The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-04-08
A CHANGE OF SOULS.

Eyes" said the old physician medita
lively, "the soul of man is O most mysteri
GUS thing. 1t is the divine gift par excel
lence and is subject to no material laws
Its relations to the body are known to n,
man. That inner life which reigns SUI
| preme over the kingdom Of a man, tina
strange, immortal principle called soul
is independent of its defled temple. Oh
| you may laugh" as an incredulous laugh
broke from the lips Of several, "but l tel
you We know nothing about the living
reasoning and loving part of a man. The
power of God is unlimited, and Ids ways
are past finding out Who are we that We
dare sneer at his worksp"
But, doctor" l demonstrated, II dc
not doubt the oInnipotence Of God. only
ask If it is his will that the divine part Of
man should be distinct and separable,
during life, from his mortal part. On
what do you base your theory2'
Sir, :" said tho doctor gravely, with
me 1t Is no theory, but an indisputable
fact. l know that you will not believe
me, but ! have seen that which, to my
mind, clearly proves that the soul NAV
leave the body for limited time, and that.
too, without injury to the body"
Tell MS the story, DOCTOR" asked.
The doctor and were members of the
same club, and 1t was in the clubroom
that the foregoing conversation took place.
The Others present had been silent listen
ers, but here one broke In, saying: Eyes,
doctor, tell us about 1t. l have long be-
lieved that the soul was an cratic sprite,
and II you have any evidence in favor Of
my theory give it to u.s.
Tho man of medicine lit o fresh cigar
before replying. ut happened several
years ago, before l enjoyed the extensive
practice do now A very intimate friend
and brother physician was In love with
beautiful young lady in the town of c..
where we both lived. His affection was
not returned, but the sister of his ihamo-
rata, beautiful brunette, loved him mad
ly, though secretly.
well, tho poor fellow did his best to
win the love of Jennie Caswell, for that
was the name of the lady he loved, but all
his efforts seemed in vain. At last he de-
cided that he had rival; that his lady
loved some one else. But try as he would, |
he could find no grounds for his belief. !
Finally, ono night when he called at the |
Caswell residence, no found another caller
there. 1t was an old chum, Paul Thomas. |
and he was calling on Edith, the brunette
sister. That night sufficed to convince
.Jack-that was his name, Jack BEVERLY
that Jennie loved his friend Paul Thomas.
He was also convinced that her love was
not returned, for all Paul's affections were
evidently layished on Edith. Paul had ar
rived ut the same conclusion in regard to
Jack and Edith, and both conclusions
proved correct. 1t was a most mixed up
affair. Hero were two young fellows
friends, madly in love with two sisters,
who In turn loved the two friends, but
each loved the wrong fellow.
Things went on thus for nearly
month, when one day Paul went to Jack
and asked, Say, Jack, arc you in love with
Jennie Caswellf Jack flushed I'D, for the
question was rather impertinent. But as
Paul was his friend and evidently in ear
nest, he replied, Yes, Paul, am. well,
why the deuce don't you settle matters SO
can do the samer Edith is very cold to
me- and, / think, loves you; but If you
we're engaged to her sister, fancy it might
be different
Well, by George, Paul, but that's
curious. I am in the same box. Jennie ,
owes you and won't give me tho least en-
Paul looked doubtfully at
lis friend for a moment before replying:
II that Is true, don't see any help for us. !,
Those girls are awfully set In their ways :
md will evidently marry no ono but the 9
nan they love- Well, for one don't !,
want to marry q girl unless she loves me-, Z
aid Jack.
After some further talk they parted, :
9th very much down hearted. Jack was :
o thin and pale that his friends hardly E
new him, while Paul's respondent face !
'ould have become ghost better than a r
ian. Both were religious, and many and =,
'ryent were the prayers that assembled to y,
he throne of grace from the lips of those II
lovers. Paul firmly believed h
nat they would finally prevail and win q,
,e love Of the girls, but Jack thought MS =,
do, that the love Of woman, once be- =,
owed, nothing can change it. Still, he
oped against hope. -,
AT last, 1t was bright sunny day in r,
1ne, think, messenger came for me ot
go OF once to the Caswell mansion, l =,
sstened thither, and was admitted at once fe
large bedroom, in which were two ct
'os On these lay the two daughters of nv
o household-the lady loves of Jack r.
syerly and Paul Thomas.
.''They ore In q trance I was in
rmed, and have been for several hours
L examination showed me that they were WI
deed in a comatose or rather in cata. by
prit state, for there were no signs of life 20
sible The action of the heart had ceased wi
was so faint as to be unnotiCeable Of
,eie was no respiration and the patients Thu
,rs 10 all appearance dead. fal
'Tha appearance of their eyes and sew. err
u other symptoms convinced me, how OIL
er, that they were only in a trance, as it vel
called, applied all the avail. eve
10 remedies without success and was CHI
out giving up In despair. The cold col. =
css checks and hands and the limp she
ms were strongly suggestive Of death. yea
dernler resort l resolved to try an loy
otric battery and sent for one 1t soon
lived. and was preparing 1t when Mrs.
swell, who was sitting at the bedside Of '
18th, exclaimed, 'Oh, DOCTOR come ma
ckly.' fastened to her side and saw o SUI
at change coming over the patient. ba,
o breast heaved slightly, the eyelids exc
Itcted and faint trace OF color was PR
cerntble In the face. Satisfied that con- car
BUSINESS was returning, was preparing cen
assist nature when faint cry from the .ih'
endabt at the other bed called nv at- the