Warren, as he I'm
Ished the letter and threw
/ it across the breakfast table to Helen
/ 1t was thu first word they had re-
ceived from his aunt. whose home had
} been In the midst Of the Ohio flood dis
/ trict. The penciled scrawl, on piece
Z of wrapping paper, was hardly leglDle.
Dayton, Ohio, April 4, 1913.
Dear Warren
We lust got your wire asking what
YOU could do. Send us any old clothes,
! blankets or bedding that YOU and Helen
may have. VIII be grateful Tor any
thing. We've only the clothes we nave
on and a few old things that were III
a trunk in the garnet.
/ cannot write YOU Of the horror OF
the last 10 days. For IS hours the water
was up to the second floor and we were
in the garrett without food OF drlnAlng
water. The window was broken ana inc
/ cold was frightfUl. There happened 70
| be an old stairway catpet up there when
we tore up and wrapped about us-IilaU
was all we had to keep us warm
Alice was hysterical most OF the time
As soon as they could reach US Jhey
took her 10 cousin MaTUhas 5, whose mouse
on the hill was not washed ont. Ihey
asked US to come. too, but as they nave
three families there now and are sleeping
on all the floors. we 1elt we should not
90. If only they can take care OF Alice,
we viii manage somehow.
Water Gone Down.
The water has gone down now, but oh,
the housed I cannot tell you what 1t
looks ike. The mud. the nth, the
refusel Everything Is wrecked and
ruined. We are still sleeping IN the gar
ret for the rooms below are not lit
but they have brought US food and blan-
kets.
We have only fire insurance nothing
that viii cover this. 1 do not dare to give
way. for if I did your uncle George would
break down completely. He has aged 10
years. Every one SAYS We should De
thankful we escaped with our lives
but L can't see that life means much to
us now. l do not know what We have
done to deserve such suffering
This letter Is for Carrie and the rest
of the family. I cannot write them all.
Your Aunt, Emma.
Helen's ewes were filled with tears
when she laid down the letter
"Oh. dear; L didn't think 1t could be
as bad as thatl'
''Now we've cot to get off some things
p -
coat and that brown winter suit OF mine
L won't need them much longer, any
way. And look over my underwear; send
a couple of suits. How about pair
of blanketsz"
Dear, we haven't a blanket to spare
but ! can send a quilt"
All right: send that. And look over
your things; send what YOU can. Alice
is lust Your size: aunt Emma's a little
l11 ell 1nE
Ill right. I'd better send this letter
over to Carrie putting it IN his pocket z
Is he rose from the table; shell want (
to do something
Helen Packs the Box.
That morning Helen spent looking over :
Varren's clothes and her own. She got (
small packing box, lined it with paper, I
yut in Warren's OvercOaC. the brown suit,
ONE underwear and the quilt
But the selection from her own things
vas more difficult. She had so lew
lothes in the last year that there was
eaIIv nothing much to send. There was
dark blue serge dress that aunt Emma
night wear about the house, but 1t was
oiled and the lining much worn She
vas almost ashamed TO send 1t.
A cashmere wrapper. couple OF last
easOn's shirtwaists and a gray cloth I
kirt made up her list. She felt 1t was
lot enough. but there was really nothing I
lse, she could spare
Vhv not call up Mrs. Stevens2 She
.ad so many clothes Surely. she would
,e clad to send something. Helen hur-
led over to the phone.
Mrs. Stevens was all sympathy.
why yes. I'm so glad YOU let me
nov. Just the other day I laid out some
hings. but didn't know who to give
hem to-"
Helen thanked her effusively and said
he would send a boy after them at
nee. As soon as she hung up the re
eiver, she took it down again to call
or a messenger.
The boy came a few moments later
nd she gave him the address and IN
tructions to bring back the package.
n tEree-ouarters of an hour he returned
With a big newspaper bundle
Helen opened 1t eagerly. With aston
shed dismav she took out a sOiled pink
attn evening gown with fraved bead
ringe. She dropped it to unfold the one
Underneath. a blue chiffon afternoon
rock. with lace yoke and sleeves and a
light pannier skirt slit up almost to the
znee. There was also a pair Of gray