The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-11-28
THE NEW
GENERATION
JOAN AND MARGARET GO TO
TED'S PARTY.
By JANE PHELPS


Chapter 10.
Margaret was curled up on the
couch reading. 1t was the night of
Ted Walters party, and she was wait
ing for Joan to arrive. Joan was to
dress with er and then return to stay
all night Margaret had been de-
lighted with the arrangement
She had not heard the door open,
nor the light footsteps on the thick
carpet. Then a gay young voice
quoted:
HE read at wine. he read in bed.
He read aloud had he the breath,
His very thought was with the dead
And so he read himself TO death"
Where IN the world did You get
hold of that doggereI?" Margaret
asked laughingly. as she jumped up to
welcome Joan.
IAN epitaph on a tombstone. I be-
heve. Be careful or we will have to
mo danger don't get half
enough time to read. Life is too
strenuous"
''If you find it SO why not go back
home?"
would you go too?"
81 should rather say mott Bury my
self in that dinky town gain. But it
is different with you
y Such was Joan's attitude, always.
it was discouraging for Margaret when
she SO wanted to be Joan's friend and
chum. Nothing she, Joan, wanted to
do was out of the way or in bad taste
but her motheri That was differ
ent. She was old. and shouldn't crave
excitement, and thrills.
That Margaret craved them all the
more because she had lived so un-
eventfuf a life; that she should long
for life and the joy of untrammeled
living, Joan seemed unable to grasp.
Such things were all right for her
she was of the new generation. and
so entitled to her freedom of thought
and action But her mother, and
those contemporary with her-it was
too late for them to change They
should be content to go on as they
were, or hAd been. That Margaret did
not want 10 go on in the old way was
a never ceasing wo- der to her daugh-
ter.
'Wefl, neither of us are in any
dinky town tonight" Margaret's tone
was joyous, $50 come on in my room
and dress"
Margaret felt like another girl of
Joan's age as they dressed-each help
ing the other-whiIe Hannah, cheated
of her job, looked on and grumbled
because they wouldn't give her some
thing to do.
Il declare, Miss Joan. no one will
believe you is IS. and no one would
believe your mother is So, even if she
swears to it on the Bible. You both
look 16."
Twins, eh, Hannah?p Margaret
asked happy in the young feeling that
possessed her.
Just like 'em, ma'am! If Miss Joan
had dark hair and it was up high like
yours instead of flying in them yellow
curls all around her face you sure
would look alike. You grows more
alike all the time"
There! I'm ready" Joan inter-
rupted. stop your foolish connpli-
ments, Hannah and order a taxi.
Ready, Munster
yes. how do I look? You are
adorable. That dress is perfect on
YOU
You 1ook-very nice" Margaret
pretended not to notice the hesitation.
This dress is becoming. 1 wore it
TO dinner the other night and every
one complimented me. Yellow is my
color you know. Just is blue is yours.
The blue in that dress is just the color
of your eyes. and of cornflowers.
Come. dear, it is time we were off.
There's the taxi honking'
They were bit early at Mrs. Wal
tiers. Joan started a bit when she saw
Ted-it had been nearly a year since
they last met-but as he neared her
she regained her poise. and with the
utmost compoSure held out her hand.
why hello, Ted! How are you?''
Zine! There's no need of asking
you how you are, I'll tell you instead.
You're perfectly dazzling in that cos
tune. Did you take your eyes to who
ever made that silk and have them
matched? Goo, but it is good to see
you again, and they wandered off
talking gayly.
Margaret looked at Janet Walters.
The latter smiled and nodded. If the
fxxr0 11ar1%tare mr.
impeachment should be put in the way
of the~young couple.
"They look as if they were made for
each other" Janet Walters whispered
to Margaret a bit later when the dark
head of ner son and Joan's golden one
were bent over some pictures he was
showing her.
81 hope they will find it out" Mar
garet returned almost yearningly.
(Tomorrow-Ted and Joan discuss
personality