The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-08-14

ALMOST PERSuAVcV EHA
l.EosfhaRr, 1897. N TVS heRRlAs4 cosapAMv.,
great cavern from end to end and make
1t an ideal place where they could live
a. it suited them.
II see that you guess the end. Ny
ancestor was great student Of the sol
enoes and had already thought Of put
ting electricity to practical use. You
are surprised? Yes, it has been applied
to our purposes for 200 years, while
your people have understood Its use
such short time"
"Great heavensi" exclaimed the Eng
lishman. II see it all The sun is an
electric one"
Eyes"
"And 1t runs mechanically over its
great course as regularly as olockwork. "
more accurately, I assure you, but
there probably never was q greater
mathematical problem than they solved
in deciding on the size the sun should
be and the amount Of light necessary to
fill all the recesses Of the great vacancy.
1t was all very crude at the start. For
years great electric light was simply
suspended in the center of the oavern's
roof, and the light did not vary in color.
A son Of the first king suggested the
plan Of giving the sun diurnal move
ment and the changing light. The
moon and stars were later develop
ment They found, too, that the light
could not he made to reach certain re-
cesses in the cavern where the roof ap.
preached the earth, so they finally built
u great wall to keep the inhabitants
within prescribed boundaries and to
prevent them from understanding the
machinery Of the heavens.
Wonderfully exclaimed Thorndyke.
"But the temperature Of the atmos-
phere-how does that happen to be SO
delightful and benefioial?"
II believe they do not themselves
thoroughly comprehend that The heat
comes from the internal fires and the
fresh air from without in some mysteri-
Gus way. At first in few places the
heat was too severe, but the scientific
men among the first settlers obviated
this difficulty by closing up the hottest
of the assures and opening others in the
cooler parts of the cavern"
"And the people-where did they
come from?"
From all parts Of the earth. We had
agents outside who selected such men
and women as were willing to come
and who filled all the requirements,
mentally and physically"
"But why do they desire to live here
instead Of out in the world. when they
have all the wealth that they need to
assure every advantage?"
"They dread death, and 1t is un-
doubtedly true that life is prolonged
here. Our medical men declare that the
longevity Of every generation is i'm
proved"
SIS it possible? But tell me about the
s,1a. When it SETS what becomes Of it?"
ut goes back to its place Of rising
through great tunnel beneath u.s.
Thorndyke sat in deep thought for
moment; then he looked SO steadily and
60 admiringly into Bernardino's eyes
--H~snas.rss
that she grew red with confusion. "But
you, yourself-are you thoroughly con.
tent here?"
II know nothing else," she oontin-
ned. II have heard little about your
world except that your people are dis
contented, weak and insane, and that
your changeable weather and your care
less laws regarding marriage and hered-
ity produce perpetual and innumerable
diseases; that your people are not we'll
developed and beautiful; that You war
with one another, and that one tears
down what another builds. I have, too,
always been happy, and since you came
am happier still. I don't know what
it means. have never been SO much
interested in any one before"
1T is love Oh the part Of both of us,
replied the Englishman impulsively,
taking her hand. II never was content
before. Invent rowing over the earth
trying to end my life at sea or in bal
loon voyages, but now only want to
be with you. Ihave never dreamed that
l could be SO happy Or that would
meet any one so beautiful as you are"
Bernardino's delight showed itself in
bushes on her face, and Tborndyke.
unable to restrain himself, put his arm
around her and drew her to his breast
and kissed her.
She sprang up quickly, and he saw
that she was trembling and that all the
color had fled from her face.
"What is the matter?" he asked in
alarm.
At first she did not answer, but only
looked at him half frightened, and then
covered her face with her hands. He
drew them from her face and compelled
her to look at him.
what is the matter?" he repeated,
a strange fear at his heart
'You have broken one Of the most
sacred laws of our country" she fall
tered in great embarrassment. my
father would punish me very severely if
he knew of it, and he would Danish
you, Tor 10 treat me III that manner as
his daughter is regarded as an insult to
him."
II beg your pardon most humbly,"
said the contrite Englishman. 1T was
all on account Of my ignorance of your
customs and my impulsiveness. 1t shall
never happen again, I promise you"
Her face frightened little, and the
color came back slowly. She sat down
again, but not 80 near Thorndyke, and
seemed DESTROYS Of changing the subject.
"And do you love the man my father
mas transported" she questioned
"Yes. He is good, faithful fellow,
and it is hard to die SO far away from
friends. &"
"We must try to save him, but can
lot now think Of safe plan. The police