The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-11-21
THE NEW
GENERATION
=. ZANE PHELPS
MARGARET WORRIES OVER
JOAN'S FRIENDS.
By JANE PHELPS
Chapter %.

mAt6(A16EI WOht1lE5S Wv E4kS
JOAN'S FRIENDS.
Chapter 70.
In spite of her amusement Margaret
was a bit anxious because of the sort
of people Joan seemed TO select for
her friends. There was the episode
with the married man. It was true
Joan had come out of that with fly
ing colors, but might not the next
man be more clever. sense Joans
youngness. and yet see she was diff
ferent from many girls her age?
You. see, JOAN" Margaret said as
result OF long reflection, married
men have no intention to be any
thing but true to their wives But they,
all men, are like children and want
to be amused. Then because girls
know they are marrieG and should be
at home under theft own vine or fig
tree. or should have their wives with
them, they have to make p long and
elaborate explanation about their
wives not understanding them-how
lonely they are-and how the par
ticuIar young girl to whom they have
been talking is the one girl In all the
world for them. But if WHEY comes
along just as likely they won't even
see the girl. They will certainly try
to avoid speaking to her and when
they meet again will boldly deny hav-
ing seen her"
but, Mumsie, the married men are
so interesting"
81 grant you that! They have had
more practice than the boys, and
practice makes perfect you know.
There's one thing 1 personally dislike
in married men who run after other
women. They respect no one neither
the women they have married. the
woman they run after, nor them
selves
why, Mumsie how awfulu'
TT is true. Your married man
proved how much you meant to him,
didn't he? They are all alike. They
know they never can mean anything
to you, yet by their attentions they
keep decent young men away because
they know that really nice girls won't
put themselves in such questionable
position"
IAN right. Mumsie!" Joan was
yawning. Bot you know you nave al
ways lived in the country. The bunch
I run around with don't feel as you do
about things. It makes no difference
whether a man is married or not if he
is clever, interesting and entertain
ing"
Margaret said no more. As always,
she felt as if shestried to preach she
would do more harm than good. Joan
had come out of so many experiences
unscathed that she felt confident the
girl always would. Yet she could not
yet dismiss the entire subject:
DO you really like such young men
as Dean Tenant, Joan? l wish I
could. But whenever I try to think
that perhaps he is very clever-not
only Dean, but all those young men
saw that night at dinner-all I can
think of or see is their soiIed linen,
their unkempt appearance. They are
so different from Malcolm Frost, and
the rest the boyfs: Why Ted Walters
looks as if he belonged to a different
world, yet he is very clever, full of
fun and is everything that is attrac-
tive
"Oh, Ted's all right. But one gets
fed up on the sort they have always
known. What is life If it contains no
thrills?"
choked instead, SO hard was it for her
to keep from laughing. When she
could compose herself she replied:
yes, thrills do mean a good deal.
That was why I came to New York.
I also longed for thrills"
Joan's face grew serious. 1t was
one thing for her to want to be
thrilled. quite another thing when her
mother wanted the same experience.
The telephone rang. Joan answered
it gaily:
Eyes. this is .Joan--yes, indeed.
my studio is adorable. Yes-not now.
mother is here with me. She is a
duck but she wouldn't understand you
no, 1 won't marry anyone until you
have had chance to propose to me.
What nonsense you do talk No
come tomorrow-yes, about 8 o'clock.
So long"
"Just think of a man talking like
that over the phone. Did he really
ask you to marry him? And who in
the world was it?"
ut wasn't anyone you know, Mum
sic. and he just the same as asked me.
But unless I was sure a man would
die in a month or two and leave me
widow before I got sick and tired of
seeing him around, I'd never marry
anyone. Altho it is sort of nice to
have Mrs. on ones calling cards, and
on ones tombstone. People are apt
to think one of so unattractive if they
sign themselves Miss instead of Mrs"
Margaret laughed with Joan. and
soon left, desperately anxious to know
who had spoken to Joan SO familiarly,
yet hesitating to ask again.
what is life If it contains no
thrills?" Joan had asked with such
serious face. In her heart Margaret
understood, and also longed for the
thrilling experiences that come to most
women.
(TomorroT-A chat with Craig For
rester.)