Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-09-26

OF plehSureS. JOsepn Dufhnu love
for Blanche was equally unselfish. He
adored the charming, sprightly little
brunette; he adored her plump figure,
her bright face, her velvety eyes and
her beautiful waving tresses.
Great was the cohsteTnation. there
fore. when ON the evening before the
day set for signing the contract NJ
Lemonnier, before the assembled men,
beers OF the two families. declared that
the marriage should not thke place.
Having become suspicious, NJ. Lem
onnier had few days before under
taken to verify the declarations OF the
Durand family, and he had just re-
ceived news that the banker who had
held the one hundred thousand francs
which his prospective son-ln-law was
to inherit was about to suspend pay
ment.
You knew this, monsieur" he said
TO NJ. Durand, "yet you did not tell
us.
NJ. Durand warmly defended his
banker, who, he declared, was an hon.
est man, and he asserted that although
temporarily embarrassed he would
pass triumphantly through the crisis
in his affairs. NJ. Durand was inter-
rupted by Nj. LemonnIer, who said,
brusquely:
''Ny daughter will never have a sou
of your one hundred thousand francs.
But that would be nothing il your
vines were not bIighted by the phyl-
loxera, or if your banker fails it is be-
cause Gascony has been ruined by the
phylloxe a"
II. vain did NJ. Dusand explain the
depredations Of the enemy; that he
had at great expense replaced the in
| jured vines with others from America.
| NJ. Lemonnier would not listen.
"You have deceived usr' he ex-
claimed. THE affair is ended"
But as this did not accord with the
desires OF Blanche Len.onnier the
affair was not ended. She persuaded
the marriage, not by speaking of her
love, for she knew that such an ar
gument would have little influence
with the old tradesman, but by warn
ing him OF the scandal which the
breaking of the engagement would
cause. and by tn eatening that she
would never marry and would enter
convent, old and classic measures
which never fail TO bring obdurate
fathers to terms.
The contract accordingly was signed
and the marriage took place. The
panied with rejoicings The fathers
| in-law looked at each other like dogs
that are old enemies and the mothers
in-law seemed ready to eat each
other The guests, whom gossip had
made aware OF the situation, were
constrained and bored. There was
no laughter; the conversation was
carried on in low tones. The mar
riage ceremony was melancholy
affair
The wedding feast would probably
have been equally as melancholy il on
entering the tstai .Iall the two f;tnilic:
had not encountered the joyous pres.
ence of my friend Martin. who gayly
welcomed them. He extended hi:
hand to each OF the fathers-in-law
smiling as though he himself were q
party to the wedding, and he said in 9
reahsuring tone:
Every thing has been looked after
These imbeciles had made severa
mistakes, out it is all right now"
NJ. Durand thought he was an in.
innate friend of the Lemonnier fam
lily; NJ. Lemonnier supposed he was 6
friend of the Durands; both shook
hin warmly by the hand. His joy.
GUS face and his eager mamie seemed
to restore their sincerity NJ. Lemon
nier, however. yielding to his natural
distrust. leaned over Martin, and
whispering, said:
call it.
Martin Henri Martin, answered
my friend. Don't you remember
me?n
"Ahi yes Martini yes, Henri Mar.
TIM | remember it now. 1t is strange
how one forgets names on such or
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, there is
your place. Then, tapping Joseph
Durand on the shoulder, he remarked
You ought to consider yourself q
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 oil
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
iovial with the men that in fifteen
minutes he had made a conquest oil
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, discreet ripple of laughter
ran down the table
The gloom had been dispelled. M.
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. oc-
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 100 low voice.