The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1897-09-29
II Cragedy m
%. By telephone.
WE HAPPENED to come out of til
BY CHAS. FOLEY
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w club together, and so l wake,
along the boulevard with NJ. MarouN
man with a kindly face but marked
with am infinite melancholy.
"Will you wait minute for me?
said ]. as we reached the post office
81 wish to go in and telephone"
He started at the last word, and saw
his grip tighten on his cane. When
returned, he still seemed nervous, ant
to break an uncomfortable silence
made some commonplace remark abou'
what marvellous invention the tele
phone was and what inestimable service
the progress of science is doing u:
every day,
DO You think SOP" replied Mr.
! MarouX. in a tone of bitter irony, III
seems to me, on the contrary, that sci.
ence, far from aiding us, only empha-
sizes our human weakness and cruelty
| multipies the means that can cause us
suffering. But you viii understand me
better if give you an example of what
l mean from my own experience:
l was spending my autumn vacation
with Louise my wife, and Marcel, my
| little son. at my country place at Mo-
rande, which l had just bought. 1t
was in the country, about three leagues
out of Marseiles. Nanette, our old
servant, was both housekeeper and
cook Blaise, who was devoted to me,
delighted at being once more near the
city where his worthy old mother lived,
fulfilled the functions of gardener and
had his quarters in a detached out
house.
With my gun on my arm and my two
dogs at my heels, | used to wander
about all day with my wife and baby
in that delightful solitude. To make
amends for our isolation, had a tele-
phone line put up to connect with the
central office at Marseilles, and by it
every evening, as I sat in my bed
chamber. / could learn what had been
done during the day at my factory in
Paris.
Our peaceful life was interrupted by
a notice from my superintendent; by
making personal application could
probably obtain an 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 evening Of my departure for
Paris, the rain fell in torrents. When
the hired vehicle arrived before my
door, at sight of the immense black
ness of the fields and woods I felt
sudden gripping at my heart.
you will be 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 hap
pen to us?"
] kissed Louise and Marcel, and start
Ell on my journey. On the train passed
a most uneasy night and l had no soon
er reached Paris than | jumped out Of
the carriage and FASTENED to a tele-
phone Office. Communication being es-
tablished, | heard. nasal and muffied.
but still very sweet to me, the voice of
my wife
"Hello!" l called. How did you pass
tie night, Louise? We're you very
Yes, little-Nanette especially. We
did not get to sleep until almost day
break, 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 a 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. Good-by. If you have a mo- |
ment before dinner, call me up again" |
Only half treasured l plunged into |
the business in hand, and was not able |
ID go to the telephone again until after |
e. ght o'clock. had to call long time. |
Hello, hello!" ! called. "Why don't
you answer, Louise? What is the mat
ter?"
Something we did not expect this
afternoon. The shutters had been fas-
tened, the dogs united, and Nanette
lad put up bed for Blaise in the hall.
n order to save us the terrors Of last
light. when a boy from the village
brought a note for Blaise His mother
las suddenly been taken very ill., and
he wanted him to come to her imme-
lately. The boy, whom we had never
cen before, went away again as soon
$ he had delivered the note, without
living us any further information.
}laise, who adores his mother, was
uite upset. He did not want to leave
Is alone before daylight, but his sor-
owful face told how dearly the delay
7culd cost him. thought that If this
woman dies tonight, I shall have pre-
cnted poor Blaise from receiving her
7st blessing. So / overcame my scru-
les and made him 60. He promised
o return this evening, and 10 save time
e will drive back. / have just bottled
b. doors after him. That is why kent ,