The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1898-10-25
A TRAGEDY BY EAR.

We happened to come out of the club
together, and so l walked along the
boulevard with M. Maroux, man with
kindly face, but marked with an in
finite melancholy.
''Will you wait minute for me?''
said I as we reached the postofice. 81
wish to go in and telephone.
He started at the last word, and 1
saw his grip tighten on his cane When
l returned, he still seemed nervous, and
to break an uncomfortable silence
made some commonplace remark about
what marvellous invention the tele-
phone was and what inestimable 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 sit seems
to me, on the contrary, that science,
far from aiding us, only emphasizes our
human weakness and cruelty multiplies
the means that can cause us suffering.
But you will understand me better if 1
give you an example Of what mean
from my own experiences:
II was spending my autumn vacation
with Louise, my wife, and Marcel, my
little son, at my country place at Mo
rande, which I had just bought. 1t 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 be-
ing once more near the city where his
worthy old mother lived, fulfilled the
functions Of gardener and had his quar-
tiers in detached clubhouse.
with my gun on my arm and my
two dogs at my heels l used to wander
about all day with my wife and baby in
that delightful solitude. To make
amends for our isolation, had tele-
phone line put up to connect with the
central Office at Marseilles, and by it ev-
cry evening, as sat in my bedchamber,
could learn what had been done dur
ing the day at my factory in Paris.
"Our peaceful life was interrupted by
notice from my superintendent By
making personal application I 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 eve of my departure for Paris
the rain fell in torrents When the
hired vehicle arrived before my door, at
sight of the immense blaclmess of the
fields and woods l felt sudden grip
ping at my heart.
You will be away only two nights,
Louise treasured me- 'Nanette will
sleep near my room BIaise 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
ed on my journey. On the train passed
a most uneasy night, and had no soon
or reached Paris than jumped out of
the carriage and fastened to telephone
Office. Communication being establish
ed, heard, nasal and muffled, but still
very sweet to me, the voice of my wife
'Hello!' I called How did you
pass the night, Louise? Were you very
frightened?'
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 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. Goodby If you have moment
before dinner, call me up again.
"Only half treasured, l plunged into
the business in hand and was not able
to go to the telephone again until after
o'clock. had to call long time.
" 'HelloI Hellol'I 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 had
put up bed for Blaise in the hall, in
order to save us the terrors of last night,
when boy from the village brought
note for Blaise. His mother has sudden
ly 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 de-
livered the note, without giving us any
further information Blaise, who adores
bic ,,,othar 0Y1ito 11Ycaf Ho did
not want to leave us alone before day
light, but his sorrowful face told how
dearly the delay would cost him. l
thought that if this woman dies tonight
shall have prevented poor Blaise from
receiving her last blessing. So I over
came my scruples and made him go.
He promised to return this evening, and
to save time he will drive back. have
just bolted the doors after him. That
is why kept you waiting. Now, how
is that business affair getting alongT'
Very well; but let us talk about
yourself. You should not have let Blaise
60 Even if he drives back he cannot
return before 10 or IL O'Clock My sole
confidence was in knowing that he was
near you, and now he is gone. And
then that boy who ran away before 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?
"'The two dogs are asleep on the
porch. AS for the gun, Blaise must
have left it in the hall l shall go and
make sure. Can you hear Marcel? He
is sitting in my lap and is saying good
night to you Listen
"'Good night papa, good night.
"'Good night, my darlings. l must
get bite of dinner now, and then
will call you again.
"Once outside felt oppressed with
what my wife had just told me. had
dissimulated my own anxiety in order
not to add to her fears, but that uneasi-
ness which had hardly been quieted by
the first conversation, now waxed stron-
ger at the thought of this strange in
credible letter which had 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 mouthful. I
left the table to return to the telephone