The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-08-31
THE NEW
GENERATION
JOAN COMMENCES SCHOOL
By JANE PHELPS
Chapter 8,

The comments of the friends and
neighbors became annoying to Mar
garet. More than once the little Joan
had repeated some caustic remark
they had made.
II must move," Margaret said to
the loneliness she would perhaps feel
in a new home, occurred to her.
She sold her home and bought a new
one in a large town near Boston.
While far from wealthy, Margaret had
been left very comfortably provided
for. The house was a pleasant one
surrounded by a large lawn and flower
garden. She moved the furniture to
which she felt attached, hired
woman to do the heavy work of the
house. and continued her plans for
raising little Joan.
In this she was ably assisted by Han
nah Brooks, the woman she had hired.
Joan soon was the very idol of this
woman's heart. No criticisms of Mar
garet's way with Joan now greeted the
mother, SO busy with her plans for the
child that she seemingly forgot that
she herself was young and attractive.
Almost a recluse, she formed few &C
quaintances, no friendships. Her en-
tire life was given up to being the kind
of a mother the thought Joan should
have, the sort of one her own mother
had not been.
Unconscio1sly, Margaret dressed in
clothes far too old for her years the
while she fashioned dainty garments
to enhance the eif-like beauty of lit
tie Joan.
She was Joan's mother. Her own
personality. just beginning to assert
itself-had she given it rein-she
sunk under that relationship.
She more than half deceived herself
into thinking that she had lived her
life-that henceforth it was to be
lived only in the life of the daughter
God had given her. Joan was her
recompense for her own barren girl
hood.
She would bring her daughter up in
absolute freedom, Joan would always
feel absolutely free. She should ex-
press her own ideas, her own midi
viduality, and never be like her mother
afraid to speak for fear she would re-
ceive a reprimand.
Margaret thought. too, of the time
when Joan, grown to womanhood,
would perhaps have lovers, mayhap be
married. But it would be to a man
of her own choice. No one should be
foisted upon her for any reason under
the sun.
So while they lived nicely Mar
garet was economical as far as ex-
penditures fer herself were con-
cerned.
enough SO that money would not
enter into any plans she made for her
own future.
You see, Margaret knew her mother
had urged Henry Hayden's suit be-
cause he had money. That his for
tune was smaller than she had sup
posed, had been a keen disappoint-
ment to the mother.
Joan's education was in some re-
spects fragmentary while she was
small. She was never compelled to
study. Margaret encouraged her in
n 1o1 a no
things children of her age knew, but
if Joan rebelled, nothing was said.
The child was full of music, and at
an early age she played the piano re-
markedly well. But that, like every
thing else, was spasmod!c with her.
She spoke French and Italian both as
well as she did English, but 1t was
simply because she had heard them
always, not because of any applica-
ton on her part.
hours chasing butterflies in the flower
garden, or playing with her dogs, or
riding her pony. She should have all
sorts of accomplishments-if she
would. Margaret, a good horsewoman,
was delighted when Joan wished to
learn to ride. This was one exercise,
one sport, they could share together.
Joan was ten years old before she
went to school, Even so. she was
amazingly farther advanced than other
girls leF age, IN some things; amaz-
ingly ignorant in others
But she was intensely lovable, al
tho self-willed to a degree-the. ad-
miratfon and the despair of her teach
ers, whom one minute she obeyed the
next absolutely refused to be guided
by.
She is little darling," they all
agreed, and SO allowed her to be more
insolent than her mates would have
dared to be.
Which. by the way, was not very !
good for Joan.
(Tomorrow-Joan wins her bet) /