Santa Fe daily New Mexican., 1897-11-02
A TRAGEDY BY EAR.

n l. lUAA ~ LII l. l. AhIts
We happened to come out of the club
together, and SO I walked along the
boulevard with M. Maroux, a man with
kindly face, but marked with an in
finite melancholy.
"Will you wait q minute for me?"
said | as we reached the postoffice II
wish to 60 in and telephone. ="
He started at the last word, and
saw his grip tighten on his cane. When
| returned, he still seemed nervous, and
to break an uncomfortable silence
made some commonplace remark about
what a marvellous invention the tele-
phone was and what inestimable serv-
ices the progress of science was doing
us every day
"Do you think so?' replied NJ Ma
roux in a tone of bitter irony. "It seems
to me, on the contrary, that science,
far from aiding us, only emphasizes our
human weakness and cruel-y multiplies
uu0 LldI Ccll Cduno US
But you will understand me better if
give you an example Of what mean
from my own experience
II was spending my autumn vacation
with Louise, my wife, and Marcel, my
little son, at my country place at Mo-
rande, which I had just bought. 1t was
in the country about three leagues out
Of Marseilles. Nanette, our old servant,
was both housekeeper and cook. Blaise,
who was devoted to me, delighted at be-
ing once more near the city where his
worthy old mother lived, fulfilled the
functions of gardener and had his quar-
ters in detached clubhouse.
with my gun on my arm and my
two dogs at my heels I used to wander
about all day with my wife and baby in
that delightful solitude. To make
amends for our isolation, had tele-
phone line put up to connect with the
central office at Marseilles, and by it ev-
cry evening, as sat in my bedchamber,
| could learn what had been done dur
ing the day at my factory in Paris.
a notlce from my superintendent By
making personal application I could
probably obtain an important govern
ment order The weather was so fine
and Marcel seemed so we'll that Louise
decided to wait for me at Morande. But
on the eve of my departure for Paris
the rain fell in torrents. When the
hired vehicle arrived before my door, at
sight of the immense blackness Of the
fields and woods | felt sudden grip
ping at my heart.
"sYou will be away only two nights,
Louise reassured me. 'Nanette will
sleep near my room. Blaise has your
gun, and from the house where he
sleeps he could hear us call, and the
dogs are an excellent guard. What
could happen to us?'
II kissed Louise and Marcel and start
ed on my journey. On the train passed
most uneasy night, and had no soon-
er reached Paris than jumped out Of
the carriage and hastened to telephone
Office. Communication being establish
ed, heard, nasal and mutfled, but still
very sweet to me, the voice Of my wife.
Hello!' / called. How did you
pass the night, Louise? Were you very
frightened?'
"sYes, little-Nanette especially.
We did not get to sleep until almost
daybreak because Nanette thought she
heard steps in the garden. The dogs,
which we had forgotten to unite, had
been barking long time. At last we
opened the window and called Blaise.
He took the gun, loosed the dogs and
made tour Of the house, but he did
not find anything suspicious Baby,
who did not suspect anything, the fine
little fellow, has walked up and is call
ing me. Goodby. If you have moment
before dinner, call me up again.
"Only half reassured, plunged into
the business in hand and was not able
to go to the telephone again until after
o'clock had to call a long time
Hello Hellol' called. Why don't
you answer, Louise? What is the mat
teri?
Something we did not expect this
afternoon The shutters had been fas.
tened, the dogs united, and Nanette had
put up bed for Blaise in the hail. III
order to save us the terrors Of last night,
when q boy from the village brought
note for Blaise. His mother has sudden
ly been taken very i'll, and she wanted
him to come to her Immediately. The
boy, whom we had never seen before,
went away again as soon as he had de-
livered the note, without giving Us any
further information. Blaise, who adores
bis mother, was quite upset He did