The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-10-21
THE NEW
GENERATION
MARGARET is PLEASED WITH
COMPLIMENTS.
By JANE PHELPS
CHAPTER At


Joan's letter remained uppermost
in her mothers thoughts. Also her
feeling of freedom increased. After
a bit she overcame the idea that she
was doing wrong to admit to her
self that she really enjoyed being
alone-without Joan. Yet 20 pacify
herself she wrote Joan a long chatty
letter, sent her several small gifts,
urged that she send all her mending
and laundry home to be done, and
ended by enclosing a small check.
II expect you to live On your allow
ance, but I didn't need this as I
month" When she slipped the check
into the letter Margaret said aloud:
"A sop to Cerebus."
The feeling of freedom, o. light
ness increased. She sang gaily about
her tasks. skipped up and down stairs
like a girl, dressed herself in her best
for dinner alone, then laughed with
Hannah because she was so silly.
She invited the boys and girls to
run in and see her, pleading lone
illness without Joan, When they came
she played and romped with them,
each day growing younger in both
looks and feeling.
you don't seem lonely. not one bit,
Mrs. Hayden" Gloria Freeman said
You seem so happy and gay, and you
QToSS SO pTeLlliy dll Tic llAllO AOW-
Just adore the way you do your hair!
Don't you, Malcolm" They were
playing ping-pong on the porch.
"Of course I like the way. Mrs.
Hayden Iooks-now," he replied in a
hesitating manner.
Better than you used to, Malcolm =!
noticed you said now, Margaret
''Yes. Mrs Hayden. You used to
dress older, and someway you didn't
make your hair look so pretty. I
like the way you do it now
Now again." Margaret laughed
gaily. The sincere compliments of
Joan's young friends pleased her
lacking them from those older.
Eyes, remember you used to do
it tight, not all little curls around
"Oh, Malcolm! You are a sad
flatterer! Aren't you afraid you will
make me vain?''
No, you aren't that sort"
1t may seem strange that Margaret
the boys and girls now that Joan was
away. But youth, simply as youth.
fascinated Mrs. Hayden now that she
had begun to see what she had missed
by denying herself the youth these
young things enjoyed to the full.
When Gloria Freeman or Hortense
Thompson walked to the gate with
her, slim arm about her waist, chat
tering of their pleasures, of Joan,
their studies, and ambitions, she felt
almost as If all suddenly she had be-
come one of them; that the old Mar
garet was another Margaret, one she
respected for her honesty of purpose,
but one of whom she WAS a bit afraid,
and with whom she had very little i'll
common.
You grow younger every day." Mr..
Thompson" Margaret asked. smiling
he % nd ha GfOnnnd fnIf1i1a
after Joan. st declare that head
strong young daughter of yours will
have to look to her laurels now"
why call her 'headstreng,' Mr..
Thomjson?" Margaret asked, smiling
and dimpling with pleasure because Of
his compliment, an honest one she
knew from his voice and manner.
Because she is! Why she didn't
disrupt our home I don't know. The
way you allowed her to do as she
liked, then put the same notions IN
Hortense's head was a caution. There
was a time when Mrs. Thompson had
to spend a good deal of her time ar
guing against your manner of raising
your daughter. Not many girls could
stand being given free rein
81 know that, Mr.. Thompson. but
attitude annoyed you"
''Who said anything about being
annoyed? 1t amused me. 1 miss the
girl. We all do. But judging by your
appearance it has been a rest for
you" And chuckling at his own wit
he passed on.
Given he thinks I look young!"
Margaret said to herself. delighted
that a man of his age and character
had stopped to pay her a compli-
ment. Then she added: I'm awful
ly silly but I can't help being
pleased"
(Tomorrow-Margar resolves to
move.)