Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-08-09

happy maiden, throwing herself into
the aims OF what she imagined to be
her lover, "you do but joke in order to
Brighten our little Elise.r
Now II CHANGED that at the moment
OF this unexpected embrace Won Hart
mann was still leaning back against the
end OF the sofa, which, like much Ger
man furniture, was in a somewhat
rickety condition. 1t also CHANGED that
beneath this end Of the sofa there stood
a tank full Of water in which the physi-
ologlst was conducting certain expert
ments upon the ova Of fish, and which
be keptin his drawing.room in order to
insure an equable temperature. The ad-
ditional weight Of the maiden, combined
with the impetus with which she hurled
herselfupon him, caused the precarious
piece OF furniture to give way, and the
body OF the unfortunate student was
hurled backward into the tank, in which
bis head and shoulders were firmly
wedged, while his lever extremities
tapped helplessly about in the air.
This was the last straw. Ex-
Treating himself with some diff
Guilty from his unpleasant position,
Won Hartmann gave an inarticulate
yell of fury, and dashing out of the
room, in spite of the entreaties OF Elise,
he seized his hat and rushed off into
the town, all dripping and disheyelled,
with the intention Of seeking in some
i'm the food and comfort which he
could not find at home.
As the spirit Of Won Baumgarten en-
cased in the body Of Won Hartmann
strobe down the winding pathway
which led down to the little town,
brooding angrily over his many wrongs,
he became aware that an elderly man
was approaching him, who appeared
30 be in an advanced state Of intoxics-
ton. Won Hartmann waited by the side
of the road and watched this indiyi-
dual, who came stumbling along, Keeling
from one side Of the road to the other,
and singing student song in very
husky and drunken voice. At first his
interest was merely excited by the fact
Of seeing a man Of so venerable appear
ance in such disgraceful condition, but
as he approached nearer he became con-
v'nced that he knew the other well.
though he could not recall when or
here be had met him. This impression
lecame so strong with him that when
the stranger came abreast OF him he
stepped in front Of him and took a
good look at his features.
"Well, sonny" said the drunken
m&n, surveying Won Hartmann and
swaying about in front Of him, "where
the Henken have seen you beforet |
know you as well as know myself.
Who the deuce are you?"
am Professor Won Baumgarten. -
said the student. "May | ask who
you are? am strangely familiar with
your features"
You should never tell lies, young
man. said the other. You're GER
tainly not the Professor, for he is an
ugly snufy old chap, and you are a
big broad-shouldered young fellow. As
to myself, | am Fritz Won Hartmann, at
your service"
THAT you certainly are not" ex-
claimed the body Of Won Hartmann.
"You might very well be his father.
But hullo. sir, are you aware that you
are wearing my studs and my watch
chain Z"
Donnerwetter ;" hiccoughed the
other. IF those are not the trousers
for which my tailor is about to sue me
may never taste beer again"
Now, as Won Hartmann, over
whelmed by the many strange things
which had occurred to him that day,
passed his hand over his forehead and
cast his eyes downward, he CHANGED to
catch the reflection Of his own face in q
pool which the rain had left upon the
road. To his utter astonishment, he
perceived that his face was that Of a
youth, that his dress was that Of a
fashionable young student, and that in
every way he was the antithesis Of the
grave and scholarly figure in which his
mind was wont to dwell. In an in
slant his active brain ran over the
series Of events which had occurred
and sprang to the conclusion. He fairly
reeled under the blow.
Himmel!" he cried, ~ see it all.
Our souls are in the wrong bodies. |
am you and you are /. Ny theory is
proved-but at what an expense ! Is
the most scholarly mind in Europe to
20 about with this frivolous eIteriorY
Oh the labors Of alifetime are ruined :"
and he smote his breast in bis despair.
II say" remarked the real Won
Hartmann from the body Of the Pro-
fessor, 81 quite see the force Of your
remarks, but don't 60 knocking my
body about like that. You received it
in excellent coalition, but l perceive
that you have wet it and bruised it,
and spilled snuff over my rutilsd Shirt
'front.'"
sit matters little" the other said
modify. "Such as We are so must we
stay. Ny theory is triumphantly
proved, but the cost is terrible"
"If l thought so, said the spirit Of
the student, ait would be hard indeed.
What could | do with these stiff old
limbs, and how could | WOO Elise and
persuade her that was not her father9
No, thank Heaven, in spite Of the beer
which has upset me more than ever it
could upset my real self, l can see a
way out oft"
How" gasped the Professor.
why, by repeating the experiment.
Liberate our souls once more, and the
chances are that they will find their
way back into their respective bodies"
No drowning man could clutch more
eagerly al a straw than did Won Baum
garten's spirit at this suggestion. In
feyerish haste he dragged his own
frame 10 the side OF the road and
threw it into a mesmeric trance. He
then extracted the crystal ball from
the pocket and managed to bring him
self into the same condition.
Some students and peasants who
Glanced to pass during the next hour
were much sstonishsd to see the worthy
Professor Of Physiology and his favor
;.a studant both sittino upon a yery