The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-12-28
THE NEW
GENERATION
MARGARET CoNFTDEs IN CRAIG
ONCE MORE.
By JANE PHELPS



In spite of the casual ending of their.
talk Margaret could not help worry
ing about this new idea of Joan's.
Suppose she were in earnest and
should fly off to the ends of the earth
some day on her chase for the pot of
gold at the foot of the rainbow? As
usual she spoke of her fears to Craig
Forester, ending rather dolefully:
There's no use your waiting any
longer for me, Craig. Find some nice
girl or woman, and make a home for
yourself and her. 1t isn't fair to keep
you dangling along in this way. I am
sure I never shall be able to marry
you
oh, yes, yonA wilt"
Where do you suppose Joan got
that idea of all this crazy travelling?
Out of books, 1 suppose she an
swered her own question.
''Oh, I don't know-Tm not surei
did she ever talk that way before that
young Frost came here?"
Not to me. never heard her run
on so. She was as excited as if she
were really gong"
"I'll bet a nickel. and won't lose it
either. that he's at the bottom of this
new idea. That girl will be theA death
of you yet, Margaret and how you do
love her-I do too, if 1 were honest
ABOUT II.
"Of course you do! No one could
help loving Joan if they knew her.
She wears. Craig. She is so inherently
honest, such a capable young thing,
and so sure of herself. Think how she
/ has earned all she has had for
months! She will scarcely let me do
! a thing for her. Just as sure as take
/ her something nice. she makes me
1 stay and eat it up. I never saw such
| a spirit nor such application. I'm
afraid all the time she will make her
| self sick
"she won't! She's just a healthy
young girl
talking of, Craig. There's absolutely
no sense in your waiting for me" tears
glistened in Margaret's eyes You
know 1 care for you, so don't talk of
that. But I simply cannot, I will not
make Joan unhappy. And if 1 should
also because of her demands on me
unless she ran away as she has threat
ened. and then should be unhappy.
Don't you see it is impossible"
| NO, 1 Gon't!"
But you musti 1t may be years
| before Joan marries, or makes up her
mind to let me. and I'll be old and
wrinkled then and you won't want
/ me, and will blame me for spelling
your life
Forester wiped away her tears
| then drew Margaret 4nto his arms.
How many times have told you
| he asked, that 1 am willing to wait
! 20 times seven years for you, dear?'
WED both be dead before you got
| thru waiting" she said. between a
sob and a laugh Help me, Craig.
! Don't talk such nonsense"
| Promise me, Margaret that the day
| Joan marries you'll marry me-"
Il promise! We will have a double
wedding. But she won't marry"
TT shall be my one aim in life TO
1 see that young person change her
| name. I shall think of nothing else
not even of you-until have found
her a husband. If necessary, I'll
put it square to some nice fellow that
he is running our lives by not marry
| ing her. No decent man would want
that on his conscience. Are you go
ing to New Haven when Ted is grad
uated?" Craig questioned.
Janet asked us, but Joan declares
she can't afford it..
Craig Forester remained in q
brown study for a while. Them
Perhaps it is just as we'll it will
pique Ted, and make him all the more
anxious to win her. That boy is head
over heels in love with Joan and would
marry her in minute il she would
have him. Invoke the help of the
gods, Margaret"
| LIZ gO1 hllOW 1EaIB, we are get
ting almost as foolish as if weDe
Joan's age
Good thing! We've got to keer
young, you know. Wasn't that what
you came to New York for? To keeI
young and have good time? You've
done the first all right
"And you have made me have q
better time that I ever dreamed any
woman could have Margaret re
turned softly.
Tomorrow-Joan's environment adds
to Margaret's anxiety.)