Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1884-11-20

The woman stood ana looked earn
estly.
"T think there is, said She
81 was conscious that it was not lying
there, but my thoughts were confused,
and when the woman rose from her
knees and bent over the body, saying,
My son. ! was impelled to say,
Mother
"'Since then | have lived double
life; part of the time am my original
self. | live, act, think as | would do.
Then there comes sudden feeling. my
identity is removed. | occupy another
body-the body of the young man whose
mother prayed God to give him back to
her. do know where my own body is,
or what it is doing at such times, but
have a horror of being found dead, or
rather supposed to be; perhaps to be
buried, only coming back TO my own
body to find it under ground. 1t is hor
rible
Horrible ? ! said. Does no one else
know it?'
"Nor
"Pardon me, not Miss Ada?'
Heaven forbid"
"Why do you not tell herr
"'Tell her To have her think me
lunatic; to have her recoil from me in
horror. Is it natural story
"'No'
"'And you are not sure but what am
crazy. Are you?
Il hesitated before answering, and
then evaded the question by saying; J
would like to see the other yourg nan
| am not sure that you cau.
Why?'
II don't know Just who lie H.
"You puzzle me- more than ever
while occupy his body I am al
WAYS in the same rooms; | see through
his eyes only these two women, his
mother and his aunt am called Ed
ward. ! have no memory OF that bOdy's
former life l only occupy il for the pur
pose, it seems, Of keeping it alive, and
the mother il satisfied that 1t lives. 1t
is not hard To ansW er the question when
it is asked: How do you feel?' About
the same or Would you like me- 10 read
to your Yes, if Won like to- and beyond
that there is little range Of idea. | am
there only at times, less than half II Q
time, for | hear them say he sleeps q
great deal I losthe the change so that
| make no effort to find out anything
more than have told you.'
at ia very hard case
"He sat moodjly biting his nous
tache.
YES he said presently, I will tell
Won all, since | have begun. | have no
parents, one sister living far away. My
living do not have to labor for, because
/ have money. l have fallen in love
with a woman who daily thinks ] am
Indifferent to her because | cannot tell
her am not | must leave her side
sometimes when l would give worlds to
stay. must refuse to 60 with her as
other men would to drive, to picnics,
anywhere. / dare not 60 for more than
an hour at time. so rarely can 60 at all.
l dare not tell her l love her, for ! could
not marry her.
"'If she loved you she wo,.ld be sat
isfed with yourself when you could
be yourself, and she would believe your
story
"But is she likely to believe it?"
90 don't know. / think your best
plan is to leave her. Try and write to
her, tell her you love her, and leave the
rest
"It would be iishonorable, since ! do
not know how long ] may be III this
bondage
AZ do not think So and with this
advice left him.
"After this | tried to discover the
state of Miss Ada's feelings, but who
can pretend to read woman? She did
not know herself, think.
tovo SpnnI pIIt VI hArp Edward
lives said Reed, one day to me, IN low
voice.
Z" You have said l. Can l see him,
do you think?
"'Being doctor; yes, think SO. The
name is Bernadot, and the place is about
fifty miles from here
"' How did you find outF'
"lhe last time was there | asked
the distance to this place-Sundly- and
they told me fifty miles. Then | asked
who Edwards father was named for; /
was ashamed and afraid to ask Edwards
name. Was told the father was named
for an uncle Edward, end that l was
named the same, Edward Strythe Bern
adot, and there came in a servant who
called the mother Mrs. Bernadot.'
"Ishall 60 to see him. You know
the name of the place.
"Yes. Markton.'
"You may be sure the next day took
the opportunity to go there. | asked
for Mrs. Bernsdot She came down-a
sweet, sad-looking woman, with gray
hair.
az have heard of your son from a
friend of mine ] said. 4 am doctor
perhaps it may be IN my power to re
lieve him.
"She thanked me, and asked me up
stairs. l saw pale, fair young man ly-
ing on couch the room. though hand
somely furnished, had the air Of being
occupied by an invalid.
"'He sleeps most of the time said
Mrs Bernadot; and when he wakes be
takes very little interest in anything
she passed her hand fondly over his
hsir-'but he has been spared to me.
she said. though it is in this way, | have
no right to mumur.'
"Wbile I stood looking at the young
man he opened his eyes.
edward, this is DR.. Awry,' said Mrs.
Bernadot.
"An odd smile came to his face as he
stretched out his hand.
"My feeling was strange one. lkneW
it was Reed speaking to me with this
young mans voice, and it was Reed who
said, I am glad to see you, doctor
az talked with him little while, but
did not make much Roadway. He seemed
to be under sort of restraint, and left
promising to 60 again.
"Soon after Reed left Snudly, but | dc