, 1897-12-03
A TRAGEDY BY EAR.

we happened 10 come out OF the cluI
together, and so | walked along the
boulevard with NJ. Maroux, Il man with
a kindly face. but marked with all in.
finite melancholy.
will you wait q minute for me?''
said l as we reached the postofice. II
wish to 60 in and telephone"
He started at the last word, and !
saw his grip tighten on his cant When
returned, he still seemed nervous. and
TO break an uncomfortable silence l
made some commonplace remark about
what q marvellous invention the tele.
phone was and what inestimablc serv-
ices the progress of science was doing
US every day
do you think SOP replied NJ. Ma.
roux in a tone of bitter irony. at seems
to me. on the contrary, that science,
far from aiding us. only emphasizes our
human weakness and cruelty multiplics
the mean that can cause us suffering.
But you will understand me better if
give you an example of what | mean
from my " experience:
Il was spending my autumn vacation
with Louise. my wife. and Marcel. my
little son, at my country place at Mo-
rande. which | had Just bought. 1t was
in the country about three leagues out
Of Marseilles Nanctte, our old servant.
was both h%ousekeeper and cook. Blaise,
who was devoted to me. delighted at be-
ing nee more near the city where his
worthy old mother lived. fulfilled the
functions of gardener and had his quar-
ters in q detached clubhouse.
With my gun on my arm and my
two dogs at my heels l used t wander
about all day with my wife and baby in
that delightful solitude. To make
amends for our isolation, l had n tele-
phone line put up to connect with the
central office at Marseilles. and by it ev.
cry evening. as | sat i'll my bedchamber
| could learn what had been done dur
ing the day ut my factory in Paris,
"Our peaceful life was interrupted by
= notice from my superintendent. By
making personal application | could
probably obtain III important govern
ment order. The weather was so fine
and Marcel seemed so well that Louise
decided to wait for me at Morande. But
ON the V Of my departure for Paris
the rain fell in torrents When the
hired vehicle arrived before my door, at
sight Of tho immense blackness Of the
fields and woods | felt q sudden grip
ping at my heart.
lyon will DO away only two nights,
Louise treasured 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
I'd ON my journey. On the train l passed
. most uneasy night. and l had no SOON
or reached Paris than l jumped out of
the carriage and hastened to q telephone
Office Communication being establish
ed, l heard. nasal and muf1ed, but still
very sweet to me, the voice Of my wife.
"'Hellol' l called. How did you
pass the night. Louise? Were you very
frightened?'
Eyes, . 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 a long time. At last we
opened the window and called Blaise
He took the gun, loosed the dogs and
made q 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. II you have a moment
before dinner. call me up again.
"Only half treasured. l plunged into
the business in hand and was not able
70 60 to the telephone again until after
y o'clock. bad to call a long time.
".Helloi Helloi' ! called Why don't
you answer. LouiseY What is the mat
sesY'
Something we did not expect this
afternoon. The shutters had been fas-
tened, the dogs united, Ind Nnnette had
put mp . bed for Blaise in the hall. in
order 70 ave N the terrors Of last night,
when . boy from the village brought q
note for Blaise. His mother has sudden
" beeu taken very i'll, and she wanted
him 70 come to her Immediately. The
10y, whom we had never seen before.
we'd Away again a. o as he had de-
utRred tho nose, without giving rs any
4rthsr infoemation- Blaise. who adores
moehaE. was quite upaet He did
lot want % hAve y alone before day
lRht, but hiS sCgFuwful face told how
dserly the dAlay would cost him ]
A-Ga 49, 10 sl,;, ~,ou,~n dios fnni0hf