The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-03-18

morning. We mounted the staircase,
and entered long, dirty, badly-lighted
corridor with anumber OF glass doors, on
which | read 'Pompes funebres, Tournez
lie bouter,' 'Eypropriasions,' 'Deces,
Frappezfort,' Raclamations,' 'Niassan-
ces, 'Salubrite, etc; and at length Mar
iages, Tournez sill vous plait.' 1t was
there that VIC entered in company with a
child with bottle of ink. The atlnos-
phere was hot and sitting, and almost
turned me sick; but happily servant in
blue livery came to excuse himself for
not having shown us at once into the
salon of NJ. lc Mairc, which it appears
serves as frst-class waiting-room
on these occasions. ] prccipitated
myself into i. as one precip-
itates ones self into carriage
when caught in Il shower of rain. This
salon of NJ. lie Maire had middlc-class
official air about it that greatly amused
me. The tine-piecc was one of those
which one gains at the lotteries of the
Society of 1t. Vincent de Paul. | no
ticed, also, a barometer and a bookcase,
which seemed to have been placed where
it was to hide door; and above the book
case bust of the Republic in plaster.
In the centre of the apartment was a
long table covered with green cloth
spotted with ink in several places. In
aginc the salon of dentist who has been
a notary, and you will have an idea of
what the room was like. Almost imme-
diateIy after we entered, two individuals,
looking as like a pair of cashiers at a
Magasin dc Nouveautcs as it was posi-
bic for them TO do, brought in a couple
Of registers, which they opened and COM
menced writing in. Every now and then
they kept leaving off to ask our names,
ages, Christian names, &C., and then con-
tinued writing, saying ina low tone to
one another, 'Semicolon between the
conjoints;' fresh line for PARENTS cap
ital letter for occupation;' day of the
month in words When they had fin
ished, one read what he had been writ
ing out aloud through his nose. ] un-
derstood absolutely nothing of it except
that my hamc and that of my conjoint
were constantly mentioned. A pen was
now presented to us, and we signed our
names. At this moment two o'clock
struck by the 'time-piece Of NJ. lie Marie,
and | had an appointment with my
dress-maker, to alter my corsage, which
I was anxious above all things to keep.
"'Is it fnished% asked | of Gontran,
who, to my great astonishment looked
very pale.
"Not yet replied he; we have now
to go into the Sale des Marriages"
"We entered large, empty room with
great bare walls, having another plaster
bust of the Republic above an oak stage,
some long forms, and an armchair ortwo
behind them. Everything was covered
with dust. thought we were in a third
class waiting-room, and could not help
glancing inquiringly at mamma and my
aunts, who we're full of gayety on seeing
these bare benches The gentlemen, on
the contrary, thought, seemed slightly
nervous. That corsage Of mine, which il
was impossible C uld wear until it wa;
altered, haunted me, and ] felt consider.
ably relieved when ! saw the Marie make
his appearance through little door. He
looked both insignificant and awkward il
his black coat, which was much too large
for him, and which his scarf caused tt
puff out, as it were. He was new
ertheless q very respectable man
who had amassed an honorable
fortune by the sale OF spring mat
tresses and iron bedsteads; still, it is diff
cult to realize the idea of this little, en-
barrassed, badly-drcssed, tinid man, with
a word pronounced hesitatingly, uniting
myself and Gontran in eternal bonds
What made the matter moro ridiculous
was that at this precise moment recog
nized the Marie was the very image Of
my piano-fortc tuner. These sort o.
things are constantly happening to me
and l bit my lip until the blood came il
order not to burst out laughing. Monsieu
lie Marie, after having bowed to us as I
man in white cravat and without hi
hat ordinarily bows, that is to say Silly
blew his nose evidently to the satisfaction
of his two arms, which up to this momen
he had not known what 10 do with, AM
then went quickly through the little cer
emony. First of all, he recited precipi
lately several passages from the Code, in
dicating as he went on the numbers 0
: the particular paragraphs, from which
: vaguely understood that was Threatened
with the gendarmes if did not blindl,
submit to the orders, fancics, whim
and caprices OF my husband, and i
: | did not follow him everywhere h
, chose to take me, even if it We're up
) sixth story in the Rue Moufetard. Twen
ty times was on the point of interrupt
ing. and saying: But permit me, Mon
sieur Ic Alaire, to observe that thos
words are scarcely polite towards me
besides which, you must yourself know
there isn't common sense in them Blu
| restrained myself, feeling that il woul,
be an improper proceeding on my part t
intimidate a magistrate in the perform
ance of what was only his duty, and VIII
seemed, moreover, in hurry to cor
clude. Besides, 1 thought of my az
pointment, and the misiitting corsage G
my wedding dress. The Marie consiC
cred it necessary TO add some observe
tions on the duties of husband and wife
society, love of offspring, and similar tol
les; but all these fine things, whc
would have made me cry under othe
circumstances, seemed grotesque to listc
} to from the lips of little retired deale
', in patent spring mattresses, uttered to
in kind of third-class waitins-roon
with all the various inscriptions ON til
doors of the adjoining apartments pre-
ent to mNmind, and had the creates
, difficulty in restraining myself frol
, laughing out loud.
'At last the Marie leaned forward an