Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1899-08-23
A TRAGEDY BY EAR.

boulevard with M. Maroux, man with
a kindly face, but marked with an inf
mite melancholy.
"Will you wait minute for mes"
said I, as we reached the postoiice. II
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 1
made some commonplace remark about
what marvellous invention the tele-
phone was and what inestimable SER
vices the progress of science was doing
us every day.
"Do you think sof" replied M. Ma
roux, in tone of bitter irony, at
seems to me, on the contrary, that
science, far from aiding us, only en-
phaiizes our human weakness and
cruelty multiplies the means that can
cause us suffering. But you will un-
derstand me better if I give you an ex-
ample Of what mean from my own
experience.
II was spell ding my autumn vsca-
ton with Louise, my wife, and Marcel,
roy little SOD, at my country place at
Morands, which had just bought. l
was in the country about three leagues
out OF Marseilles. Nanetta, our old
ser, ant, 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 detached ont
house.
with my gun on my arm and m!
two dogs at my heels I used to wander
about all day with my wife and baby
in that delightful solitude. To maze
amends for our isolation, I bad te.e-
phone line up to connect with the CEN
trail Office at Marssilles, and by it evsry
evening, az I sat in my bsdchamber, !
could learn what had been done dur
ing The day at my factory in Paris.
Our peaceiallife was interrupted "
a notice from my superintendent by
making personal application I could
probably retain an important govern
ment OF der. The weather was 30 fine
and Marcel seemed so well that Louise
decided to wait for me at Morande'
But On the eve Of my departure foI
Paris the rain fell in torrents. When
the hiied vehicle arrived before my
door, at sight Of the immense blackness
of the fields and woods l felt sudden
gripping at my heart.
"You will be away only two nights,
Louise assured me. "Nanstte will
sleep near my room, B'aise has your
gun, and from the house whore he
sleeps LIE could hear US call, and the
dogs are an ,xce lent guard. Wha'
could happen to u.s."
~ kissed Louise and Marcel anc
started on my journey. On the train
1 passed a most uneasy night, and
had no sooner reached Paris than
jumped out OF the carriage and haster
ed 10 telephone office. Communica
ton being established, I heard, nasa
| and muffled. but still very sweet to me
| the voice OF my wife.
"'Hellov I called. How did yor
| pass the night, Lou SCI Were yol
very flightened?"
'Yes, a little-Nanette especially
We did not Get to sleep until almos
daybreak ltcause Nanette though
she heard steps in the garden. Th'
dogs, which we forgot to unite, hat
been barking long time. At last w
\ opened the window and called Blaise
He took tho gun, locbea the dogs ant
! made tour OF the house, but they saw
| nothing suspicious. Baby, who di'
not suspect anything, the fine littl'
| fellow, has walked up and is calling me
| Goodby. If you have moment be
fore dinner, call me up again
Only half treasured, I plunged int
the brsiness in hand and wa not abl
to 20 to the tel, phone again until afte
| 8 O'Clock. I had to call long time
"Hello H.llow I called. VIII.
don't you answer, Louise' What j
the matter =
Something ne did not expo
this afternoon. The shutters had beel
! fastened, the dogs united, and Nanes
had put up bed for Blaise in the ball
| in order to save us the tsrrors Of las
right, when boy frsm the villag
brought Q note for Blaise. His motie