Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-03-24
THE AFTERGLOW
A Sequel to "Beyond the Great obiipion,
BY GEORGE ALLAN ENGLAND
CHAPTER xxxur-tcon,,nued,

"TNHEY aren't going to let me out of It.
l. after ALL" he sighed. "Td SO much
rather let them run their own festival. But
no-they've got to. ring me in, as usual!
1oull come, too, of course?"
She nodded, and moment later they
were walking over the fine lawn toward the
piazza.
ON the far side. In Il wide, open stretch
tnat served the children sometimes as a
playground stood the great hangers of the
conmunitys air fleet. Beyond them rose
workshops their machinery driven by cleo
trlc power from the turbines at the rapids.
Even as Allan and Beatrice passed
through the cheering crowd, now drifting
toward the hangers a sound of music
waited down-wind-sa little harsh at times
put still with promise of far better things
to be-
Many flags nuttered in the air. and even
the rolltcking children on the lawns paused
10 wonder as swift shadows cut across the
park.
ON high was heard the droning hum of
'ne propellers. II ceased. and in wide, sure
evenly balanced spirals the great planes
one by one slid down and took the earth
as easily as a gull sinks to rest upon the
BOSOM of a quiet sea.
They do work well, my equilibrators :"
murmured Allan, unable to suppress a thrill
or price. Simple, too but, after all, how
wonderfully effective"
The crowd parted to let him through with
beatrice. Two minutes later he was clasp
ing the hands of the last Folk ever to be
Drought from the strange, buried village
under the cliff beside the Sunless Sea.
He summoned Zangamon and Frumuos
together with Sivad and the three aviators.
well done - said he. and that was all
all, yet enough, Then, while the people
cheered again and crowding round, greeted
their kinsfolk. he gave orders for the hous-
nf hp ra oil ~ a1
comers
Through the summer air drfted slow
smoke. off on the edge of the grove that
fanked the plaza to southwark the crack
ling of new-built fires was heard.
Allan turned to Beta with a smile
Getting ready for the barbecue al
ready" said he. with that and the games
and all, they ought to have enough to keep
| them busy for one day Don't you think
| they'll have TO let us go n while? There are
still few finishing touches TO put to the
, new laws I'm going to hand the council
| this afternoon for the Folk to hear. Yes,
by all means. they'll have to let us GO
Together they walked back to their bun
| galow amid its gardens of palm growths
| ferns and flowers. Here they stopped a
| moment to chat with some good friend
there to watch the children and-parentike
make sure young Allan was safe and
| only normally dirty and grass-stained.
| They gained their broad piazza at length
turned and for while watched the Dusy
happy scene in the shaded street the plaza
| and the playground
| Then Beta sat down by the cradle-still
| In that same low chair Allan had built fol
| her five years ago. chair she had steadily
| refused to barter for finer one
| He drew up another beside her, From
| his pocket he drew a paper-the new law:
| and for minute studied it with ben
| brows
The soft wind stirred the woman's hal,
as she sat there half dreaming, her blue
| gray eyes, little moist seeing far more
than just what lay before them. On hi
head shaft of sunlight fell, and had yo,
looked you might have seen the crisp
black hair none too sparingly lined will
| gray.
But his gaze was strong and level and hi
smile the same as in bygone years. as will
| his left hand he pressed hers and, with
| look eloquent of many things, he said:
Now. sweetheart, If you're quit
| readily"