Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1897-12-09

the matter
Something We did not expect this
afternoon. The shutters had been
fastened, the dogs united, and Nan
cite had put up bed for Blaise in the
hall, IN order to save US the terrors Of
last night, when a boy from the village
brought note for Blaise. His moth
er had suddenly 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 delivered the note,
without giving us any further infor-
nation. Blaise, who adores his moth
er, was quite upset. He did not want
to leave us alone before daylight, but
his sorrowful face told how dearly the
delay would cost him. Thought that
if this woman dies tonight shall have
prevented poor Blaise from receiving
her last blessing. So overcame my
scruples and made him go. He prom
ised to return this evening, and to
save time he will drive back. have
lust bolted the doors after him. That
is why I kept you waiting Now,
how is that business affair getting
along? 2
every well ; but let US talk about
yourself. You should not have let
Blaise 90. Even if he drives back he
cannot return before 10 or II o'clock.
Ny sole confidence was in knowing
that he was near you, and now ne Is
gone. And then that boy who ran be-
fore you had time to think Of making
sure his news was true At any rate
Blaise has left you the two dogs and
the gun, has he not? p
"'The two dogs are asleep on the
porch, AS for the gun, Blaise must
have left it in the hall. | shall go
and make sure. Can you hear Mar
eel? He is sitting in my lap and is
saying goodnight to you. Listen,
Goodnight, papa, goodnight.
"'Goodnight, my darling. | must
get a bite of dinner now, and then |
will call you again.
"Once outside l felt oppressed with
what my wife had just told me. l
had dis8imulated my own anxiety in
order not to add to her fears, but that
uneasiness, which had hardly been
quieted by the first conversation, now
waxed stronger at the thought of this
strange, incredible letter which has
taken away my wife's one defender,
the only man in the house. My
thoughts took so dark turn that by
the time | reached the hotel ! could
not swallow a mouthful. l left the
table to return to the telephone office,
but my agent found Inc and laid be-
fore me a lot of details which were es-
sential to the success Of my venture.
| could not dismiss him Immediately,
and it was late when | re-entered the
telephone office. My heart throbbed
with impatience and my hand trem-
bled so that l could scarcely hold the
receiver to my ear. 1t was some Sec
onds before l could hear anything.
Hello, Louise, hello : l cried.
Are you there? Answer me-
"At last l heard her voice, but it
was low, oppressed, filed with terror.
"'Oh, it's you at last For the last
hour | have been nearly crazed. /
could not find the gun-that boy must
have stolen it when he went away.
Blaise has not come back. They must
have got him out of the way on pur-
pose. Oh, I am losing my head! l
can scarcely breathe for terror
think hear-in the garden-far away
wait while l listen.
"Clutching at the box for support,
l could only cry, Louise, l beg OF
you, do not leave me in this silence
what do you hear?'
1.-The dogs are growling-now they
are barking-barkiDg furiously. They
have run to the bottom Of the garden
now, suddenly they are still. There
is a deathly silence. But-yes, it
sounds like mufled footsteps on the
pebbled walk-as if some one were
coming toward the house
"'Go on, speak Louise lam strang-
ling. shall go mad. What do you
hear-what do you hear now?'
Nothing now-almost nothing
yes, there is a gentle, steady grating
sound, as ifa chisel were being slipped
under shutter to force it. The sash
gives way-a window i. broken. Oh
I am terrified =
al shook the telephone box in my
agony. Telephone to Marseilles, !
cried, to warn the police
-, TT TO IT.. - - tbras