The Topeka state journal., 1921-11-19
THE NEW
GENERATION
MARGARET is DISTURBED BE-
CAUSE OF DEAN TENNANT.
A I3rrx-1
By JANE PHELPS


Away from Joan and thinking of
what she had told her. Margaret won
dered if that fellow Tennant, the i'm
pecunious artist, were a danger to
Joan. All her friends and intimates
knew that Joan had little money. 1t
was not much to be sure, but to some
OF them it might seem quite fortune
Judging from their appearance.
She smiled to herself as she recalled
Joan's naive confession about the mar
ried man. With her usual good taste
she had not mentioned his name
neither had her mother asked it. 1t
had dismissed him. She smiled again
as she thought of her stopping long
enough to tell him he did not look
It perhaps added to Margaret's con-
tent that she did not know JUST how
Joan had been affected by the debonair
come1iness of her married admirer. 1t
was the fact of the mans weakness,
his inability to impress Joan with the
truth that saved her. He probably
was dissipated as well as handsome,
and Margaret shivered as she thought
of what Joan had escaped.
Margaret urged Joan to invite Mrs.
Walters and herself to tea. Hardly
had they arrived when Dean Tenant
came in whistling gayly. When he
saw them the whistling died away, but
he was in no sense discomposed.
Rather he acted as almost if he be-
longed, as Janet Walters afterward
said.
'tAnd did you notice his linen?" she
asked, her aristocratic nose in the air.
Did II" Margaret answered a bit
desperately '"I always notice it."
Both of the ladies were evidently
oblivious, however. while with Joan,
and Margaret tried to draw Dean out
He talked cleverly enough in a grandi-
ose way, much about Socialism. airing
! his theories with the frankness and
egoism of inexperience. Margaret saw
that Joan listened when he spoke. Oc-
casionally she interrupted, occasionally
i disagreed with something he said. But
| that they, were on the best of terms
Margaret could not doubt Dean
| seemed as much at home as If it were
his studio. He assisted Joan over the
tea. things, and did it as if from prac-
tice. He was good-looking in way.
and Margaret was more perturbed
| than she would have cared to own. In
consequence she was very affable 10
him. She knew Joan, and that the
way to compel her to take up arms
for him was for her, Margaret, TO
either ignore or act as if she disliked
4-him.
Margaret thought of Joan as she
saw her serving tea. She had GER
tain way with her, an enticing 1.-the
| ness of form, a piquant Vivaclty OF
expression, an adorable grace of mo-
ton, plus an unnamable charm all her
own. AS a child she had been honest
| and courageous. Now that she was
almost a woman those two qualities
| shone in her clear blue eyes. 1nstinc-
lively one trusted Joan Hayden
Yet Tenant worried Margaret. A
fear of him was with her, undeniably
| insistant; a feIepathic signal of por-
tent, that amounted almost to warm
| ing Was Joan'S good sense PROOF
against the fascination and the love
making of this man? Would she see
his inefficiency his lack as she' Mar
| garet saw it? The feeling of uneasi-
ness obsessed her.
ST must displace him by bringing
someone more attractive to engage
her" she said to herself as she listen
ed to the gay repartee flung back
| and forth between the two.
Margaret wanted Joan to marry.
But she wanted her to marry man
with a personality capable of carrying
GA penny for your thoughts.
mother!" Joan's voice dragged her
4 from her disquieting thoughts
st was thinking how well you played
the hostess, dear Margaret parried.
"You looked mighty serious about
it, But thanks, Mumsie. 1 appreci-
ate the compliment. Dean says he'd
rather have tea here with me than
with anyone he knows. But 1 mis-
| trust It is because I buy better tea"
She smiled tantalizingly at the young
| man.
| Margaret rose to go. She felt she
couldn't sit quiet any longer with Dean
| Tenant acting so thoroly at home.
| Joan was sweetly grateful for their
coming, and told them so in her own
| inimitably gracious way; a combina-
alton of society girl and frank child
| hood.
ssIf something doesn't happen to
keep that Dean Tenant away | shall
! go Ynad!" Margaret told Janet Walters
| as they TAXED home.
| { To be continued.)