The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-03-02

HIS DUAL PERSONALITY.
BY H. HI. Hudson.

4
friend Norton. / had almost for.
gotten him. The letter contained
an earnest invitation to meet him
that evening at his home, a beau
tiful though isolated spot, several
miles from the city. His writing
showed a nervous hand, and / al
once suspected that something had
gone wrong. Norton had always
loved solitude, and was given to
queer and unexplainable tenden-
cies. His hobbies were many, and
as l began to recall them re-
membered his liking for dogs.
Norton had evidently been
lawaiting my arrival, for the door
was Immediately opened and
was ushered into the library.
saw that her was a changed man.
His face was pale and haggard,
and the expressive brown eyes
seemed sadder than usual. His
form was emaciated, the blue
veins being noticeably outlined on
the temples and hands.
l asked him about his dogs,
thinking that the subject might
be to his liking. His answer
came as a surprise. do you
know" he began, "that I am
afraid of dogs. I have rid my
self of all of them.
Containing, my friend said aft
ler some reflection: 81 have new
er been a believer in the theory
lof the passing Of the soul from
one form of life to another. but
there are some things which
cannot explain. You have heard
| of those who claimed they could
remember impressions arising
from a former existence. Let me
tell you a queer thing. It Is not
generally supposed that these
people were other than human in
their previous states, but l am led
to believe that my soul may have
resided in a brute during a GER
tain period of its pilgrimage The
brute, moreover, was q dog. u
have always been fond of dogs.
When a boy I romped with them
and drew pictures of them. II
was not until middle life that the
truth began to dawn upon me. In
the silent hours there came i'm
pressions Of former life. 1 often
fancied that I was on the bank OF
a stream. and as the boys threw
sticks into the water I swan after
them and brought them back
Again, have chased rabbits
through swamp and thicket, wild
and hilarious in my pursuit.
have dug for woodchucks, and
barked at passing vehicles.
II have tried to drive these
thoughts from my mind, but can
not. Sometimes / believe I am
a dog. You see my soul may
have paid a queer penalty. My
fear is, that these impressions
may result in a dual personality.
II tried to laugh away his
fears. I told him that it was his
life of solitude, and recommend
ed an immediate change of envi-
ronment. We talked the matter
over, and were debating new
location when we heard a pro-
longed and dismal howl. 1t made
me SILVER, but Norton was more
lvisibly affected.
"I'll tell my man to kill the
brute!" he exclaimed, as he
rushed outside, saying that he
would return shortly.
He was gone longer than ex.
pected, and I grew apprehensive
Then l heard a barking of q diff
lferent character. The chickens
were making a frightful noise. II
was disagreeable night in Jan.
uary. The weather had moder.
ated and the snow had disap.
peared, leaving mud everywhere
Thinking that Norton had inter,
cepted the stray dog, l stepped
quickly to the veranda and lis
tened.
Then 1 perceived a strange OBJ
ject crawling through the mud
toward the house. 1t was Nor
ton on his hands and knees. Ev-
cry now and then he gave express
sion to short quick bark. I hid
behind a porch pillar, while my
host made his way up the steps
land through the hallway into the
library. I followed with my hand
on my revolver, prepared to de-
fend myself. The sight was hor-
rible. The brute in him had pre-.
dominated.
Suddenly turning he snarled al
me, and I saw that his teeth were
full of feathers. A sudden
thought came to me. I would
treat him like a dog. I slapped
my knee and beckoned him to ap-
proach. He responded, creeping
toward me, and finally raising his
eyes, pleadingly. l patted his
head and pointed to the corner BY
the fireplace. He went over and
lay down and was soon asleep
Omitting further detail, will
|simply say that he has been al
Inmate of an asylum ever since.
AS for myself, the question Il
|still unsolved. Was Norton mere
lily suffering from delusion, or die
his soul retain the impression
(which he claimed?