Iron County register., 1922-03-23
AFTERMATH
BY ORA REDMOND

~ hslS a NACNCl AAAlAC ANNtSAB HNcH@~f
whimsical-just the sort to pique the
interest of the most Indifferent. Bob
had read it several times before de-
Gliding to accept the challenge of the
last few lines7-a gay little challenge
that meant much or little, as he chose
to interpret it:
'Apd' so, if you are still the same
old Bob, with an eye to what the other
half of the world is doing, come and
see what my share of it is up to.
am still the true daughter of travel, but
if you will but say the wish my wings
shall be folded for a little time, and
a cozy fire and chairs for two shall
be in the order of things for the sake
of Aud Lang Syne."
"Just like Peg" he declared, as he
studied the letter, dear little, jolly
PegT'
For with the perspective given by
the years that had passed, Peg and
their Aud Lang Syne seemed very
jolly and very dear indeed. This re-
minder of her brought back incidents,
long forgotten, of his college days,
when he had been an incorrigible
dreamer, and Peg his confidante; theirs
a merry camaraderie with a certain
breath-taking tacit understanding OF
fuller depths to be sounded in some
faraway day. Memories made sudden
ly dear by their unexpectedness
stirred, shaking off the mental dust
of years. He was carried back be-
yond the considerable success that
he had gained through the sitting of
his earlier ambitions.
He was whistling merrily as he
made an unusually careful toilet.
The room into which Bob was
ushered was much as Bob had expect
ed it. High up in one of the city's ho-
tells, it held the usual impersonal sub
stantial air of comfort common to
such establishments, and with it a
little transitory touch of nominees
which is the knack of the born trav-
eler.
The Peg that greeted him was his
Peg, only trile older, and wiser, and
very much at ease. Chattering COM
fortably of things and people they
both knew, she ensconsed him in the
largest chair, lighted the gas log and
turned off all but one rose-shaded
lamp that gave the room over to a
soft twilight. Then, seated opposite
him, she turned the subject to the years
that had passed since they had
met. Where had he been? Was
his work congenial?
Under her frank regard Bob felt un-
comfortable. How could he explain
to this confident little visionary, to
whom he had once poured out desires
for adventure and travel, that manu-
featuring clothes-line had come to
mean more to him than the lure of
Tunis and Bagdad? For the first time
he realized how different was his life
from his early expectations. The
knowledge brought an accusation
from the boy submerged in the man
he had become. Impatiently enough,
he disposed of his story and asked
for hers.
Leaning forward in her chair, chin
In hand, she studied the fire thought
fully.
81 think that from the first, Bob, our
old dreams have influenced my course
of action"
Bob felt a guilty twinge. Here were
memories fresher than his. Her mat
ter-of-fact tone was reassuring, how
ever. Evidently she wasn't going to
sentimentalize over it.
"Life used to be more real, more
vivid to you than to me. I thought il
was through some failure of mine tc
live up to your dreams that we drifteG
apart, and lose each others aims Sc
completely. But opportunity came
and used it. All these years have
been seeking romance in out-of-the
way lands 1t hasn't been all play
but there have been many, many com
pensations. My latest book is lying
there on the table. 1t will be on the
market soon"
Bob opened the book which she in
dicated-a collection of essays IL
somewhat philosophical trend.
Il am YOUTH sprang out at hin
from the printed page. Embodied il
me are all the colorful dreams t
which I am heir, venturing and as
sured.
Before me lie the trails to far
away lands, where I may spend m.
energy; the mystic lure of Bagdad ant
Calcutta; the frozen wastes of 81
beria; the romance of Venice and tn
charm of Fairgrounds for m.
unsatiated fancy! The whole worl
Is mine if | will claim it, not onl
this little slip of ground where Chanc
has placed me- How, then, could
ever consider the stolid comfort 0
middle age in exchange for my her
tage"
Just like Peg again; and if he bu
knew it, like the boy who sent he
out on the quest. But this time a
unaccountable anger assailed hin
Y Stolid comfort, indeed
He was vastly impatient to get ava
from the fancied criticism which he
faithfrlupss to his ont grown ideal