The herald., 1917-07-05
HER EXPERIMENT
BY JANE MCLEAN.

There's really nothing at all to life,
said Tessie, deSpondently. "All these
people who write about the beautiful
things that happen don't know that's
all they've never been up against it,"
Her companion did not answer all
at once. She was walking along al
! TcsSie'S side, thinking about the words
that had just been spoken. Were they
| true? If 50, what was the use of it
all?
TesSie was speaking again.
! you know, some Of US girls was
wondering the other night how you
| stand for ii. You don't seem like the
rest Of us, and yet you don't DO half
the complainin' We do"
The other girl smiled AT this.
complaining doesn't do any good"
"4eS, it does; ii seems TO help things
If lot Of US get together and talk
about our troubles"
You think it does, but il really
doesn't help. Things are just as bad
after you 90 back to them again"
The speaker was a Slight, dark girl.
She had thoughtful eyes and rounded.
aristocratic little chin. She was differ
ent from TeSsie. who was a worker
and whose people were workers. She
looked as though she had come from a
different world, and had known diff
ferent people. and yet she worked next
TO Tessie at the ribbon counter.
bot a.,
Tessie asked, suddenly.
The other girl turned to her. az
wonder if 1t would help you if l told !
you what / really do Think"
Sure il would" the other girl re-
spOnded. Here we've been walkin'
home together for two weeks now. and
you've never said what you think right
out"
IF 1 do tell you, Tessie, you won't
speak of 1t to the other girls, will you?"
Tessie promised quickly, almost
breathlessly, and the other girl smiled
again, her smile that somehow carried
more in IL than the ordinary smile of
q girl of her age.
well, Tessie, came down here he
A
cause l wanted to know more about
life. thought that the life was lead
ng was too narrow" l.
you mean you don't have TO work
I you don't want tO?" TesSie smoke |
There is nothing that sol
rightens working girl and so quick
Y places her on guard as the thought -,
nat she Is being made material of in {;
me way or another.
NO, don't have to work." the other +
'irl returned, "but don't misunder- I
tand, TeSSie. / didn't come down here
find out about you, 1 came 70 find V
ut about myself. Oh, you haven't any b
lea how l hated life at home. / finally a
anne TO the conclusion that nothing "
QUA De worse than q life where I :.
ouldnt think my own thoughts. 7 h
'anted to be free, so I just cut away h.
'om II all and came down town and e,
OF a position in store" a
Like one of those society girls who OF
ant to find out about US girls who =.
ork," said Tessie bitterly. To-
NO, not bit like that" the other p
ri responded. =,
why not? You're just like them, he
iVlng play time now, and going back =,
the gay life when you're tired of it in
l." %:
But I'm not going back to it," Of
Jessie stopped for q moment on the n
rect and stared, then she walked on s..
silence. VT
I'm not going back to the old life or
'Ssie, because I've found something The
this that the old life never had"
essie laughed mirthless little the
ugh. rel
mats 1oke!' she exclaimed. ut sb.
ISL be lot of fun for you TO get IN las
rly ana work all day for just enough ,yy'
cover yourself and keep life going" not
But II isn't just that that counts Is.
don't have to stay at ribbon conn. iii
all our lives, Tessie. WHY. do Won OF
ow mat L have found something in moi;
s life that l never had In the old7 tive
found friend, real friend. Nav Boa
you think that doesn't mean some fix
NC to me-" ira
TT, VIII
Iessle REDEEMED and shy smile evi,
pt across her sullen little face. Ietee
w have been sort of pals, haven't his
Z she said softly. by
mats just it," the other girl re- L
nded. And we live our own lives any
sense, because we're not hammered S |P1j
n the old conventionalities that OF
&c one in up where l Hv,d. We're On ,re+
mite personalities, each with a OF t
nee to fight for survival. And were saIi
'S to fight, Tessie, do you hear. Won valu
are both going to fight for our OK. tran
nee, ana that's all that really mat rr IT
You're with me, aren't you?" agra
nd Jessie, who did not quite undar. exist
III 1t yet, felt suddenly a great ssocl
le OF courage, something new to her Of p
riess little life, something a great said
Ike hope.-Chicago Evening 70 Il
,rican. dealt