The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-10-31
A TRAGEDY
BY TELEPHONE.

We happened to come out of the club
together. and so | walked along the
boulevard with Nj. MarouA, a man with
Il kindly face but marked with an in
finite melancholy.
viii you wait a minute for me?"
said |. AS we reached the postofce II
wish to go in and telephone"
lie started at the last word and
saw his grip tighten on HIS cane When
returned he still seemed nervous. and
to break an uncomfOrta BILE silence |
made some commonplace remark
about what Il marvellous invention the
telephone was and what inestimable
service the progress of science is do
ing us every day.
'Do you think so?" replied NJ. Maroux.
in tone OF bitter irony 1T seems to
me, on the contrary. that science. far
from aiding us. only emphasizes our
human weakness and cruelty multi
plies the means that can cause us suf-
fering. But you will understand me
better if give you an example of what
l mean from my own experience:
| 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 Nanette. our old
servant, was both hOusekeeper and
cook. Blase, 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 tel
ephone line put up to connect with the
central Office at Marseilles, and by it
every evening, as | 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 10 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 black
ness of the fields and woods | felt Il
sudden gripping ut my heart.
You will lie away only two nights"
Louise reassrred me, Nancttc 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 u.s.
kissed Louise and Marcel, and
started on my journey. On the train
l passed most uneasy night. and |
had no sooner reached Paris than |
jumped out of the carriage and
FASTENED to telephone Office Com
munication being established. | heard,
nasal and muiIled. but still very sweet
to me, the voice Of my wife.
Hello" | called. How did you pass
the night. Louise? Were you very
frightered?"
yes. 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 n 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.