Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1910-02-04
|En I he
Hour o .
(By Marcel Savignon.)

tQd0KS anu Hduueu IHO SH
satchel, a heavy suit case and nat
box A little distance off lady
was waiting in silence until the man
opened the door of the tonneau,
v hon they both noiselessly and in
silence seated themselves in the large
comfortable car.
The auto had come upon them at
the outskirts of Nice as II by accl-
dent and the blind owner OF the car
had no idea that the meeting had
been arranged by Raoul, his chaneur'
The couple, inspite Of their ele-
CANT dress and the many diamonds s
OF the woman did not make very
favorable impression, and 1t was eyi-
dent that they belonged TO the many
adyenturers who abound along the
Riviera during the Monte Carlo sea-
son.
The car started off. The blind
owner was seated next TO the chauf-
fCur and was dressed exactly the
same, goggles, leather coat and cap.
In the rear seat the man and woman
were sitting without speaking.
AS they left Nice the chauffeur
turned toward Saorge, on the from
tier. in the opposite direction or
Esterel, where he was supposed to
be going. The blind man did not
notice II, but said in his kind voice:
1T is fine day TO see Esterel; there
is no wind and the air feels so
balmy. You will enjoy Esterel. | am
sure. love TO ride though people
DO not understand it, and the ladies
at the hotel laugh at me and call
me a dreamer. And ! suppose that
| am something of a dreamer. /
love Nature, though ! cannot see.
When | took my first rides friends
explained the nature Of the country
to me-now We are passing through
fields, they said, now We come TO the
woods, and | tried 10 remember what
had once seen, for have been
blind for only ten years. Today /
know my QUITO and by riding | learn
TO know the country BY the noise
Of the motor | can tell whether We
are going up or down hill-and when
It runs as ii does now | know that
we are on the level road. The speed
ing through the air fills me with JOY.
il at once stimulates and calms me.
II YOU would tell me of the houses
and villages We pass and which |
cannot see, my enjoyment would be
perfect"
NJ. Glrard kept on talking, and. be-
cause he felt he must say something.
lis chauffeur's friend said;
L notice you are great lover OF
sport, sir.
At first he had been astoDished
at the eloquence of the man. now 1t
appeared very funny to him, and he
nudged the chauffeur, while the wo-
nan had to stuff her handkerchief
into her mouth to keep from laugl-
ing.
And the car sped along.
They had now nearly reached the
foot OF the mountains The country
grew rough and stony and the air
was quite chilly. Girard wrapped the
rug closer around his thin legs. He
was now quite silelt Suddenly he
raised his head, drew deep breath
and said softly, as II thinking aloud.
How strange; do not remember
ever having been here before"
Immediately afterward he asked
if they were near the woods.
There is a small clump OF trees
ahead on the right" the stranger re-
! piled.
"Olive trees. suppose?"
"Oh, no, they are not olive trees
,h.y are oaks, beautiful. tall. majestic
oaks, just the thing for lover oi
nature like you. and on the left are
masses OF flowers in the meadows
with little children dancing"
The three looked at each Other
and smiled at the excellent joke.
The blind man shook his head
| Strange, he thought, he did not re
iaember any meadows. nor did M
now smell the fragrance of flowers
On and on sped the QUITO. close Il
! the overhanging wall of rocks. |
was a lonesome country, where M
one came except teamsters and noun
taineers and shepherds with thei
flocks.
NJ. Girard grew uneasy.
Are we soon at Vallauris?"
oh, vallauris is far behind L
now" came the reply in mocL!.
voice.
Suddenly the blind man un .erstoo
, and at the same time he hearl whis
pers behind his back ana turne
around, as IL he could see.
"Raoul." he said. you have nc
been In my service very long an
! cannot know my peculiar ways ye
but in the future you will take M
where tell you 20 and noGher
else"
lie tried to discover where TIE
were. but In vain, and cried:
"Raoul, you are receiving m'
Where are We going?"
There. again they were wh's ri
Ing The woman is nervous. Sh
has map In her lap and Is poln'
Ing out the route with her tlngel
white she whispers the names "SaoI
\ ge, Tende, Limone.
| The intention of the three is clea
enough. NJ. Girard always carrie
a large amount Of money. the
want to rob him and fee across "a
frontier In his car, leaving him b'
hind. The stranger is leisurely a.
ranging a loop Of silken handke
chief with which to strangle IN
blind man.
1 Ths intended victim can contr.