The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-10-04
THE NEW
GENERATION
OFF TO THE sEAsHORE.
By JANE PHELPS
Chapter 80.

Their trunks were all packed,
strapped and ready. Joan was in a
state of excitement natural to one so
young who never had been to the sea-
shore for any length of time. Marga-
ret, too, felt unusually agitated. She
had for so long practised stoical self
elimination, it amounted almost to
that, that the thought of this sum-
mer'S pleasure almost overwhelmed
her. In everything she had done, all
pleasures she had planned for nearly
fifteen years she had thought solely of
Joan. But in her plans for this sum-
mer her own desires had crept in, her
own pleasure had taken on an Jmpor-
lance never before realized. She had.
in her own mind, put herself in the
background for so long that she felt
almost like a debutant going to her
first party
She tried desperately to hide this
from Joan. But in spite of her efforts
she was more self-conscious than
usual, SO attracting the very attention
she wished to avoid.
On the train, and while they were
getting settled in the quiet hotel Mar
garet had chosen in which to pass
their summer, Joan was too interested
in what she saw; too much intrigued
with the strangeness of scenery and
outlook to be critical. They never had
occupied the same room. but Marga-
ret had felt it extrayagant to have
two rooms in hotel, so had two sim
gle beds put in the one 20
Joan was delighted with the ar
rangement, but after the first dav.
Margaret realized she had bIundered.
1t gave Joan too much opportunity to
criticise, to look disapprovaI There
was an intimacy that Margaret, in her
new mood, did not desire. But the
hotel was full, so she could make no
change, even could she have thought
of for dnf7rS 90 al
joan she could not afford separate
rooms.
Margaret's first quick instinct told
her to ignore Joan's reluctance to rec
ognize the call of youth so suddenly
felt To go on her way r'ithout any
inhibitions. But her knowledge of
her feeling, added to Joan's dislike of
anything youthful in her, added to
her elf-consciousness. made it hard
for her to appear natural while pre-
tending not to see Joan's disapproval
Margaret was thinking of all this
as she sat alone in secluded corner
OF the wide piazza which almost sur
rounded the hotel. 1t had been this
piazza that had decided her on the
pace, when she had studied pictured
advertisements of summer hotels
AS she sat there thinking of Joan.
or herself, she heard step, and turn
ing, almost startled, so deeply had she
buried herself in her problem. she
saw Craig Forester coming toward
her, hat in hand, smile of weIcom-
ing gladness upon his lips.
This is indeed a surprise-and q
pleasure he said. as he took her
hand in his. Asking permission in
his gallant way he moved a chair
closer, and soon they were engrossed
IN conversation light and a bit frothy
perhaps for two people of their age,
but fascinating to Margaret because
of its lightness. 1t was so nice to
handy repartee with such a man, so
delightful to be so deferred to. She
had felt little rush of happiness at
his eagerness when he saw her
Realizing this she tried to recall her
dignity but she could not do it She
knew how tremendously pleased For
roster had been to see her and II re-
acted upon her so that she could not
speak the formal words she felt in
cumbent upon Joan's mother
Forester called a passing waiter.
| He ordered lemonade in tall glasses
with plenty of cracked ice. The tiny
table between them, the glistening
| glasses with their cooling contents
gave just the air of intimacy which
compelled other guests to smile COM
prehendingly as they passed. A smile
that made Margaret blush like a girl
only added to her attractiveness. and
to the interest of the on-lookers
Margaret almost prayed that Joan
would not return from the beach
where she had gone with some of the
Nchildren staying at the hotel
Interested, forgetting she wa
laughing heartily with Craig Forester
at a story he told, when she heard the
patter Of running feet, and Joan ap-
peared. When she saw who was with
her mother, her impetuosity was i'm
mediately checked. She slowly moved
! toward them.
| omorrow-Forrester's presence an
noyS Joan.)
The composer appeared in the Of
flee of the publisher one morning.
! 4 IL I.