Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1902-04-11
,01E happened to come out of the


Maroux, man with kindly face but
marked with an Infinite melancholy.
"Will you wait a minute for me-
said l, as we reached the postotiice. Il
Wish to go in and telephone
He started at the last word, and l
saw his grip tighten on his cane. When
| returned, he seemed nervous, and TO
break an uncomfortable silence | made
some commonplace remark about what
marvellous invention the telephone
was, and what inestimable services the
progress of science Is doing us every
day.
do you think SOP replied NJ.
Maroux, in a tone of bttery irony. 1T
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
| mean from my own experience
was spending my autumn vacation
with Louise my wife, and Marcel, my
little son, at my country place at Nor
ande, which had just bought. 1t was
In the country, about three leagues out
of Marseilles. Nanette, our old servant
was both housekeeper and cook. Blaise.
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 heel, used to wander about
all day with my wife and baby In that
delightful solitude. TO make amends
for our isolation, had telephone line
put up to connect with the central Of
fire at Marseilles, and by 1t every even
Ing, as sat In my bedchamber, could
learn what had been done during the
day at my factory in Paris.
Our peaceful life was interrupted by
notice from my superintendent; by
making application could probably OBJ
tain an important government order
The weather was so fine and Marcel
seemed so well 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 blackness of the fields and
woods | felt a 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 happen to us?'
| kissed Louise and Marcel, and start
ed on my journey. On the train
passed a most uneasy night, and had
no sooner reached Paris than | jumped
out of the carriage and fastened to a
telephone office. Communication being
established, heard, nasal and muttled,
but still very sweet to me, the voice OF
my wife.
Hello" | called. "How did you pass
the night, Louise? Were you very
frlghtened?"
"Yes, a 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 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 calling me.
Good-by. If you have moment before
dinner, call me up again"
Only half re-assured. l plunged into
the business in hand, and was not able
to go to the telephone again until after
eight o'clock | had to call long time.
Hello, hellow | called. "Why don't
you answer, Louise? What is the mat
teri"
Something we did not expect this
afternoon. The shutters had been fast
ened. the dogs united, and Nanette had
put up a bed for Blaise in the hall, in
order to save us the terrors OF last
night, when boy from the village
brought Il note for Blaise. His mother
had suddenly been taken very i'll, and
she wanted him to come to her imme-
diately. The boy. whom we had never
seen before, went away again as soon
as he had delivered the note, without
giving us any further information.
Blaise, who adores his mother, was
quite upset. He did not want to leave
us alone before daylight, but his sor-
rowful face told how dearly the delay
would cost him. | thought that If this
woman dies tonight, | shall have pre-
vented poor Blaise from receiving her
list blessing SO | oyercame my scru-
pies 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 l
kept you waiting. Now, how Is that
business affair getting along"
"yery well, but let Us talk about