The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-03-25
A CHANGE OF SOULS.

"Yes, said the old physician medita'
lively, "the soul Of man Is a most mysteri.
Gus thing. 1t is the divine gift par excel.
lence and Is subject tn no material laws.
It's relations to the body are known to nc
man. That inner life which reigns su.
preme over the kingdom Of man, that
strange, immortal principle called soul,
Is independent Of its defiled temple. Oh,
you may laugh, !" as an incredulous laugh
broke from the lips of several, but tell
you we know nothing about the living,
reasoning and loving part Of man. The
power of God is unlimited, and Ids ways
are past finding out. Who are we that we
dare sneer at his worksf''
"But, DOCTOR demonstrated, "I dc
not doubt the omnipotcnce Of God. / only
ask X 1t is his will that the divine part Of
q man should be distinct and separable,
during life, from his mortal part. On
what do you base your theoryf"
"Sir," said the doctor gravely, with
me 1t Is no theory, but an indisputable
fact. know that you will not believe
me, but ! have seen that which, to my
mind, clearly proves that tho soul may
leave the body for a limited time and that,
too, without injury to the body
"Tell us the story, DOCTOR" asked.
The doctor and 1 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: "Yes,
doctor, tell us about it. 1 have long be.
lieved that the soul was an erratic sprite,
and If you have any evidence in favor Of
my theory give it to us.''
The man of medicine lit fresh cigar
before replying. "It happened several
years ago, before I enjoyed the extensive
practice do now. A very intimate friend
ind brother physician was In love with q
beautiful young lady in the town Of c.,
where we both lived. His affection was
not returned, but the sister of his inamo
rata, a beautiful brunette, loved him mad
ly, though secretly.
"Well, the poor fellow did his best tt
win the love of Jennie Caswcll, for that
was the name of the lady he loved but all
his efforts seemed in vain. At last he de.
cided that ho. had rival; that his lady
loved some one else. But try as he would,
he could find no grounds for his belief.
Finally, one night when he called at the
Caswell residence he found another caller
there. 1t was an old chum, Paul Thomas,
and he was calling on Edith the brunette
sister. That night eufliced 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 lavished on Edith Paul had ar.
rived at the same conclusion In regard to
Jack and Edith, and both conclusions
proved correct. 1t was most mixed up
affair. Here were two young fellows,
friends, madly I'm love with two sisters,
who in turn loved the two friends, but
each loved the wrong fellow.
"Things went on thus Cor nearly n
month, when one day Paul went to Jack
ard asked, Say, Jack, are you in love with
Jennie Caswellf' Jack flushed up, for tho
question was rather impertinent. But as
Paul was his friend and evidently in ear
nest, he replied, Yes, Paul, am We'll,
why the deuce don't you settle matters so
can do the sameP Edith is very cold to
me, and, think, loves you; but II you
were engaged to her sister, fancy il might
be different
"'Well, by George, Paul, but that 9
curious. am in the same box. Jennie
loves you and won't give me the least en-
couragement.' Paul looked doubtfully at
his friend for moment before replying:
If that Is true, don't see any help for U.S.
Those girls are awfully set in their ways
and will evidently marry no one but the
man they love- Well, l for one don t
want to marry q girl unless she loves me,
said Jack.
AFTER some further talk they parted,
both very much down hearted. Jack was
SO thin and pale that his friends hardly
knew him, while Paul's respondent face
would have become n ghost better than u
man. Both were religious, and many and
fervent.were the prayers that ascended to
the throne of grace from the lips of those
despiring lovers. Paul firmly believed
that they would finally prevail and win
the love of the girls, but Jack thought, as
do, that the love of woman, once be-
slowed, nothing can change IL. still, no
hoped against hope.
"At last, it was bright, sunny day In
June, think, messenger came for me
to go at once to the Caswell mansion.
fastened thither, and was admitted at once
10 n large bedroom, in which were two
beds. On these lay the two daughters of
the houschold-tbe lady loves Of Jack
Beverly and Paul Thomas.
lney urS III UTauCc WAS III
formed, 'and have been for several hours.
An examination showed me that they were
indeed In comatose or rather I'm a cata-
leptic state, for there were no signs Of lifo
visible The action of the heart had ceased
or was 80 faint as to bc unnoticcablc.
There was no respiration and the patients
were to all appearances dead.
"Tbe appearance Of their eyes and sew
cral other symptoms convinced me, how
ever, that they wcro only in trance, as IL
is commonly called. applied all the avail
able remedies without success and was
pbout giving up In despair. The cold, col.
orless checks and hands and the limp
forms were strongly suggestive OF death.
As u dernier rcssort ] resolved to try an
electric battery and sent for one II soon
arrived, and was preparing it when Mrs.
Caswell, who was sitting at the bedside of
Edith, exclaimed, oh, doctor, come
quickly hastcncd to her side and saw
great change coming over the patiept.