The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1918-07-11
BY JANE OSBORN


admire the image because it was the
reflection Of Il charming and graceful
young girl, but because it looked to her
for all the world like a young boy. For
Mariana was at the age where the
greatest compliment anyone might
have paid her was to tell her that she
was not feminine, that she thought
like n boy and that she was free from
any of the foibles of sex.
The very first day she met Dixon
James he had been fortunate enough
to pay her a compliment of this kind.
He had ridden across the country with
her brother and reached the Burden
house just as she was mounting her
own horse for country ride. So Dixon
and the brother remounted their
horses and started out again with
Mariana.
you know, I have never enjoyed
riding with a girl before so much as
/ have with you" he told her. an
fact, you don't seem like a girl. You're
more like some awfully nice kid
brother"
Mariana had treasured that compli-
ment. It was worth more than dozen
Of the usual sort, and ever since that
day Mariana had grown more and
more addicted to the boyish costume
and more and more rebellious against
skirts. She had never been convinced
Iap al fTrp
question, but when she learned that
some of the early suffragiSts had re-
belled against skirts, she had declared
herself decided suffragist and rode
with her fair hair streaming, in n coat
of steel mail, to represent Joan of Arc
at the next suffrage procession.
Then she bought pair of housework
overalls and went about her own bed
room and little sitting room mornings
busting and putting things to rights in
that costume. Her mother positively
forbade her going out of her domain
in the costume. OF course all her
negligees We're cut on pajama lines
and, inconsistent as was It with her
she would like to be a Turkish woman
because of the boomers.
81 can do almost anything" she told
her chum one day, "if ! am not ham
pered with petticoats. I'm sure If
ever make n name for myself 1t will
be in breeches-rlding breeches or
housework Oyeralls, or something of
that sort"
Then came the war and illustrated
newspaper supplements were flooded
with pictures of dairy girls in brooches,
factory girls in overalls and street car
conductors in suits like the soldiers
uniform. Mariana felt devoutly thank
full that she had lived In I'M age when
she might wear trousers and not be
hooted like poor Amelia BlOOmcr and
those other worthy pioneers in petit
coat emancipation. The question was,
just which line Of emancipated occu-
patton should she pursue. First she
decided to be an ambulance driver, but
the idea struck every one as absurd.
Particularly did Dixon James plead
with her to abandon this project.
"In the first place, they wouldn't
have YOU" he told her. "You'rc only
eighteen and you are too darned
pretty. What do you know about mix
ing up with lot Of rowdy soldiers?
They won't want girls like yOu-they
want some big husky amazons that
can give hand to lifting stretchers
and one that has nerves like iron. You
say you couldn't stand being II nurse.
Why, my dear child you'd have to 70
through more horrors as an ambulance
driver"
Finally she was dssuaded. But
eventually her mind was made up.
She read In some not distant city an
appeal for street car conductors
the kind that wore lcggings and knee
length coats and bloomers-and not
the pettlcoat sort-she announced firm.
ly that she considered IL her duty to
give her services as Il conductor. She
was going To- release some map for
service, she announced. Arguing
against her was In vain, and after sew
| erul family councils OF war, Il was de-
cided TO let her 20 her own sweet way
at would usually be family dis.
grace" her mother said to Dixon
James one day, for of late Dixon was
usually to be found somewhere about
the Burden summer place. ut really
would be a scandal to have ones
daughter be street car conductor
swell, then, may have the pleas
ureT asked the young man quickly
and as Anne nodded consent, ht
added. "I'll join you here In just 1
minute" and went off to look after hi
machine.
AS they gllded over the floor togeth
er, Anne gave herself up completed,
TO the pleasure Of dancing with part
ner whose step matched hers perfectly
and II was not until the end Of thel
third dance together that she decide,
that II was time for her 10 80.
"Just walt for one more lance,
pleaded her c0mpanl2n. "for | shall b.
going myself then. ! have rather
s@s--