The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-09-28
THE NEW
GENERATION
JOAN is ANNOYED.
By JANE PHELPS
CHAPTER 81.

oh now loVelyI Joan exclaimed
bending over the roses" aren't you the
eXtravagant Mumsiei" she added as
she kissed Margaret, who held the
unopened note in her hand.
mo, l was not extravaganza dear. l
did not buy them" Margaret felt her
face grow hot, altho she had tried to
appear and speak in a casual manner.
who sent them? Is that the note
that came with them? Do read it or
let me. Don't stand holding it." She
reached for the note.
I'm open it," Margaret slowly tore
the end of the enve -ope and extracted
card.
In remembrance of our rose and
gray luncheon" she read her cheeks
now crimson.
Joan's young face grew serious.
What did it mean? American beauty
roses her mother blushing like a
girl?
What is it? Who sent them.
mother?"
Margaret noticed that mother" and
slowly, carefully tore the card into tiny
fragments.
She could not hope to escape an ex-
PLANTATION should Joan see that allusion
to the rose and gray luncheon.
The roses are from Mr.. Forester,
| dear. He called on his way to the
train
You must have been awfully nice
for calling on his way to the train"
Joan replied sarcastically, and a bit
! impudently.
IT always try to be nice to any one
who calls"
Il haven't noticed any one else send
ing you flowers
Come, help me put them in vases
They are SO lovely we must not let
them wilt
Il don't care to help. don't like
men sending you flowers as if YOU
were Is years old. It-wen it
doesn't look nice"
Joan Margaret had seldom
spoken in SO severe a tone. Il won't
| have you talk like that. 1 have a
right to receive flowers from any one
choose. I am nos too old for flow
ers even If you seem to think so''
| "Of course you aren't too old for
flowers-no one ever is. But it is so
silly to have a man send them to you
l suppose that florist will tell about it,
and the girls will be asking me when
L am to have a new father. and a lot
of other pleasant questions about
youl"
| Don't be vulgar-and silly, joan
IF it was all right why did you
tear up his card? There was some
thing on it you didn't want me to see.
Perhaps you were-ashamed to let me
see!"
"Joan"'
Very well, mother. Remember
what I told you. If you bring a man
here I'll either kill myself or run
away" And with the air of an out
ragged queen, Joan flung out of the
room. leaving Margaret standing in
the middle of floor, the tiny card
scraps in her hand, and Hannah look
ing on alphabetically. while the neg
1ected roses seemed to reproach them.
1T amt right noways, Mrs. Hayden.
No it amt! You is not old, and Miss
Joan should not talk so.''
! Hush, HannahI It is my fault.
I never have curbed her never shall.
But oh, Hannah, don't feel old-at
least I didn't until Joan came in. What
would she have said if she had caught
me playing it was evening in that
dress. with the candles lighted, and
the shades DRAWN"
You looked lovely"
Still shuddering at the thought of
iwhat 14year-old Joan would have
said. did she know of the last few
hours indiscretions, Margaret more
carefully hid the box containing her
do. now that Joan knew Craig For
roster had been there, to allow her a
Iglimpse of that box and its contents.
But not even Joan's disapproval
her feeling that she had disgraeed
herself in her daughters eyes. could
take from Margaret the delight she
felt in arranging her roses: or her
pleasant thoughts of the giver.
ct wonder If he will write" she
asked herself as she put part of the
roses upon her writing table. the re-
mainder in the music room. Joan
still peeved was on the porch pre-
tending to read.
'If he does I must not let Joan
know" she added, then felt angry
with herself that she, the mother
should feel she must hide anything
so innocent. at don't care if she does
knowi" she added fiercely.
/ (Tomorrow-Joan tells of a ghost.)