The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-09-14
THE NEW
GENERATION
JOAN is DISPLEAsED WITH HER
MOTHER
By JANE PHELPS
CHAPTER Is.
Another danger averted.

AHOtt16T QdHSer dF6rleQ.
So Margaret reckoned as she
thought of the crap shooting incident.
1t had not occurred to her before, but
now she wondered if with Joan's ideas
of personal liberty-allowed, if not
inculcated, by her mode OF bringing
her up-it had not been a fortunate
happening.
She recalled Joan's excitement as
she won from the others; her glee-
full EXPLANATIONS. 1t was considered
quite the proper thing for women and
girls in certain exclusive circles to
not as exclusive This experience
might be a beneficial influence in that
it would moderate Joan's instincts for
games of chance, even If it did not
wholly eliminate them.
She's all right! And shall keep
on as have commenced. She is made
of the right stuff. I can trust her to
come out all right" Yet as she said
it. Margaret Hayden sighed. Perhaps
had you asked her why, she would
give a reason. Yet back in her mind
were brewing thoughts that made her,
to say the least, less happy than she
had been. In all the years since she
had been left alone with Joan she had
been perfectly contented to be just
Joan'S mother, finding her happiness
in the happiness of her child. taking
no pleasures that did not include Joan,
making no acquaintance save those
which would either make for joan
present pleasure or her future posi-
ton.
I'm not being coquettish," Mar
garet said to herself, as she bought a
dress of soft gray, mot at my age
She had allowed the modiste to add
q. bit of rose color to the neck and
sleeve trimming, just touch of the
color so becoming to her.
he e1fd If -
Joan, who was out when it came
home, but dressed in it for. dinner.
As she saw Joan come up the walk
she went down to meet her.
why, Mumsie! What on earth
have you done to yourself? Your
about her face instead of drawing it
back in the tight French twist she
usually affected. And that dress.
Why Mumsie, it looks like it was for
me instead Of for an old woman like
you. It's sweet, but so out of place"
When Joan first began to talk Mar
garet's eyes looked as tho she was
-nbout TO laugh aloud. But as the child
went on the laugh died from her eyes,
and the look OF a grieved child took
its. plaza while her lips trembled
little.
"I'm not such a very old woman,
Joan. Only 20 years older than you
are. Twenty years isn't much
Margaret was apologizing to her
own child. She realized this and
flushed darkly red.
mot much! Why, it's heapsi and
l hate to have my mother look as if
she were wearing my clothes and
combing her hair to look like a kid
girl. You don't look a bit like my
Mumsfe, not a single bit!"
1t was the interchange Of the two
words that caused Margaret,s lips to
tremble again in spite of her effort to
appear unconcerned.
joan had said:
II hate to have my mother look as
il she were wearing N.Y. Clothes"
Then: ''You don't look a bit like my
Mumsie, not a single bitt"
"Munsie'' had been Joan's name for
Margaret when she first began to talk,
harsher mother" It had been her
pet name for her mother as she grew
older. Margaret once had laughingIy
said to Hannah:
ct know Joan is displeased with
me when she calls me mother"
So now Margaret knew that Joan
was displeased with her. She realized
the young girls resentment at her
youthful appearance without under
standing Just why she resented it. Her
thoughts flew back to her own child
hood. She recalled the stately mother
who was always so plainly and richly
dressed. She remembered once she
wore a soft mauve negligee, and that
in her childish delight she ran TO her
mother and flung loving arms about
her neck, exclaiming upon her lowell
ness.
She had been charmed to see her
mother look young and lovely. Why
should Joan resent her dressing at
tractively?
Her t5oue,tt,s sv-srp .ipterrunted.
There goes the dinner gongi I
suppose wen have to go in. Let's
hurry. Some of the girls may come
and see you fixed up like a Kid
Joan led the way. Margaret meekly
following. her thoughts busy.