The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-06-20
The little man screamed In terror.

The little man screamed In terror.
wife to let MIN go for help, but she com
msnded him to keep. quiet. Mrs. Win
throp was perfectly self possessed. Har-
old felt that be was being lifted from
his feet. He fought desperately, but
when one has slept for hundred years
ones strength becomes exhausted. Har-
old was no match for the powerful wom-
an, and almost before he knew 1t he
was held firmly on his bed by Mrs. Win
throp, who called to her husband to
bring fresh bedding to be used In place
of that which he had destroyed.
"Now, sir, she said when Harold
no longer offered resistance, II want to
have no more trouble with you. You
have lain here hundred years, and IL
won't hurt you to keep quiet day o,
two longer. You must stay until the
tailor comes to make your suit"
She turned to leave the room again,
and Harold called after her TO remain.
"S.opi' he implored. "Where is
my father2"
mo one knows, cir. He died about
FIVE years after he had put you into that
hypnotic sleep, so / am told. He had
expected to awaken you in a few hours,
and when he failed to do ii his heart
broke. 1t is quite wonderful histor-
ical fact, sir. Should you like to see
school history?"
''No, think not," replied Harold
family. A sudden remembrance had
illumined his mind. He recalled the
housewarming and his opposition to be-
ing made to sleep past the hour when he
wished to walk home with Lefty Mays.
he looked at his hands. They had been
bFewa from boating when he went to
sleep. He had spent many hours in try
ing to get them as deeply sunburned as
those of the leaders in the athletic club
to which he belonged. New they were
as white and soft as baby's. He knew
that they could not have been bleached
In one night. He looked around his
room. 1t had been painfully new when
he went to sleep; now much of the
woodwork was moth eaten. Instead of
q smell of varnsh there was smell of
decay. The moro he thought Of il the
more convinced he became that the wo-
man and her husband had spoken the
truth. and that he had slept many years.
He tried to realize his position. 1t was
far from being desirable. as may be
imagined. None of his near relatives
was living. There was not one soul
whom he knew to congratulate him on
having awakened He neither felt nor
looked day older than when he had
gone to sleep, and he told himself that
he could not hope to die for many years.
Yet life looked to him to be hardly
worth living. He had always dreaded
change. He disliked making new ac-
quaintances, but now he faced the neces-
sity of becoming acquainted with per-
sons of whom he had never so much as
heard and OF trying to accustom himself
to a world 1873 years older than that
into which he had been born.
His reverie was disturbed by the en-
trance of the tailor, who was no larger
than the man who had tainted.
Truly" said the tailor, surveying
Harold with astonishinent, truly there
were giants in those daysl Were there
many men as large as you?"
II was not considered very large"
replied Harold. my father was taller
and heavier" TWAS hard for Harold
to use the past tense, but he now thought
IL to be a necessity, and he did not be-
lieve in fighting the inevitable.
my, N.Y." exclaimed the tailor,
."hew yery large you areI ] have bean