The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-11-22
THE NEW
GENERATION
By JANE PHELPS
A CHAT WITH CRAIG FORESTER

"A AAA<A4 With O1kEAINU
CHAPTER IA.
Whatever shall I do with her,
Craig?" They were having tea in Mar
garet's little sitting room.
Marry me and let me break her
in" He smiled as Margaret dropped
two Jumps in his tea.
mo, that wouldn't do. Joan has to
be free. She would be absolutely un-
PERSONAL---VERY. as she pleased
Then marry me and We'll let her
express all the personality she wants
to, and we won't interfere with any
thing she wants to do
you see, Craig" Margaret ignored
his last remark, g want to make Joan
like me. She
Does there live2a soul so dense as
net to love you ?'
Joan loves me as her mother. I
have told you so before. I think she
loves me dearly in that way but I'm
not satisfied. 1 want her to like me
because, I am interesting, entertaining
because I thrill her" Then, Il want
her to like to play with me as she
plays with those awful boys and girls
can't learn to tolerate"
Whats started you off-today?"
AZ was down with Joan yesterday,
and she talked!
"Um-I see. Can you repeat some
of her original witticisms %
'She told me, Craig, that she would
never marry unless she was sure the
man would die before she got tired/of
him. I nearly died laughing. And,
Craig, stop teasing me and listen! 1
can make people think I am fairly
sophisticated, can't II"
eff you try real hard-yes."
you are sure?'
Eyes, but why? What's the mean
ing of all these dark and mysterious
questions?"
Margaret brushed her hand across
her forehead, and then leaned toward
him.
"Craig, I am going to be interesting,
clever, different, if it-well, if it's the
last thing I ever do. There!"
You're starting off well, but still I
ask, why?"
Don't you see? I must be that
notwithstanding and different if Joan
is to like me. Yet some way when |
am/with her I get suddenly shy and
scared. I shall start developing all the
personality I have this minute. You
won't mind if try things out on you
will you, Craig?'' she asked anxiously.
Not a bit il you'll marry me in the
end. Try anything You want to, prac-
tice on me if you will" His tone,
mock serious, sent them off into peals
of laughter.
InlS won I 10 at d1ls Ills 10 SSAA
GUS with me-" Margaret said. Il may
be fool but I want Joan to play with
me, really to feel am a chum. more
than want anything else in the world.
And she thinks 1 am too old. Thirty
eight is getting old"
"I love you," Craig said quietly.
''At 49,"
Margaret rose and stood before the
glass. For a moment she pirouetted
before the mirrors years old! She
didn't really look quite that
do I. Craig?" she asked, smiling
mischievously, then sinking again into
her chair.
Look quite 3S, I meant. You see
Joan thinks me too old to play. I
have that to fight as well as the other
things. Oh, this new generation!
They would put us all on the shelf, we
of the last generation, and we feel as
young as they do! Younger, I some
times think-they take themselves so
seriously"
'I suppose you know just how love-
~ you are at 5s?' The color rose in
Margarets cheeks at Craig's question.
Am 1? I'm glad because Joan may
be glad am lovely. L do feel pretty
sometimes nOw-since I came to New
York and wear pretty clothes, and go
out with you to theatres and gay
places" Margaret admitted. "and it is
so nice to just feel pretty 1 haven't
got over the strangeness of it yet. 1
feel so awfully young inside of me-"
Did you hear me tell you I loved
you?"
"Why. Craig, I haven't any time to
think of men. I am developing my
personality for Joan's sake. Besides
I'm 50 years old, too old to be foolish
-AeXcept with Joan"
"And I am As years old, one of the
Older generation. and love you a
great deal more than I could have
loved YOU at 20"
Now you must go-remember YOU
promised to let me practice developing
myself on you" Margaret said as he
kissed her hand.
(Tomorrow-Two dinners at the ST
Regis.)