The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-12-03
THE NEW
GENERATION
BIZ JANE PHELPS
By ZANE Phelps
TED WALTERS ASKS JOAN TO
MARRY HIM.
Chapter s

hAtkIk1 HIM.
Chapter 81.
Joan and her mother had no more
cosy private talks until after Ted
Walters went back to college. For
one thing he had kept Joan SO busy
she had no time. and for another Mar
garet had wisely decided to keep aloo1
bit and see If Joan would not miss
her. She had been hurt that her sug-
gestion that Joan live with her mad
been received differently. Did Joan
expect to live that crazy sort of a life
always-dancing on tables, Whlrllhg
around rooms, sitting eross-iegged on
the floor? 1t was ridiculous. she
would tire of it all in time, that was
bound to be the outcome OF this way
of living in a girl brought up as Joan
had been, with the conventions of
generations of simple and right living
behind her. Yet Margaret often felt
like asking:
How long, oh. how long?"
'"rhey talk of being Bohemians,"
she said to Craig Forester. mo Bo-
hemian on earth has the notions those
young things have"
'"They are nuts, most OF them, plain
nuts!" Craig answered.
Joan said something like that!
said she would rather be the biggest
nut she knew and be free to do as she
wished than to be conventional"
THAT talk IS like the measles. all on
the surface. 1t seldom strikes in.
Joan will wonder couple of years
from now how she stood for it,
'If she would only marry Ted Wal
tiers. He went back last night am
dying to know if she refused him? I
know he intended to ask her"
why didn't you tell me SO I could
will her to have him, cast a spell over
her? Then you could marry me and
we'd all live happy ever after as they
do in the story books
''Nonsense!" Margaret blushed
adorably.
at isn't nonsensel I love you, and
shall keep on saying it until you
marry me to shut me up. love you!
love you.'
you are worse than Joan's friends.
She wants me to bring a crowd down
to some new tea house just opened.
She's always trying to help someone.
Poor girl, she is her own worst enemy.
But she will have to go her own way
I am afraid until she tires of it,"
of course we'll gol We have to
eat somewhere, and may as well help
lords uptown who rob one of their
last cent then fail to say thank you"
when shall we go?"
Amy time you say"
Tomorrow night then. There's
Joan now! I know her ring. Run
along please, Craig. I want TO see her
alone"
That's It'll Throw me QUIT" his ag-
grieved manner, so exaggerated, made
Margaret laugh heartily. But she
waved him away.
Come right in, dear. I knew it
could have a nice comfy talk
Il passed him at the door. He's
here an awful lot"
Lay your hat off, JOAN" Margaret
ignored her remark regarding Craig.
Now tell me what you have been
doing these last few days? 1t is good
to see you," she added and kissed her
fondly.
Ted asked me to marry him last
night Joan returned with her usual
bluntness- II don't mean ne wanted
to get married last night, but he
married after he finished college. He
is graduated in June you know"
Yes, 1 know. What did you tell
him %
That I wouldn't marry him, OF
course" Joan's voice broke bit, maxi
ing Margaret want to smile.
Why, of couFse?"
"Oh, I told him just what I told
you the other day, that if he would
agree to die and leave me a widow
when I tired of him why I would
think about it: What 90 you think
Il haven't the slightest idea"
He said he'd agree to take a dose
or poison the very day I told him I
was tired of him.
"A very comfortable arrangement,
L am sure"
Bat that would make him a sui
eide, and that would be dreadful. So
told MIN no-that L wasn't going to
get married, that 1 was going to de-
vote my life to doing good, not to
waiting On man-waFming up his
slippers and making mustard pIasters
for him when he took cold. Journal
ism will give me the opportunity.
Mumsie. ] do want to help the poor
unfortunate people VINO never have
had a chance to express themselves,
altho it is their right as much as it
so you sent Ted away"
"Yes!" a tear fell quickly down
Joan's check. Margaret seeing IL
smiled. Things weren't SO bad after
all.
(TO be continual