The Forrest City times., 1897-09-24

w club together. and so I walked along the boulevard with NJ. Maroux, a man with a kindly face but marked with an infinite melancholy.
 Will you wait minute for me?" said l, as we reached the post office. 'I wish to go in and telephone"
 He started at the last word, and saw his grip tighten on his cane. When I returned. he still seemed nervous, and to break an uncomfortable silence I made some commonplace remark about what marvellous invention the tele- phone was and what inestimable service the progress of science is doing us every day.
 Do you think so?" replied Mir seems to me, on the contrary, that sci ence, far from aiding us, only empha- sizes our human weakness and cruelty multiplies the means that can cause us suffering. But you will understand me better if give you an example of what 1 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. It 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 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, I 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 l sat in my bed chamber. l 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 l 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 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 l felt sudden gripping at my heart.
 You 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 hap pen to us?'
 I kissed Louise and Marcel, and start ed on my journey. On the train passed most uneasy night, and had no soon CT reached Paris than jumped out of the carriage and hastened to a tele- phone office. Communication being es- tablished I heard, nasal and muffled, but still very sweet to me, the voice of my wife.
 "Hello!' I called. How did you pass tie night. Louise? Were 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 10 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 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 Iuo- ment before dinner, call me up again"
 Only half treasured, plunged into the business in hand, and was not able