The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-11-17
THE NEW
GENERATION
By JANE PHELPS
JOAN TAKES A STUDIO IN THE

JOAN TAKES a STUDIO IN THE
VILLAGE.
Chapter 10.
1t was typical of Craig Forester
that he had ignored what Margaret
had said as to Joans scoring, that
his turn must wait. He realized the
tumult of mind the woman he loved
was in. He would do nothing to add
to it. If at times Margaret misun-
derstood. wondered why he accepted
her decision SO calmly she gave no
sign.
She had visited Greenwich Village
with Joan and inspected the studio,
one high up in the building, and
reached only by climbing many stairs
But the view was delightful. The
place was fairly clean. and could
easily be made attractive So Mar
garet in no way hampered Joan's en-
thusiasn, but insisted she be allowed
to help her fix up the place.
81 won't have lot of gimracks
around" Joan declared.
''All right, dear, no gimracks is the
order"
Margaret really enjoyed herself for
the next few days. She and Joan
seemed to be nearer to each other, to
have overcome that feeling of separa-
ton, of strangeness which had in
hibited them both when together. 1t
was not until Margaret met Dean
Tenant on the stairs that she felt
anxious over Joan's move.
Hello, Dean! You remember my
mother?" Joan asked.
Certainly" he extended a not too
clean hand.
Dean has the studio opposite mine"
Joan mentioned.
A sick feeling assaulted Margaret.
Would her Joan, her darling daughter
l.
ants type? 1t was almost unheliev-
able. Yet no one knew Joan's head
strong nature as did Margaret. If
she decided she wanted Tenant she
would have him. No one could pre-
vent it.
when she was a child" Margaret said
to herself. IT must not antagonize
her" Tenant she thought of not at
all: He simply intrigued Joan by his
rather common good looks and his
pretentions. She was not yet old
enough, nor experienced enough to
tell the real from the dross.
When she left Joan that afternoon
she stopped at Janet Walters instead
of going directly home. =,
Janet, you have got to help me-"
she said.
"Of course, but how"
''When does Ted come home"
"In a few days, and I shall be so
glad. He is such a manly fellow,
Margaret, so absolutely the gentleman
under all his nonsense, so to be trust
ed. I am very fortunate. I was
afraid he might need a stronger hand
than mine as he grew up. But this
new generation, Margaret, they are so
capable!"
1t was strange, Margaret thought,
how every one was talking of the
NEW generation" Craig Forester,
Janet, both gave expression to the
thought. And they were different, far
different from her generation, even
tho she were not old.
ct know! But I need your help.
Joan has gone TO live in a studio in
the Village. Her nearest neighbor. in
fact he is across the hall, is Dean Ten
nant, that young fellow we met at the
Purple Pup"
but, Margaret Why did you al
low her to live down there2"
ct is too late to ask me why al
low Joan to do anything. But I want
you, and Ted, to help me. She has
an idea of atmosphere, that the VII
lage people, even the unsuccessful
ones, are really the only people worth
while. That Dean Tenant with his
soiled linen, his frayed coat sleeves is
picturesque. 1 want Ted to disabuse
her mind. I want him to let her see
that a man may be clever and clean.
titude toward women than the one
some of the fellows she knows affect.
I want her to see for herself that life
isn't just atmosphere. Margaret
laughed almost Historically. Then
added:
at think I should have gone mad
had I heard that word again. Atmos-
phere, and personality. They are the
two stock phrases of the people with
whom Joan is associating. L can't
drag her away by the hair of the
head. All I can do is to have some
young man with the right outlook
upon life, a man who, while attrac-
tive, is sensible show that life is seri-
Gus matter, not a question of exagger-
ated ego.''
ST am sure Ted will be delighted to
help you. In fact I have suspected
for a long time that he was in love
with jean. OF course they are young
yet, but if you wish a contrast, there
could not be a greater one than that
between my happy, healthy, normal
son, and that inefficient artist" Janet
Walker replied.
Tomorrow: Joan relates an exper-
fence with a married MANI
~ o.