Prophecy
"Oh,
Oh, how time does change things. It has been twelve years
since our class was graduated from Osawatomie High School. I
believe there were just twenty-four of us in the class."
This conversation took place between two old classmates,
both of whom were about thirty-two years of age. The men
were Lisle Chambers and Rollie Pierce. Mr. Pierce had joined
the Army right away after graduation and had been "Over
There" to fight Germans. The war had now been over seven
years and Mr. Pierce had come back home again with a little
French wife. Mr. Chambers had tried to join the Army but was
turned down because he was a nervous wreck caused from
worry. So, he went to Manhattan in pursuit of a better
education. He finished school there with high honors. From
there he went to an aviation school and learned to fly. He
became well acquainted with a young lady in Oklahoma and
they were married after the war was over. Aeroplanes became
very numerous, in fact, they began to fly nearly as thick as
autos on the dirt roads. It became necessary to have a
traffic cop, so as to direct the airplanes. At that time,
Osawatomie, Palo, Lane, Beagle and Bangor had grown so that
all five towns were united and were names Osawatomie,
because it was situated more in the center. Mr. Chambers had
two boys. Mr. Pierce had two girls. And they both bought
property next door to each other. Mr. Chambers taught Mr.
Pierce a few things about airplanes and they both landed a
job as traffic master. It took two men to do one job. One
for the engineer and one to do policy duty. Both of our
friends took turns at this job. they had an aeroplane names
"Chin Chin". the machines could be made to remain stationary
in one place without falling to the ground. On
this particular evening, Mr. Pierce happened to be sitting
on Lisle's front porch, having a nice little chat with his
chum. they were the only two out of the whole class who
lived in Osawatomie. Their conversation ran along the line
of their old classmates. Mr.
Pierce says, "Say, Lisle, I can't help but believe that
strange looking craft we saw this afternoon was operated by
one of our classmates". "What
makes you think so, Rollie? Who was it
anyway?" "I
don't know, but do you remember Virgil, who was in the class
the last year?" "Yes" "Well,
he reminds me very much of him. the last time I saw him, I
was marching in the streets of Berlin, with my regiment. I
hope he passes tomorrow. I will arrest him just to find out
his name." The
next day was a nice, sun-shiny day in June. With aeroplanes
flying over the busy city below - because the west had
picked up wonderfully in the world of business and
Osawatomie was one of the main centers. Rollie and Lisle
were both on the job and had been ever since eight o'clock
that morning. Nothing had happened in particular and it was
now eleven o'clock' suddenly Lisle arose from his engine and
said to Rollie rather quickly, "Is that the young man you
were talking about last night?" "I
don't know", replied Rollie, "but we can soon find out.
Steer our craft over along wide his and we will have a
conversation." This
Lisle did. when along side, Pierce says, "You are under
arrest for exceeding speed limits; come with
us. Both
crafts began to descend to the ground. There was a large
storage farm in the center of the city, where such machines
could be kept without being harmed. When they were on the
ground, Pierce asked the stranger's name. "Virgil
Beck," he replied. "Very
glad to meet you, Mr. Beck; meet my chum, Mr. Chambers. We
have not seen you since the year of nineteen eighteen. In
this very town," said Pierce, in a delighted tone of
voice. "I-I-I
don't understand, what does this mean?" Beck asked
wonderingly. Then it was explained to him and one would have
shed tears to have witnessed such a reunion. "Yes,
I have been a rounder," said Virgil to one of the questions
asked him. I know where every one in the class in located
now. Those I have not seen I have heard about. I had about
given up you two fellows, but thank Providence I have found
you at last." "Well,
we are ready to hear about our classmates. So we will give
you our undivided attention." "All
right," replied Virgil, "I will take the girls first because
it is always an easy matter to turn my thoughts on the fair
sex. First
. . . "Amy
Fry is living in the country north of here with Lanpheres;
she is married and living happily." "Wonderful,"
shouted Rollie. "Mabel
Callahan is living at Quincy, Ill., she also is
married." "Too
bad," Lisle replied. "Hazel
Arbogast, well, she disappeared some years ago. She married
a popular young man of this city and their home is in Los
Angeles, California, but at the present time they are taking
a vacation at Melbourne, Australia." "Marvelous",
Lisle exclaimed. "Ermyl
Arbogast is also married to another young man of this city
and they are happily at home in one corner of Chicago. Her
husband is worth his millions." "Astonishing,
I am sure glad to hear it." said Rollie. "Ermine
Arner joined the Red Cross, and was in France during the
latter part of the war, as a Red Cross Girlie. She became
well acquainted with a young French officer and never
returned." "Too
bad," spoke up Rollie. "Helen
Bates and her people moved to South Carolina, where she
married a millionaire's son." "Can
you imagine?" said Lisle. "Ruhamn
Tyrrell is at the present time a traveling saleswoman for
some large hosiery company in Kansas City. She is doing
nicely. "Fine",
Lisle replied. "Margaret
Kelley is married to some man from North Osawatomie or
Paola. It used to be. My! My! How things have changed. There
are running a show store in Scranton, PA. In fact, I was
just there last week." "My,
My. Can it be possible?" asked Rollie. "Glad
to hear it." Lisle replied. "Pearl
McCaskey is head clerk for the London & Lancashire Fire
Insurance Company of Liverpool, England. I made her a visit
less than three months ago." "I
wish I could travel," spoke up Rollie. "You
have traveled more than I have," Lisle
answered. "Marguerite
Roseberry is with her sister, Mabel, in the University of
Michigan. they both have very high positions as instructors
in the College." "Isn't
that lovely," said Rollie "Doris
Mattingly after leaving the high school, went to a poet's
college, and is now at the present time in Europe writing
literature for the King of England. "Lula
Durrant and Frances Harvey are living at Lane, New Mexico,
where they are running a millinery store. They are doing
nicely." "I
would like to see them," says Lisle. "Mamie
Stroud, who joined our class the last year, now is president
of a young ladies' college in Vermont." "Fine",
replied Pierce. "Well,
I guess that is all the girls. Now for the
boys." "Yes,
yes, where are my old friends, Maurice Sallisbury and Evan
Phares?" Lisle asked impatiently. "Yes,
and where are Glen Nelson and Harold Allen?" quickly asked
Pierce. "Now,
just one at a time," interrupted Virgil. "All
right, shoot." "Evan
Phares was in my Company, the 22nd Infantry, in France. He
was a first lieutenant after serving nineteen months. He was
honorably discharged and came home and was married. He and
his wife are now situated at Dallas, Texas, on a large ranch
all their own." "Edward
Emmart is now pastor of the Christian Church in New Orleans,
Louisiana." "Edward
was a find lad," Lisle said. "Maurice
Salisbury . . ." "Yes,
yes, go on," Pierce said, excitedly. "He is
a professor of economics in Yale University." "Fine." "Glenn
Nelson is a cashier in one of Uncle Sam's Post Offices in
Denver, Colo." "Albert
Wolf is now occupying a seat in the Senate and in all
probabilities he will run for President next
term. "Paul
Vohs is married and living in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he
owns a large flour mill and is doing business all over the
United States on a large scale. "The
last one is Harold Allen. He is married and running a chili
shack in Newton, Florida. He says he would not trade his
business for a gold mine; so I take it that he is well off
in the world." "Well,
well, I should say we sure did strike it lucky where we
arrested you. It seems like our old class has sure
progressed in the world. We are all living and in good
health. I am certainly glad to hear from all my
classmates." "I
guess you are not the only one that is glad, but for my part
I would be tickled to death if I could see all of them. The
afternoon is half spent, so let's not go back to work," said
Pierce. "No,
there is no use of it and, besides, I am rather
tired." "I
have some business to transact, so I will have to leave you
gentlemen for awhile, at least," said Virgil. "All
right, be around at my house for supper about 6:00
o'clock." "I
will that, Rollie, replied Virgil walking
away. He
stayed in Osawatomie for two weeks, then started for his
home in New York City, where his family is
located.
L.C.