Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-09-26
A MUTUAL FRIEND.
What He Accomplished at a
Strange Wedding Feast.

theater would attend. was with
Bernard Loumagne, young lawyer,
who was as grave as judge. For an
hour. during which time we had been
promenading the boulevard, we had
been stupid and silent. like men who
do not know what to do with their
time.
Suddenly perceived the sprightly
figure of my friend, Henri Martin.
''Ahr' | cried, Martin will suggest
q way of passing the evening.
Martin had never had well-defned
profession. He had been a little of
every thing musician. actor, littera-
teur, mathematician, merchant, manu-
facturer He was handsome fellow,
of about the medium height. slender.
having "a well-shaped head, silky
mustache and beautiful black eyes.
large and earnest Martin is essenti-
ally a man of action; he never seems
to be at rest
''Ah! how fortunate l am to find
you!" he exclaimed; and then, making
disdainful gesture toward the play
bills, he asked: ''Do you think of going
to the theater?'
Yes"
Have you dined9'
Not yet
Then all goes well. Return home.
both of you, and get into evening
dress as quickly as you can" Then,
opening his overcoat, he continued:
"You see am already dressed. Make
haste. It will not do to be late on
such an occasion. We must be there
at 500"
but where are you going to take
usp"
bah! as though you did not know!
But come! come! DO not lose a mo-
ment"
When Martin organized an expedi-
ton there was nothing to do but to
obey. There was one certainty-that
his companions would not be bored.
Martin called cab which was pass
ing, and we were taken home, where
we were allowed ten minutes to dress.
We were soon altogether again in
the cab, which was driven in the di-
rection of the Champs Elysees. Mar
tin smoked his cigarette in solemn
majesty. Again ! asked:
where are you taking usP'
My insistence seemed to vex him,
but he condescended to reply:
ITO the Porte Maillot"
"Fop dinner?"
Certainly dinner"
"And was it necessary that we
should don evening dress when only
we three are to dine together?" asked
Loumagne. who was put out, for he
had no affection for his swallow-tail.
Martin turned severe glance on III
as he said:
"Are you accustomed to attend wed
ding feasts in street costumeP"
Are we going to wedding feast?
Certainly"
That of one of your friends?"
"Yes-of one of my friends"
whats his name?"
II don't know.
. 20, come, Martin, speak seriously. ;
II am speaking seriously. Abou
two o. clock this afternoon, while pass
ing the Church of the Trinity, saw /;
charming, adorable bride come forth
and said to myself: There is brid,
to whom would like to drink a toast.
Now the only way to toast her is, o
course, to be guest at her wedding
feast, and to her wedding feast we ar,
going, my friends. heard her father
in-law say to one of the guests: 'Thi
evening at the Porte Maillot.' And
know the name of the BRIDE Learned
it from the beadle-it is Mile. Lemon
nier-Blanche Lemonnier. You shall
see how charming she is-a dream o
love and beauty
When we arrived at the restauran
Martin had the air of one who ha,
come, in all seriousness, as a guest o
the wedding-feast.
There were three wedding parties a
the restaurant that evening, conse
Quently the whole establishment wa
in commotion. The walters rushe,
UP and down the stairs The steward
} leaned over the balusters of the thre
floors, shouting, storming, calling 70
napkins, knives and glasses.
1.-The moment is propitious, " sal
Martin, with delight. ''And tire
wedding feasts at that! II we are ex
cluded from ours we can attend ona O
the others.
Then, with graceful assurance, h
said TO an attendant:
''Mne. l.emonnier's wedding party?
FIRST floor.
We were little apprehensive in re-
gard to the termination OF our expedi
ton as we followed Martin. He
however, was soon in the room where
the servants had just finished setting
the table.
"Ah, ! am glad to see you are ready
in good time, said Martin, in a ton,
of voice BETTING a master of cere
monies.
The steward, who held paper il
his hand, bowed respectfully.
lis this the list OF the guestsP
said Martin. taking the paper from
the steward. ''Let us see if it is cor
rect"
Surveying the table with a grave
air, he verified the list. and then sale
sharply:
lyon have made mistake. Three
covers are wanting. 1t is fortunate
arrived early. While the confused
steward called over the baluster, Civ.
ing orde for three more covers, Mar
tin added our three names to the list
and made the necessary changes or
the table. He arranged a place fol
himself opposite the bride, placing III
at a short distance from him in order
that we might come to his rescue il
he got into difficulty.
Then we solemnly waited the ar.
rival of the wedding guests, who soon
assembled.
Weddings are usually gay, but there
are also those which are melancholy.
That of Mile. Lemonnier belonged "a
the latter category.
When NJ. Joseph Durand began to
pay court to Mile. Lemonnier as
afterwards learned, their positions. az
far as fortune was concerned. were
about equal. Mile. Lemonnier had a
dowry of one hundred thousand francs
and expectations of coming in for