Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1889-10-17

made aware of the situation. were
constrained and bored. There was
no laughter; the conversation was
carried on in low tones The mar
rage ceremony was q melancholy
affair.
The wedding feast would probably
have been equally as melancholy if on
entering the festal hall the two families
had not encountered the joyous pres
ence of my friend Martin. who gayly
welcomed them. He extended his
hand to each of the fathers-in-law,
smiling as though he himself were .
party to the wedding, and he said in q
reassuring tone:
Every thing has been looked after.
These imbeciles had made several
mistakes, but it is all right now"
NJ. Durand thought he was an in
innate friend of the Lemonnier fam
lily; NJ Lemonnier supposed he was a
friend of the Durands; both shook
him warmly by the hand. His joy
Gus face and his eager manner seemed
to restore their sincerity NJ. Lemon
nier, however, yielding to his natural
distrust, leaned over Martin, and,
whispering, said:
What is your name? can not re-
call it,
..Nartin-Henri Martini" answered
my friend. Don't you remember
me?"
"Ah! yes-Martin! yes, Henri Mar
tin! remember it now. 1t is strange
how one forgets names on such an
occasion. Martin--yes, yes. Martini"
He tried to shake hands with Mar
tin again, but the latter had flown to
the side of the bride.
Here, madame he said, '.here is
your place" Then, tapping Joseph
Durand on the shoulder, he remarked:
"You ought to consider yourself a
very happy man. Your wife is an
adorable creature.
He did not stop to listen to the
thanks of the bridegroom, but moved
about the table, calling the names of
the guests and showing them their
places. He was so gracious with the
elderly ladies, so respectful to the
young ladies and so affable and
jovial with the men that in fifteen
minutes he had made conquest of
the whole wedding party.
| Martins good humor was infec
tious and communicated itself to the
guests. and when at last he took his
seat, after having assured himself
that all others had been properly
placed, a discreet ripple of laughter
ran down the table.
The gloom had been dispelled NJ.
Durand and NJ. Lemonnier con-
versed amiably and passed mutual
compliments in regard to the charm
ing Henri Martin, whom each be-
lieved to be friend of the other; the
countenance oft he mothers-in-law soft
ened, and the bridegroom said to his
| bride:
"He is very attractive man, your
friend Martin
"You should say your friend"
"Ah, yes, your friend, our friend.
Your friends are now my friends and
my friends are yours"
When Martin was seated he made
sign to the steward to serve the
dinner, and he continued to direct the
proceedings. He ate but little. &C.
cupying himself in making others eat
and drink. From time to time he
called the walters attention to the
fact that wine was wanting at one
end of the table, that some point in
the service had been neglected at
another part of the board. Then he
addressed the bridegroom as follows:
'.Durand, my friend, you are speak
ing to the bride in too low voice.
That will not do. my friend. Upon
my honor, it will not do
The groomsmen, who were utterly
eclipsed by Martin, contented them
celves with forming little court about
the bridesmaids.
When the time for toasts arrived
Martin rose to his full height, glass in
| manu-. conversation CcdSSQ.. All
eagerly awaited his words. Address
ing the newly-married couple. he said:
'My young friends-for as have
long been the friend of one of
you, / consider myself henceforth
the friend of both-it is as
a friend that / wish you happi-
ness on your entrance into married
life. But ought to address to you a
few words of advice, to warn you of
the Universities of earthly existence, of
the reverses of fortune that are incl
dent to il"
| NJ. Durand and NJ. Lemonnier
listened with open mouths.
'But fear nothing" cried Martin.
"You shall pass VIGOROUSLY through
ali trials, and then your vines shall no
more be blighted by the phylloxera
and your bankers shall not fail Our
most illustrious savants are seeking
remedy for the evil caused by the
| phylloxera. They shall find it The