Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1917-07-20
HER EXPERIMENT
By JANE MCLEAN.

people who write about the beautllui things that happen don't know, that all; they've never been up agalnst It.
 Her scompanion did not answer all at once. She was walking along at Tessie's side, thinking about the "oros that had just been spoken. Were they true? If so, what was the use or II all?
 j Tessie was speaking again.
 "You know, some of us girls was wondering the other night now you stand for 1t. You don't seem like the rest of us, and yet you don't do nall the complainin' we do.'
 The other girl smiled at this. 2 "Complaining doesn't do any good.'
 "Yes, it does it seems to help things if a lot of us get together and talk about our troubles"
 "You think it does, but it 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 a different world, and had known diff ferent people, and yet she worked next to Tessie at the ribbon counter.
 "What do you think about it all?' Tessie asked, suddenly.
 The other girl turned to her. q wonder if it would help you if told you what I really do think?"
 "Sure it 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 I do tell you, Tessie, you won't speak of it to the other girls, will you?"
 Tessie promised quickly, almost breathlessly, and the other girl smiled again, her smile that somehow carried more in it than the ordinary smile of girl of her age.
 "'Well, Tessie, came down here be. cause wanted to know more about life. I thought that the life was lead ing was too narrow"
 "You mean you don't have to work if you don't want to?" Tessie spoke, suspiciously. There is nothing that Sc frightens working girl and so quick. ly places her on guard as the thought that she is being made material of in l one way or another.
 "NO, don't have to work" the other girl returned, "but don't misunder- stand, Tessie.1I didn't come down here to find out. about you, 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 life where couldn't think my own thoughts. l wanted to be free, so just cut away from it all and came down town and got position in a store.''
 "Like one of those society girls who want to find sout about us girls who work" said Tessie bitterly.
 "No, not a bit like that" the other 1 girl responded. | "Why not? You're just like them having a play time now, and going back to the gay life when you're tired of it an." But I'm not going back to it.'' Tessie stopped for moment on the street and stared, then she walked on in silence.
 "Tm not going back to the old life Tessie, because I've found something in this that the old life never had" Tessie laughed a mirthless little laugh.
 n"That's a joke!" she exclaimed. q, must be lot of fun for you to get UT early and work all day for just enough to cover yourself and keep life going"
 But 1t isn't just that that counts We don't have to stay at ribbon coun ter all our lives, Tessie. Why, do YOU know that have found something ir this life that never had in the old I've found friend real friend May be you think that doesn't mean some thing to me-
 Tessie reddened and shy smile crept across her sullen little face.
 "We have been sort of pals, haven't we?" she said softly.
 "That's just it." the other girl re sponded. And we live our own lives in sense because we're not harapered With the old conventionalities that close one in up where I lived. We're definite personalities, each with q chance to fight for survival. And we're going to fight, Tessie, do you hear, you and are both going to fight for our ex lstence, and that's all that really mat ters. You're with me, aren't you?"
 And Tessie. who did not quite under stand 1t yet, felt suddenly a grea, flame Of courage, something new to he, colorless little life, Something great deal like hope.-Chicago Evenins American.