The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1899-10-13

ave conccited human beings fancy
we own our own souls, and every one
of them has made many journeys to
| this same earth before, and inhabited
many bodies, AMI they doubtless will
inhabit many other bodies, after ours
are dead enough. 1t is in this way
that the soul reaches perfection
Baldwin was still walking nervously
about. Forsyth was laughing, Walton
trying to offer an opinion of his own.
| was making desperate effort to
keep my eyes open, and to listen to
what my uncle was saying.
"Perhaps,' said Walton, who had at
last succeeded in getting the attention
of the company, 'you would he kind
enough to tell us rho or phut you were
during your last sojourn to earth?'
at is quite impossible for me to
grant your request" my uncle replied,
good naturedly. "Thc truth is, but
few of us can look at ourselves disin-
tcreste,lly enough to determine what
our condition or position was at that
time; but we can see other people
plainly. Now, Templcton," he said,
pointing to me, has the spirit of old
Orlando Pembroke in his body. as sure
as little apples"
Thus far, l had been only an atten-
tive listener; now | felt l had entered
the controversy, and raised as white
face from the ground, to look at my
uncle, as one might wish to see.
"Uncle Orlando" | exclaimed,
hoarscly.
"Yes, Uncle Orlando he said, soft
ly; "you are precisely what he would
be, could he live in these modified
times"
| was simply Mortified. and did not
| venture to ask my uncle for an expla-
nation. He turned and faced the other
guests, and proceeded to give them q
condensed biography of my relative.
"Uncle Orlando was my grandmoth-
er's brother,' he began, in a very sub
dued tone. "My grandmother married
an Englishman, and their Oldest son,
my father, married German lady,
very much Of a lady, am told,-who
bequeathed to me, along with a COM
Portable fortune and mild disposition,
the unmistakable German appellation,
Rudolph. Perhaps it was my mothers
ancestors who begged to re-appear in
me that shut Uncle Orlando's soul out
Of my body; but certain it is that he
now occupies the body of my nephew,
Templcton Pembroke"
at was Uncle Orlando who stranoled
his betrothed and hid her body in the
close, wasn't il?'' | asked meekly.
"Yes, that was the man, or, rather,
the fiend. 1t happened here, where
the rustic bridge now spans the creek.
They had quarreled about something
an imaginary lover, if | have been
told correctly, and he strangled her,
after having plunged her pretty face in
the cold stream. They say, his finger
marks were left on her throat months
afterward, when they had occasion to
remove her body to another vault
"And he never repented,' | said
sadly. had heard the tale before.
"No,' Rudolph replied, "Orlando
was man who was never sorry for
anything"
And that mans soul was in my body.
l was sick, and leaned heavily against
the tree. Perhaps Uncle Rudolph saw
my misery in my face, for he proceeded
to give things 4 brighter look.
''There is one consolation" he said,
cheerfully; "souls are always better
each time they appear So 10 not
fear; Uncle Orlando's spirit in your
body will not strangle his love,-at
least not with his hands,
II hope not,'' replied solemnly.
1t is hard to say how long my uncle
might have continued the conversation,
as this was a pet theory Of his, had not
Forsyth suddenly risen to his feet.
''If there IS anything | hate" he said,
his face distorted with laughter, "it is
senseless rot. | swear, can take 4
good many things away from 4 man,
but | can't take away the theory Of
the original possession Of his soul. A
man is willing to inherit cares, he
might even be willing to inherit dis
ease, but, rs for inheritiny Il soul, 4
wicked, WORKOUT thing at that, filled
with crimes and omissions
But it is clcanscd and made pure"
my uncle made haste to explain. "It
dos not come directly back
A gan Forsyth laughed loud, ring
ing laugh, that might have cheercd me
had | not seen the look on Edmund's
face, who turned to my uncle and
whispered, loud enough for me to hear:
"For Coils sake, shut up. Look at
Temp!cton; he looks like dead man. .
After this, steps were at once taken
for returning hom', anl soon We were
seated in the cool dining-room, enjoy
ing sumptuous repast. That is, the
rest were enjoying it; was thinking
of Orlando Pembroke and the audacity
of his spirit in taking possession of my
weak, infantile body without asking
my permission. Then l fell to think