The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-07-03
JUST A GIRL
By JANE PHELPS
A POSITION AT LAST.
CHI A IoI.En o a

weary, Dul unwilling to admit was
discouraged, I crept into bed as soon
as had finished my dinner I would
try other places in the morning
references and experiences"
All night long, even in sleep, those
two words buzzed in my brain. In
every single place I had visited. they
had been fired at me almost before I
got inside the door.
What is your experience? Where
have you worked, and have you refer
ences?'
81 could have gone to Mr.. Shop
hard. Mr.. Wren or others and asked
for help. No doubt they would have
done something for me-out of char
ity. If 1 was tempted to try, that
thought kept me from them. If ex-
periences and references were neces-
sary to other business men,. they were
necessary for them. or course they
would not ask for references. but the
experience would be lacking.
Then 1 had another reason for
Keeping way from our old friends. 1t
| may have been false pride, yet had 1
my life to live over again I should do
no different. I could not take a men
| iai position with people with whom I
had mingled upon terms of equality.
1t would be too embarrassing, too diff
| ficult for me.
| So day after day I haunted offices.
And night after night I erept into bed
too exhausted to think.
4
| ton, instead of fitting me to earn my
living, had rather untitled me. When
1 told that I had been to a fashionab Bile
| boarding school, it seemed to initiate
| against me, just as my good clothes
| seemed to. Some day they both
! seemed to awaken suspicion of me.
My money was gradually dribbling
away, altho 1 now had reduced my ex-
| penses by taking a still cheaper room
up one more flight of stairs. 1 had
times when I was SO frightened 1
| didn't know what to do. The world,
| which had been such a kind place to
! live in, suddenly beca me a hard. dis
agreeable place where everyone
| doubted everyone else, and no one
was willing to help.
ing down in torrents, making my de-
preston greater. I dared not remain
in, so I started out to make the round
/ of the department stores. I must
find work.
i went into one, not knowing
enough to use the employees entrance,
and approaching a floor walker, asked
if they would have anything for me.
Just as he was about to speak, 1 saw
Claudia Sheppard and Jack Pryor
coming toward me, laughing gaily.
fairly bolted. AS sped along the
street. leaving the store behind me. I
breathed a prayer of Thanksgiving
that they had not seen me-.
This experience untitled me for do
ing anything more that day, and it
also determined me not to try for a
clerkship. I would be in danger of
seeing people knew constantly.
i What was there left for meg What
that I could do?
That night I pored over the papers
looking for positions where / would
escape the danger of meeting those l
once had known. That I might go to
some other cityssoccurred to me. But
I hadn't money enough. Perhaps,
!. after I earned some-the thought in
trigued me. Finally I decided would
try for a position in some family as
parlof maid. I surely knew the re-
quirements of all house servants, even
if I did not know how to do their
work. I was qu!ck-I would soon
learn.
1t was with burning cheeks that ]
made this decision to be a house serv-
| ant It was better paid-most of the
advertisements mentioned the wages
and I would be able to hide myself
Mother was being made comfortable
: there was nothing to take me into
the streets.
: I found a half dozen advertisement.
! for maids, and putting on the simples
dress I owned L started out I had
= been careful to look up the addresses
so that I would not get into our ole
neighhorhood. Ny near-encountel
with Claudia and Jack, had made ms
; cautious.
= 1 had become almost discouraged
: when finally one woman-I was SURF
: she was harsh mistress-grudgiQg
said she would give me a trial
, References aren't any good any
! way" she said insultingly. Most o
you forge them. But ] can't run thi
big house without servants. So com'
!, the first thing in the morning, read!
: to work. I furnish aprons and caps
> but no dresses
9 I promised to be early. then fled.
: "Oh, Dad. 1 wonder If you know
said aloud as 1 hurried to the sub
! way. my tears Notwithstanding me.
(To be continued.)