The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-12-15
THE NEW
GENERATION
FRIENDS WITH JOAN AGAIN.
BIZ JANE PHELPS
Chapter 8

CndpISE "a.
Joan sat at her desk writing. Mar
garet entered quietly, the click of the
| typewriter drowning her light foot
falls. Joan looked white, tired. The
floor was covered with typewriter
sheets altho. it was still early in the
day. Evidently she had risen early
and had accomplished much:
Good morning, dear" Margaret
said at last. ct see you have a plenty
for me to do"
''I didn't expect you
''Why not? I always come twice a
week.
\ Joan made no reply. but went on
Joan dear stop for a moment, I
want to talk with you.'
''Yes?',, finger poised above the key
Not like that. dear-really talk
! seriously" G.4
'Yes?'' again. This time her hands
fell into her lap.
You were angry, Joan, because of
what. Professor Newbury said on Sun
| day, angry with me. How was I to
blame?'
Aren't you going to get married
again, and disgrace us both?'' fiercely.
Margaret noticed with a slight thrill
of gladness that Joan did not mention
Craig's name. She didn't dislike him
personally; it was marriage she dis
liked, marriage for her mother.
mo, dear. I am not even engaged
to Mr., Forester now she added
under her breath.
'Then why do people talk as they
do?"
People are great gossips, dear, the
world over. Mr. Forester, Craig, is a
great friend of mine. But because
he is friend I shall not marry him. I
am sorry you feel as bitterly against
remarriage as you do. Mrs. Walters
and Hudson Baker are TO be married
next month. Be careful IL you see
her that you do not hurt her feelings
by anything you say. She is older than
I am, remember"
TITS nothing to me if she gets mar
ried. But it would be different If you
did" Then slowly, eonvincingly, she
added: 81 don't think I could live il
you did. 1 don't think you understand
how 1 feel. 1t seems to me almost
immoral for a widow, a woman who
has lived with one man as his wife,
to live with another man in the same
relation. And ash
But JOAN dear! All these people
you gather around you think nothing
| of divorce and remarriage."
Il don't have them around because
of their ideas on such matters but be-
cause they are bright and entertain
| ing. What they do doesn't affect me
in the least. What you do, does.
world, but you did. Now you owe it
to me to make me as happy as you can
at least to keep me from being I'M
happy"
Margaret flushed Joan was reason
! ing just as she had. Her daughter
was claiming her rights.
| 'Well, dear, suppose we stop dis
cussing it once for all,'' she remarked
after a moment. 81 give you my word
am not engaged to marry anyone;
have no such intention. also promise
never to become engaged without first
telling you. I never have failed you,
Joan. l shall not fail you now" Her
voice 'trem bied.
Quick to repent as she had been to
resent, Joan took her mother, in her
young arms and begged forgiveness.
You should have talked with me
| long ago-like this she said, land
then I shouldn't have been unhappy
and made you so too" She did not
see the culver that passed over Mar
| garet's face hidden on her shoulder.
nor the blush that came as she re-
Imembered it was only the day before
she had broken her engagement.
Joan soon recovered her spirits now
| that she was assured she had been in
the wrong, and set about making a
chatting dish lunch. Dreamed chicken
goodies. And, mumsie, Well have
coffee and crackers and cheese to
celebrate. sold another article yes
terday. Only $50, but every little
helps, you know
Let me help you, dear. Let me pay
your rent or something"
mot for worlds. I'm no gutter.
| Come, luncheon is ready, mumsie! Eat
land be merry, for tomorrow the cup
board may be bare
| (Tomorrow-A wedding that created
envy.)