The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-12-12
THE NEW
GENERATION
Rty JANE PHET pc
JoAN's DIsPLEAsURE.
By JANE PHELPS

Margaret was again, as she said to
herself, between two fires-her love
for Joan and her love for Craig For
roster. Had Margaret Hayden loved
Joan's father, the man to whom her
mother married her, perhaps her
problem would not have been SO diff
ficult. But Craig Forester was the
one love of her life, and had she not
possessed wonderful will power as well
as great love for Joan she could not
have resisted him.
Now because of Professor Newbury's
remark Joan was disturbed, suspicious
and terribly upset. She left early
pleading work. Neither she nor her
mother mentioned the subject again
before she left, but it was in the mind
of each of them when they said good
night.
Could Margaret have observed Joan
when she reached her studio, she
would have been more than a little
disturbed, more than little unhappy.
81 won't have it! She shan't marry
him-just as she was getting to be so
like a pal, too! Why does she want
to be so silly" and the courageous
girl who so seldom wept gave way to
a passion of tears and strangled sobs
that would have frightened Margaret
had she seen her.
The very thing toward which Mar
garets efforts had been bent, had
worked out against her She had
thought that when she had become
more of a pal, a friend as we'll as a
mother to her daughter, Joan would
be inclined to look at her in a little
different light-as having the same
right that she did to order her own
life, to take her happiness where she
found it.
That she was mistaken in her as
4r.
her could she have looked in upon her
daughter that night.
Joan did not mention the subject
when her mother came down to the
studio. But her manner changed. She
was cold, aloof. Even in discussing
her work, the article she was writing,
there was none of that. camaraderie of
the last few weeks. She did not ask
her mother to remain to luncheon,
and when Margaret proposed it, she
acquiesced coldly. Finally Margaret
asked:
AREN'T you feeling well, JOAN"
Perfectly, thank you"
"Then something is troubling you.
Is it anythink you can tell me?" Mar
garet had utterly forgotten the pro-
fessor's remark and Joan's indigna-
ton.
"There's nothing to telI."> still I'M
graciously.
Margaret, thinking perhaps it had
to do with Joan's work, refraine cd
from more questioning. Then too, she
had seen a letter on Joan's desk adj
dressed in Ted Walters handwriting.
Perhaps the child was frettIng over
Ted.
They ate their luncheon almost in
silence. 1t is hard to keep up a con-
versation when a simple yes or no
is all the encouragement one re-
ceives, and that was all Joan vouch-
safed.
Earlier than was usual Margaret
left the studio. She stopped on her
way home and sent Joan some flowers.
Poor child, trying to work out all her
problems alone, giving her confidence
to no one. That afternoon Craig For
roster came in to take Margaret for
a drive, and she told him of the dis
comforting morning she had spent
with Joan.
And she wouldn't tell you any
thing?" he asked.
mo, and Craig. she had been cry
ing. Think of it, Joan crying!
knew it because her eyes were red
dened a little. 1 wonder what It could
have been to upset her so. She hasn't
cried a half dozen times in her life.''
Don't worry, Margaret. All girls
have their little worries, and you said
Ted Walters had been writing her.
1t might have been something in his
letter.
How wish she would marry Ted.
He's such a nice steady boy"
$50 do To he returned with en-
phasis. Then you would marry me-
AS usual Margaret paid no attention.
Then Craig spoke of something which
had happened Sunday. One thing led
to another. and finally Margaret re-
peated what Professor NewDury had
said to Joan and her dreadful reply
She told him it was a he,'' Then:
''Why, Craig. That's what's the
matter! No one has said anything to
her about us for long time. She has
been so jolly with me. And today
she was awful I believe I shall end
by hating you, Craig Forester. I shall
if it makes Joan unhappy to have
anyone mention you. Don't you dare
come to tea next Sunday
"Banished again, and for no fault
of mine" he returned whimsicaly.
omorrow-Margare debates what
she should dob