The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-04-01
The EVENING STORY
Centenarians
CBy Ella Matthews Banks.o

as he spoke. but Irene Weston LEI the
young man on her other side respond.
can't be as many in a hundred
years to COME
why not?" Philip resented "E1ec.
trlc1ty is only in its infancy
Irene smiled in thetwilight. They
were sure to take opposite sides. for,
rivals in their devotion to herself, it
could not be expected that they would
agree on any other subject
The two continued to argue while
the girl in her f1uttering white dress
llstened to an undercurrent of thought
entirely apart from their topic. Which
or tnese two did she love. Philip Nor
Ton or DICK Farnam? How could she
tell? If they would only be satisfied
with friendship. But to each side she
promised definite answer tomorrow,
AT length she spoke.
wouldn't it be fine If we could live
hundred years and see for our
Great" Philip agreed.
We'll don't know" Dick de-
INJURED. ut would be all right if we
could remain young and have our
friends around US. but to grow old and
pc left alone-no, thank you! Whom
the goos love die young you know"
For all that I'd like to live to be
hundred years DID, Irene declared.
To her nineteen years it seemed impos-
s1ole that age could ever become a
reality.
They talked on till at length the two
young men gave up the idea of trying
to outstay each other, and went off to-
gether- Irene, a little tired, went to
her room, and, thinking over her unan-.
swered question and the evenings con-
versation, fell asleep.
When she wakened the sunlight
nIled her room: She was really stiff
from having lain SO long in one posi-
ton. What was that whirring, rushing
sound she heard outside? She dressed
and opened the door into the hall,
then stood amazed. Could she believe
her eyes? In one night the place had
been enlarged, the walls covered with
unfamiliar hangings, and, instead of
the hardwood floor and rugs, there
were heavy carpets. A Young girl was
coming up the stairway, but at sight
Of her paused abruptly, screamed and
ran down again. Following her, Irene
went down to where a woman, older
than the first, approached her, and
spoke.
"You are Irene Weston?"
"Of course 1 am, who else should I
be? Will you kindly tell me where I
can find my mother and sister,"
They are away"
That's strange; they did not speak
of going"
The two women exchanged glances,
and said something about doctor
"A ILI16 ldI6T the nGOlCal man aD-
peared, and sat down beside her, re-
garding her in peculiar manner. ''Do
you feel quite well, Miss Weston?" he
asked.
Never better, except that everything
seems so strange"
After a few more questions the doc
tor observed: You slept unusually
soundly, and longer than you realize -
How long have I slept?"
What year was it when you went to
sleep?"
what year? Why. 1911. of course %
She gasped. Surely you are jok-
For response the man took a news
paper from his pocket and showed it
to her. 1t bore the date June Is, 1892.
"I remarked that you hac slept longer
But, doctor, DON'T can't-why,
must be hundred years old!"
about that" he nodded.
Tell me about it."
What she was told sounded like a
fairy tale. She had slept for eighty
| one years. Her room had been kept
unchanged that there might not be the
shock of strange surroundings when
| she wakened. Her case had been
watched by scientists, ard the world
would know of her awakening within
a few minutes.
Are any of my family living?" she
asked.
"The lady here is a granddaughter
| of your sister Edith. There is a niece
who was living when you went to
Sleep"
"Who is she?"
| Mrs. Gates-her maiden name was
| Gladys Shaw"
Little Gladys ?-my sister NelPs
baby?" she cried out. Married, you
say?''
married, widowed. and now an old
LADY,
MAY I see her?''
Certainly If you feel like going.
She lives just outside the city. My
wing is at the door, shall we start?"
your wing?"
eyes, by aeroplane, you know"
| A few minutes later Irene found her
self in midair looking down upon a
large city.
ssWhat place is this? ?" she asked.
ssThis? Camford."
| "Our little village %
| 'Now city of 100000 inhabitants. -
| Wings of all sizes were about them
sounds were she had heard. Il should
thing the wires would interfere in the
Streets" she remarked.
do you see any wtres?"
| mo, Where are they-the trolley
the telephone, and"
| Telephone and telegraph are al
wireless now, our street conveyances
have storage battery
| She looked down on strange sights
/ till she reached her destination, and
was presented to the niece whom she
remembered as g. baby just learning
/ to talk, and who was now feeble with
years. Mrs. Gates was, however, over
joyed to see her aunt, and they had
| much to talk about. Irene learned
when and how her family had died. g
mournfu1 satisfaction. and at length
she asked: