The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-11-05
THE NEW
GENERATION
BIZ JANE PHELPS
JOAN VISITS HER MOTHER.
By JANE PHELPS
CHAPTER 60.

CHAPTER 60.
81 wonder if Joan goes to that sort
Of a place because she likes it or be-
cause she thinks it is smast?" Mar
| garet said to Forester when they
were rolling uptown in a taxi.
''Oh, it's just a fadi'' her escort re-
piled, 'sheIl get tired of it after a
Bit 4
IT hope son Really I hate to have
her get into the habit Of wandering
about New York with Tom, Dick anu
Harry. Did you see how terribly
shocked she looked because I was
smoking, yet how she took it as a
matter of ceursel that 17-year-old
Martha Hardy shosld smoker"
Indeed I did, It was ridiculously
funny. Had she got been in such a
state of surprise she would have
known you could not smoke. You
were terribly awkward, for a graceful
woman"
How I hated to do it'll But I wanted
her to know " just how people feel
about such things, and so let her ex-
| perience it."
81 cannot make up my mind
whether you are very clever or very
foolish in your handling of Joan. You
certainly are unique" Forester re-
marked, laughing as he recalled the
| struggle Margaret had to hide her dis
like of the cigaret.
Perhaps I was foolish in the be-
ginning, yet I am not ready to con-
| cede even that. But now Joan must
find out things for herself. All I can
| do is to influence her opinion when
| she isn't aware 1 am doing it, shall
let her know 1 smoked because she
and other did-Martha particularly.
That I hated it, and nothing would
ever make me smoke again. Yet the
shock to her will remain. She will
I 6 1s-1rr
| it aroused in her. You see 1 know
my daughter" Then she added: 1.-THE
| little darling"
Margaret refused Forrester's plea to
come in and visit with her for an
| hour Her mind was full of Joan, her
promised visit. Over and over she
rehearsed what she should say to her,
how she would show her that mother
| had fully as much right to live her
! own life as a daughter had, and that
without apology. That was, what Mar
garet feared the most in the coming
interview with Joan; that she would
be tempted to apologize instead of
| simply explaining her action.
| She told Hannah of Joar's visit, that
| she was to remain to dinner. Mrs.
| Walters, Craig Forester, and one or
two other guests would help over any
Have all the things Joan likes"
| Margaret said.
"of course / will! The poor lamb
| Hannah answered.
won't she be surprised when she
sees this apartment" Margaret said to
herself as she glanced admiringly
around. Forester had sent her great
| bouquets of flowers until every avail
able vase and bowl was full, and the
room so attractive she could scarcely
tear herself away to dress.
To- ~ rs1,C -.944
on as she arranged her hair in the
| latest mode, and busted a becoming
power over her cheeks. Joan must be
! thrilled, she must think me interest
| ing as a woman. I adore being her
mother but l want to be more than
that. I want her to treat me as an
| equal" Margaret laughed a bit rue
| fully as she recalled how Joan had
thought her too old to enjoy anything
| planned for the younger set
zone would think 1 was dressing for
a lover instead of my daughter" she
| said to her. reflection in the mirror, a
reflection dazzling in its loneliness.
Once again before she could expect
Joan she conferred with Hannah. She
wanted to be sure that Hannah would
the usual thing. She even wanted
Joan to be impressed with the change
in her old servant.
The bell rang. Margaret longed to
run and open the door herself and take
Joan in her arms. But she sat still in
her lovely rose bedroom. Bring her
in here!' she called to Hannah and
Joan stood wide-eyed in the doorway.
Come in, dear, and lay aside your
wrap" Margaret drew her daughter to
her and pressed kiss on the flushed
cheek. That's a pretty frock. Joan,
but must have my dressmaker make
you some things. Turn around and let
me look at you"
With bewildered look in her wild
ened eyes, Joan did as she was bid.
(To be continued.)