The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1878-02-08
Written for the Chicago Ledger.
A FRENCH MARRIAGE.
BY S. C. A.

The church of st. Philippe was crowd
ed one bright Tuesday morning with
fashionable assembly of the rich of
Paris, gathered together to witness the
marriage ceremony of the talented young
author, Gustave D, and Madamoi-
selle B. All Paris had talked of
nothing else for week. The cOnturiereS
and modistes, the most recherchees, were
taxed with orders for the occasion.
Lucky, indeed, were those who could
gain hearing and command robe or
bonnet. So this sunny morningall these
beautiful costumes were on exhibition,
on forms far less lovely, in the church Of
st. Philippe.
1t was very quiet crowd, indeed.
Everybody seemed to be celebrating,
more or less, upon the grave step which
the young bride and bridegroom were
about the take. The sunbeams streamed
through the colored glass, and shed
bright tints on the eager faces turned to-
ward the door; the wax tapers flooded
the altar with subdued light; the
odor of burning incense pervaded the
aisles and mingled in sweet confusion
with the different perfumes.
The beadle tapped with his mace, and
the glorious peals of the dee Maria
burst forth from the organ. The great
doors opened and the bridal party en-
tered. How pale and fragile the child
bride of seventeen appears, leaning on
the arm of her father. She even seems
to tremble, and her great black eyes look
full of pain. Poor girl, they have liter
ally sold her some one whispered and
she was right The bridegroom-does
he look gay and full of tenderness? Not
at ALL His lips are compressed, his
brow is clouded, and his whole appear
ance denotes that it was not marriage
d'amour. No, it is not love match; it
is wedding of riches and talent,st
which are added youth and beauty.
What are the thoughts of the fair young
bride as she kneels before the altar,
glancing timidly now and then at the
face of her future lord and master? She
thinks bitterly, "It bores him to be
here; he hates me, but he has need of
money to keep up his name. And
II despise him forl stooping to marry
without loveW He thinks, regarding
her lovely face thoughtfully, I" 1t would
not he difficult to learn to love woman.
Bah! am growing sentimental; / mar
ry rich girl for money and-lo! l have
it. She is beautiful, she is educated, she
will grace well my table, l am content"
The ceremony is soon over, the congratu-
lations paid, and Gustave finds himself
alone with his wife for the first time,
whirling rapidly in his carriage to the
house of his father-in-law.
Lucille, pale and shivering, leans back
In the corner out of the sight of curious
eyes. She studies his countenance as he
gazes out of the window at the moving
masses OF people, thinking to herself,
How indifferent he is" then suddenly
feeling OF revolt rises within her, she
feels that she isa woman, not child. "Tll
never win his respect if sit silent and
apashed. She sits erect; he turns and
speaks to her of the many people at the
church, OF those he had recognized. COM
mon friends of both. They converse
upon Indifferent subjects, until the car.
riage stops at her fathers door. The ice
was not broken, but the glitter had dis
appeared; it no longer dazzled the eyes
with million sharp points.
"She is trying to make the best of Il -
said he to himself. Poor thipgln All
Gustave, take heedl Pity is akin TO
love. In your heart lies the germ Of
passionate love, such as yoU have never
felt before. Let it grow; DESTROY il not
half grown You can never renlace
it or renew its growth.
The wedding breakfast disposed of.
the bride dons her travelling dress. waves
her adieux, and once more finds herself
alone with her husband, en- route for
Normandy, while the loving papa and
mamma rub their hands softly together.
and congratulate themselves upon the