Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-08-13
CHAPTER TX.
A Modern Cinderella

tat in the open air and under the
blue skies of the country in prefer
ence to the fetid slums OF the city.
Unfortunately. however, more real
misery, more abject want, ccnters
within a square mile of some densely
populated working class quarter than
N 10000 square miles of prairie
For instance, the Ray family, whose
typical case now comes under review,
would have been vastly better Oft
as the veriest squatterS living at the
farthest end OF beyond than as tenants
OF tiny flat in busy manufacturing
town. The head OF the household, a
man of fifty, had decided long ago
that hard work brought him nowhere.
consequently, indeed, one might
almost say inevitably, he elected to
become a corner loaicr. sponger on
his acquaintances, an ever increasing
incubus on his wretched wife. She,
poor creature, might once have been
a decent woman, but the sheer hope
lessness OF life had borne her down
until she degcncratcd into slatternIy
virago.
Yet heredity plays strange pranks.
This hapless pair, bringing into the
world children condemned before
they were born to grow into diSs"-
lutte wastrcls, had contrived to rear
among the brood one at least with
personalities for good. Helen Ray,
the eldest daughter, was not only
good looking and endowed with tine
physique, but, given happier en-
vironment, would undoubtedly have
developed into notable woman, AS
though to emphasize the yagarles
which manifest themselves in such
human fotsam and jetsam, her
brother, George Ray, two years her
Junior, was already depravcd at ~.
There were two younger children,
OF whose qualities this record takes
no count. They merely helped to
increase the squalor and oVcrcroWd-
ing of four small rooms, They
counted two more mouths AT all MI
provided table. They added two more
straws to the chokcd maclStrom surg
ing from daylight to dark i'll the pull
lulating street beneath.
Thus, one morning was very like
another. The only wage Garner IN
the family was Helen, and her
mothers sole contribution to the
household needs began and enGedi
when she reused the sleepy girl and
prepared an inadequate breakfast
Yet, even in the lives OF the Rays
and their like, there will surely dawn
one morning when fate enters unseen
and guides their footsteps into predes-
tined paths leading to new and unex-
plored lands. Helen and her two
small sisters slept in the same tousled
bed. They were always tired. They
went to bed tired. If there was peace
overnight in the family, and the
weather was fine, they renamed out
too late. II the paternal Ray had con
trived to get drunk, an lnterminabie
quarrel between him and his wite
would break out, and be too often en-
livened by the mans oaths and the
woman's screams, when words gave
place to blows. The result was always
the samoa gradual dyingdown OF the
volcano in the small hours OF the
morning, weary opening OF bleared
ewes to the troubles of a new day.
Thus, on the morning when tate
crept into that dismal abode with
laden hands, Helen heard nothing but
her mothers shrewish voice stormlng
at her for laziness-saw nothing but
the same soiled and disheveled sur
roundings. The magic presence was
yelled. Who might tell whether 1t
was angel or fiend?
The girl awoke suddenly under an
imperative shaking. She knew what
the summons meant. As one aroused
from an affrighting nightmare, she sat
up, yawned, and rubbed the sleep out
of her eyes.
"All right, ma" she said sullenly,
you can cut out the rough stuff now.
I'll be ready in two minutes.
With final growl, Mrs. Ray re-
tired to her lair, the unkcmpt room
wherein the family cooked, ate, and
oungcd when at home Her huS-
band, who had not met with ANY
luck" the previous day, and was pcev-
sh and restless i'll consequence, had
risen with the dawn and was nibbling
at a breakfast while endeavoring to
read a morning paper borrowed from
a more thrifty neighbor. 50 tar, a
sort of peace prevailed i'll the flat.
Helen, while attending to her own
toilet, helped the children to dress.
They, to whom new day meant at
least some OF those minor joys OF
which the worst OF slumS cannot rob
childhood. began TO chatter noisily,
with the inevitable result that they
we're scolded by their mother and
cursed by their father.
Mrs. Ray was apparently selecting
the tit-bits Of the poor ta7c provided
Tor the meal, aad arranging them on
a tray, which she carried forthwith
into the garrett where her son, and
favoritc, was still sound asleep. The
boys face, already weak to cfiem>-
macy, looked almost childish IN lis
placid reposc. And not Tor him were
vexed shaking and bitter reproach.
The mother strokch his head tondly.
He awoke with start, and instantly
his expression became that of a sulky
cur. He thrust aside her hand,
"Oh, go awayr he cried. Can't
YOU leave me alone Why do you
want to come bothcring a fcller::'
But, George, dcar% she protested,
its time you were up. Here's your
breakfast
The mere mention OF food excrtcd a
soothing influence Like the snaring
pup that he was, George Ray CON
descended to eat, though grumbIing
the while that she might ha' glycn a
Teller another half hour
Meanwhile, Helen had taken her
own breakfast from the stove, and was
looking after the childrcns wants
when her mother came into the room
and stared at the clock,