Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-03-03
THE AFTER
A Sequel TO BEYOND the Great Oblivion"
By GEORGE ALLAN ENGLAND

Outwardly, the man seemed calm, but
his soul burned within him and his heart
was racing violently.
For on this moment he we'll knew. hung
the worlds destiny. Should they decide to
venture forth into the outer world all
would he well. If not. the long labor. the
plans. the hopes were lost forever.
Well he knew the stubborn nature or the
Folk. once their minds set, nothing on
earth could ever stir them.
Thank God ! managed that lie about
the patriarch !" thought Allan quickly. IF
I'd slipped up. on that and told them he
died at the very minute the sunlight struck
him. /. would have been all off, world
without end. Hope It doesn't make a row
later. But II II does, I'll face IT, The
main and only thing now is to get 'em
started. They've got to go, that's all there
Is about IL,
Cad, After all, it's a terrific PROPOSE
tion I'm putting up to these simple fishers
of the Abyss. I'm asking them, just on
my say-so. TO root up the life the habits,
the traditions of more than thousand
years and make leap into the dark--into
tho light, mean.
His eyes, wandering nervously along the
front ranks of the waiting folk, dimly IL
lumined by the dun blue glow OF the fire.
well that shone through the mist, sud
deny stopped with apprehension. His
brows contracted. and on his heart IT
seemed as though n gripping hand had
suddenly laid hold.
"Hyemba the smith. again. Damn him.
H'yemba 80 he muttered. in sudden anger
strongly tinged with fear
The smith. in fact. was standing there
a little to the left Of him, huge and sinewed
hands loosely clasped in front of him. face
sinister, eyes glowing like two malevolent
evil fires.
Allan noted the defiant poise of the body,
breadth Of the shoulders, the heavy hang
of the arms biceped like gorillas.
For a minute the two men looked each
other steadfastly in the eye, each measur-
Ing the other. Then suddenly the voice of
Nreenya broke the tension.
go Kromno, we have spoken. Will you
hear u.s."
Stern faced him, a strange sinking at
his heart. almost as though the foreman
either freedom sentence Of death
But, holh.ng himself in check. lest any
sign Of fear or nervousness betray him, he
made answer:
81 will hear you. Speak"
1--WE have listened to your words. We
believe you speak truth. Yet"
vet what? out with II, man"
Yet will we not compel any man to go.
All shall be free"
THANK God" brcathed Allan, with a
mighty sigh.
Free to stay or go, as they will. Our
village is too full, even now. We have
many children. II were well that some
should make room for others Those who
dare, have our consent Now speak you to
the people, your people. O Kromno. and see
who chooses the upper world with you
Once more Allan turned toward the as
semblage. But before he had found time
TO frame the first question in this UNI
familiar speech, a disturbance somewhat
to the left interrupted him.
Then came a iOStling n pushing sound
of voices in amazement, anger, appreciation,
doubt
Into the clear space, Hyemba tho smith.
His powerful right hand he raised on high.
And boldly. in n loud voice. lie cried:
Folk of the Merucaans, this cannot be !"