The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-12-01
THE NEW
GENERATION
By JANE PHELPS
TED COMPARES JOAN WITH HER
NEW FRIENDS.
Chapter 81.

Chapter 81.
At the theater, where, of course.
Margaret chaperoned them, altno she
knew none of them thought it neces-
sary, she overheard Ted ask Joan:
DO YOU like this free and easy
bunch who pretend to be so serious ?"
They are serious" Joan replied
they look upon life as something to
be used. not frittered away"
'Golly," Ted gasped. Then: rs
it as bad as that, Joan? How can you
stand the strain?"
Because 1 believe as they do"
You don't look like them" His
eyes roved over her pretty frock=It
was pretty and stylishly made even if
it was old and took in her clear well
cared for skin, her daintiness.
Il know!" She blushed at his re-
gard. And do you know, Ted,
sometimes feel so guilty. I feel like
one of the cleverest men I know said
the other night: that had no right
to any more than any other person.
that I ought to divide it with them,
the world before they take it from
me-"
"One of those lazy soap box orators
who are 100 lazy to work, and want
the other fellow to support him. I'll
bet a nickel Don't you know, Joan,
that the woods is full of such men,
and women too, who make their liv-
ing by running down the very people
who support them? For goodness
sakes, don't get mixed up with that
bunch
Don't worry! I can take care of
myself. There goes the curtain, stop
talking"
But can your" Ted Walters said
under his breath. He loved Joan Hay
den. had loved her with boys love
when he first met her, had kept her
gay, independent spirit mirrored in his
heart, her sweet face with its halo of
golden curls in his mind. Now he was
almost man. almost ready to choose
a mate. and he felt he loved her with
a mans honest love-that she was
the one girl he wanted for his girl,
then his wife.
Did she care for him?
Ted walter was no coward, vet he
feared to ask her. Love seemed SO far
from her thoughts, comradeship the
only thing she desired of him, and to
ms comfort he thought, of any man.
Was she as serious minded as she
would make him think, or was it pre-
tense, pose because of the people
with whom she had surrounded her
self? She was the leading spirit now
just as she had been when she was a
little girl and all the children did as
she wanted them to, while she fol-
lowed her own sweet will.
lie watched her changing face as
the play went on, a clean little comedy.
some OF the others looked and acted
bored There was nothing particularly
new, nothing at all risque about the
little drama of married life being
play before them. But Joan did not
look bored, she followed the move
ment OF the play breathlessly. She
smiled her approval when someone
who tried to do the right thing came
out ahead, she wiped her eyes frankly
at some sad passages. No, she wasn't
like the others who saw neither the
fun or the pathos in the play. She
was still clean and sweet, as dainty of
mind as she was of person.
Wasn't it lovely. Fed?'' Joan
asked as the curtain went down for
the last time and she gave him her
wrap.
Perfectly loveIy." he replied look
ing straight into her eyes. He might
ing expressions of her face he would
have known nothing of the play. He
only knew it as she had interpreted it
to him.
'I was so glad that dear woman
was happy at last" she unused as he
wrapped her cloak about her slim
Margaret sent them all home in
taxis. taking Ted and Joan back with
her.
Joan is going to stay with me to-
night, Ted. Would you like to come
IN ana nave a DlIe OF supper HAN
nah usually leaves something for me-"
THANK you, Mrs. Hayden. Did you
ever know a college boy to refuse
eats?"
With much laughter and gay chat
ter they raided the ice box. Mar
garet, wise in her generation, did not
leave them, but when the impromptu
meal was finished sent Ted home as
was her custom when he was a lad
of 1 2 years.
(TomorroW-Jean explains why she
cannot live with Margaret.)