The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-13

AS r came out Of the club, L walked a
little way along with M. Maroux a man Of
pleasing appearance altho tinged with a
so1nbre; Melancholy and as we approached
che telephone station, said: =
c*I will Join you in a moment :.
+ must talk with someone over the tele-
phone
He trembed at this last word and saw
his hand clutch nervously at the handle
Of his cane. When I returned. he still
seemed very nervous, and, to break up his
strange silence, said casually: 49,.
"What a wonderful invention the tele-
phone is, and what unappreciable services
the progress Of science renders us every
day.
DO you think 500" replied M. Maroux.
In a tone of bitter sarcasm. 1T seems to
me; on the contrary; that science, so far
from aiding us, only underlines our hu-
man poWerlessness and cruelty -multlplles
our m cans of suffering. For example my
own case will make my thought clearer to
you and explain the sorrowful emotion
which cannot help but betray even after
so many years. r.. ~. =. -
ct was spending my. autumn vacation
with Louise my wife, and my little boy,
Marcel, at Morande, my country-place,
house set in the midst of woods and I'M
cultivated fields and about three miles
from Marseille. Nanette, our old servant,
Blaise devoted fellow, enchanted to be
SO near the city where his mother lived,
performed the duties of gardner and lived
in a. separate cabin. With. my gun under
my arm and my two dogs behind me, ]
spent the whole day sauntering in the de-
licious solitude, with my wife and child:
ITO remedy our distance from town,
had had telephone line established, con-
Meeting our house with the central office
in Marseille. And by means of this, used
each evening, to keep in touch with the
progress Of my mills in Paris. I should
also tell you that the telephone was hung
in my bedroom.
"One day, our beautiful quiet was in
terrupted by a message I received from
the man had left in charge: he told me
that a personal interview on my par
could obtain for us an important order
from the government.
.The weather was SO beautiful an6
Marcel was so well that my wife made uI
her mind to wait for me there at Morande
| son the evening Of my departure fol
Paris, however, 1t began to rain dtsmally
The carriage drove up before the door ant
looked out OH the .pitchy blackness o
| the woods and fields and a, sense Of fore
boding swept over me. My wife reas
lsured me.
| bah. you will only be gone two nights
at the farthest. Nanette will sleep nea
my TOOul, bldtSc 1dS yOQls 3 III oAO he Col
hear us call in the cabin where he sleeps
| the dogs, also, are excellent guardian
Is e - so what can happen to us?'
l seHer voice did not seem very strong
however, and was on the point of givin:
up my journey when she guessed my pur
/. pose.
| Besides, she added, you have no
reached place in. your business wher
you can afford to lose such opportunities
Our son must find the mills in full pros
.perity when he reaches his majority. w
can talk to each other at any time owe
the telephone. And repeat 1t, with Ma
i nette and Blafse, I do not fear anything
! With that, she babe me goodby.
ST spent a sleepless night in the train
| for all my approximations returned in fu
force AS soon as I reached Paris,
jumped from my compartment and ran t
the telephone. The communication one
established, I heard the voice Of my dea
| wife, somewhat indistinctly, but still yer
4 sweet.
20 q esIIello! did you have a good night
! Louisette You were not too muc
.afraid2
Z" T. was afraid little. Nanette espe
cially. We did not sleep until daybreal
because-pray.- do not be alarmed-Na
bnette thought she heard footsteps in tn
4 garden. And the dogs, who were lef
i tethered by mistake, barked all nigh
long. We finally ended by opening tn
window and calling, Blaise. He took tn
gun, loosened the dogs and searche
4 everywhere, but without finding anythin
suspicious. Baby,. dear little fellow, sleu