The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1917-07-12
HER EXPERIMENT
BY JANE MCLEAN.


"There's really nothing at all to life,"
said Tessie, despoDdently. "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 at
Tessies side, thinking about the words
that had just been spoken. Were they
true? Ii so, what was the use OF 1t
all?
Tessle was speaking again.
"You know some of us girls was
wondering the other night how you
stand for it. 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"
"Yes, it does; it seems to help things
If lot of us get. together and talk
about our troubles"
"You think it does, but 1t really
doesn't help. Things are just as bad
after you go 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
different world, and had known diff
ferent people, and yet she worked next
to Tessie at the ribbon counter.
'What do you think about 1t ALP
Tessle asked, suddenly.
THE other girl turned to her. 81
wonder if it would help you If l told
you what really do think?"
"Sure it would" the other girl re-
sponded. "Here we've been walllin'
home together for two weeks now, and
you've never said what you think right
out"
''If do tell you, Tessie, you won't
speak of it to the other girls, will your
Tessie promised quickly, almost
breathlessly, and the other girl smiled
again, her smile that somehow carried
more in it than the ordinary smile of
q girl of her age.
swell, Tessle, I came downShere be-
cause l wanted to know more about
life. 1 thought that the life 1 was lead
ing was too narrow"
"You mean you don't have to'work
If you don't want too" Tessie spoke,
suspiciously. There is nothing that so
frightens a working girl and so quick
ly places her on guard as the thought
that she is being made material of in
one way or another.
''No, don't have to work." the other
girl returned, "but don't misunder-
stand, Tessle. didn't come down here
to find out about you, I came to find
out about myself. Oh, you haven't any
idea how hated life at home. / finally
came to the conclusion that nothing
could be worse than a life where l
couldn't think my own thoughts. l
wanted to be free, so just cut away
from 1t all and came down town, and
got a position in a store"
Like one Of those society girls who
want to find out about us girls who
work." said Tessie bitterly.
mo, not a bit like that" the other
girl responded.
"Why not? You're just like them,
having play time now, and going back
to the gay life when you're tired of it
ALL"
"But I'm not going back to it}
Tessie stopped for a moment or the
street and stared, then she walked on
in silence.
I'm not going back to the old life,
Tessie, because I've found something
In this that the old life never had"
Tessle laughed a mirthless little
laugh.
"Thafs a joker she exclaimed. at
must be lot of fun for you to get up
early and work all day for just enough
to cover yourself and keep life going"
"But it isn't just that that counts.
We don't have to stay at a,ribbon coun-
ter all our lives, Tessie. Why, do you
know that / have found something In
this life that l never had in the old?
I've found Il friend, n real friend. May
be you think that doesnt4mean some
thing to me-"
Tessie REDEEMED and a shy smile
crept across her sullen little faco
'We have been sort Of pals, haven't
WEI" she said softly.
"Thats just it," the other girl re-
sponded. "And we live our own lives
in a sense, because we're not hampered
with the old conventionatities that
close one in up where / lived. We're
definite personalities, eaclE with
chance to fight for survival. And we're
going to fight, Tessie, do you hear, you
and | are both going to fight for our OK.
istence, and that's all that really mat.
tiers. You're with me, aren't your
And Tessie, who did not quite under.
stand it yet, felt suddenly a great
flame of courage, something new to her
colorless little life, something Il great
deal like hope.-Chlcago Evening
American.
H.. 4