The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-10-18
THE NEW
GENERATION
By JANE PHELPS
JOAN DECIDES TO BE FAIR TO
MARGARET.
By JANE PHELPS
CHAPTER Al.

1t seemed to Joan when her motner
discussed age that twenty years back
twas in the dark ages, that when she
was twenty years older she would feel
old, and not care to do what young
people did. But Mumsic let her do as
she wanted to, and of course she
should allow intrinsic the same privl-
llege.
Sometimes she thought of what her
mother once had said concerning her,
Joan's marriage-that then she would
be left alone and lonely. OF course
that was all foolishness. Perhaps she
would not marry, hut if she did num-
sic would always live with her.
Al couldn't get along without her!
she declared aloud, Il never could in
the world" AS usual thinking of her
self, so being unconsciously selfish.
Joan had a capacity for facing
facts. She told her mother that reay
earn minded young people always
did so instead of evading them as
Gloria Freeman and LOnnie Carpenter
did.
Joan enjoyed her own youth in such
la tense way, self-conscious when she
talked in this superior manner, yet not
So now she faced the fact that her
mother was not quite happy, and was
disturbed.
II want to be dead fair with num-
sie," she soliloquised, never dream
her mothers life-rather in attempt
ing to decide it. I'll not say one
word-not if she buys clothes all the
colors of the rainbow, and hobs her
hairi" she shook her own bobbed
golden curls emphatical1y. 1t was de-
cided NIumsie should dress as she
pleased.
A feeling of a disagreeab1e duty well
performed possessed her. She had put
aside her own feeling for -Margaret's
sake, altho still unconvinced that it
was either right or proper. Had it not
been for the Influence of Ted walters
mother it is doubtful if she would have
decided SO emphatically in Margaret's
favor.
So Margaret and Mrs. Walters
New York when Joan should have
entered college, and so Margaret be
alone.
Margaret had been a trifle more
anxious than usual over Joan's talk
of the two boys. her manner of de-
cid g her feeling for them. But she
comforted herself by the recollection
that Joan had gone thru the expert
ences of her sixteen years very sue
cessfully.
Yet, naturally, after this she
watched both boys as we'll as Joan
more closely than ever. She knew the
feeling of the tide of young who were
always in and out of the house in the
wake of Joan, who was always their
leader. They felt she was mpnopoliz-
ing the two most eligible beys. Ted
was a New York boy for one thing,
which, as Hortense Thompson said,
made him different and more fasci-
mating than the home boys" altho 1t
was unQuestioned that Malcolm was
both brilliant and good-looking.
Fathers and mott ers liked Malcolm,
this Margaret knew. He was persona
grata with Mr.. and Mrs. Thompson,
also with the Freemans. Gloria and
Hortense had at times shown a sort of
jealousy of Joan because of him. yet
not enough to lose Joan'S friendship.
That was one popularity about Joan.
She held the friendship, the admira-
ton of the girls even while they re-
scented her popularity with the boys.
because it invariably eclipsed their
own.
Joan was a born leader. Her man
ner Embarrassing. half arrogant, the
girls found charming. So they gave
way, when necessary, rather than lose
her friendship.
Margaret told herself she was silly
to worry over Joan's intimacy with
either Malcolm or Ted, that she was
to be trusted to handle her own at
fairs But she didn't quite succeed.
'"They are nothing but children"
she told herself. and tried to find that
fact soothing.
The more she watched Joan, the
more puzzled she was. 1t seemed al
most as if an epidemic of love-makfng
had broken out along the boys and
girls ct her set They sat in corners
holding hands, or with arms about
waists or flung over shoulders wan
dered in the early moonlight.
81 shall be glad when vacation is
over" Margaret murmured when she
saw Joan and Ted silhouetted against
the glass, their hea-s close together.
(Tomorrow-Joan goes to college.)