Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1922-03-10
AFTERMATH
BY ORA REDMOND

"a IVAN ~ SCNNAoA AN oSASAS w
Gliding to accept the challenge of the
last few lines-a gay little challenge
that meant much or little, as he chose
to interpret it:
And so, if you are still the same
old Bob, with an eye to what the other
half of the world is doing. com and
see what my share of 1t 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 coy 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
Peg
For with the perspective given Dy
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 c%onfidante theirs
q merry camaraderie with a certain
breath-taking tacit understanding OF
fuller depths to he 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 n of the city's no
tells, 1t 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 a 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 anc
turned off all but IA rose-shadeC
lamp. that gave the room over to q
soft twilight. Then, seated opposite
him. she turned the subject to the year:
that had passed since they haC
met. Where had he been? Wa:
his work cOngenial?
Under her frank regard Bob felt I'm
comfortable. How could he explain
to this confident little visionary, Il
whom he had once poured out desires
for adventure and travel, that manu-
featuring clothes-line had come +
mean more to him than the lure o
Tunis and Bagdad? For the first tim
he realized how different was his lif
from his early expectations. TIL
knowledge brought an accusation
from the boy submerged in the mai
he had become. Impatiently enough
he disposed of his story and aske'
for hers. n
Leaning forward In her chair. chill
in hand, she studied the fire thought
fully.
81 think that from the first, Bob, on
old dreams have influenced my cOurs
of action"
Bob felt a guilty twinge. Here wer
memories fresher than his. Her ma
A.. fon% tnnn vroc roncclIrinu hnu
ever. Evidently she wasn't going {
sentimentalize over it.
"Life used to be more real, mo-
vivid to you than to me. | thought
was through some failure of mine t
live up to your dreams that we drifte
apart. and lose each others aims S
completely. But opportunity cam
and l used it. All these years ! hav
been seeking omance in out-of-tht
way lands. 1t hasn't been all pla!
but there have been many, many con
pensations. My latest book is lyin
there on the table. 1t will be on tn
market soon"
Bob opened the book which she "
dicated-a collection Of essays !
somewhat philosophical trend.
81 am YOUTH sprang out at hi
from the printed page. Embodied !
me are all the celorful dreams I
which l am heir. %venturing n al
sured.
Before me lie the trails to ia
way lands. where l may spend m
energy; the mystic lure Of Bagdad an
Calcutta; the frozen wastes of 5
IBERIA: the romance Of Venice and tn
charm of Nice-playgrounds for m
unsatiated fancy! The whole worl
is mine II | will claim 1t, not onl
this little slip of ground where ChanC
has placed me. How, then, could
ever consider the stolid comfort {
middle age in exchange for my her
tage?"
Just like Peg-again; and II he b'
knew it, like the boy who sent n
out on the quest. But this time a
unaccountable anger assailed hir
Stolid comfort, indeed!
He was vastly impatient to get awe
from the fancled criticism which h
f~aithfulness to his outgrown idea
held. He drew a breath of relief witt
he passed through the lobby. out in