The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-09-07
WHEELING DAILY MFEIIIeENoERg SATURDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER 1889

her bright face, her yelvsty eyes and
her beautiful, waving tresaes,.
Great was the CONSERVATION, there
fore, when on the evening before the
day Get Tor signing the contract NJ,
Lemonnier, before the assembled mem
bers Of the two families, declared that
the marriage should not take place,
Having become suspicious, NJ, Lemons
nier had, a few days before, under
taken 10 verify the declarations OF the
Durand family, and he had just re.
ceiyed news that the banker who had
held the one hundred thousand francs
which his prospective son-in-law was 70
inherit was about to suspend payment
"You knew this, monsieur, he said
to N, Dprand, "yet you did not tell u.s."
NJ, Durand warmly defended his
banker, who he declared was an honest
man, and he asserted that, although tenn
p%orariIy embarrassed, he would pass
triumphantly through the crisis In bis
affairs,
NJ. Lemonnier would not listen.
NYou have deceived usl" he exClalm'
ed. "That affair Is ended"
But as this did not accord with the de-
sires OF Blanche Lemonnieri the affair
was not ended, She persuaded him TO
withdraw his objections TO the marriage,
not byspeaking Of her love, for she knew
that such an argument would have little
influence with the old tradesman, but by
warning him Of the scandal which the
breaking OF the engagement would cause,
and by threatening 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 nlp,
tials, however, were not accompanied
with rejoiCings. The fathers.in'law look,
ed. at eaCh other like dogs that are old
enemies aud the mothers.in-law seemed
ready to eat each other, The guests
whom gossip had made aware OF the sit
uatlon were constrained and bored.
There was no laughterj the conVersa'
ton was carried on in low tones, The
marriage ceremony was q melancholy
affair.
The wedding feast would probably
have been equally as melancholy II 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 al the fathersin'lRw, smiling as
though he himself were a party to the
wedding, and he said in a reassuring
tone:
Everything has been looked after,
These imbeciles had made several mis-
takes, but it is all right now"
NJ. Durand thought that he was an
intimate friend Of the Lemonnier fami-
ly; NJ. Lemonnier supposed he was a
friend Of the Durands; both shook him
warmly by the hand. His joyous face
and his eager manner seemed to restore
their serenity. NJ, Lemonnier, however,
yielding to his natural distrust, leaned
overto Martin and, whispering, said:
"What Ia your name2 | can not recall
"Marin-Henrl Martini" answered
my friend, Don't you remember me2"
"Ahl yes-Martinl yes, Henri Mar
tinl / remember 1t now. II Is strange
how one iorgets names on such on oCCa.
sion. Martin-yes, yes, Martini"
He tried to shake hands with Martin
again, but the latter had flown to theside
Of the bride.
"Herc, madame" he said, 'here is
your place." Then, tapping Joseph
Ourand on the shoulder, he remarked:
"You ought to consider yourself a very
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
aud showing them their places. He was
gracious with tho elderly ladies, so
respectful 10 the young ladies and 80 at-
fable and jovial with the men that in tt.
teen minutes lie had made a conquest OF
the whole wedding party.
Martins good humor was infectious
and communicated itself 10 the guests,
and when at last he took his seat, after
having assured himself that all the others
had been properly placed, q discreet rip.
pie Of laughter ran down the table.
The gloom had been dispelled. NJ.
Durand and NJ. Lemounier cOnversGd
amicably and passed mutual compli-
ments In regard to the charming Henri
Martin, whom each believed to lie a
friend oitho other; the countenancG Of
the mother.ln-law softened, and tue
bridegroom said 10 his bride:
HE Is a very attractive man, your
friend, Martini
"You should saw your irieud,n
"Ahi yes, your friend, our friend.
Your friends are now my friends and
mine are yours"
When the time for toasts arrived, Mar.
tin rose to his full height, glass in hand.
Conversation ceased. Alleagerly await
ed his words. Addressing the newly
married couple, he said;
"My young friends-for, as l have long
been the friend Of one Of you, / con.
slider myself henceforth the friend OF
both-itis q friend that | wish you hap.
piness on your entrance into married
life. But I ought also 10 address 10 you
afew words OF advice, TO warn you of
the adversities Of earthly existence, Of
the reverses OF fortune that are incident
10 It."
NJ. Durand and NJ. Lemonnier listened
with open mouths.
"But Tear nothing cried Martin.
"You shall pass VIGOROUSLY through all
trials, and then your vines shall no more
be blighted by the phylloxera and your
bankers shall not fail. Our most illus.
trious sayants are seeking a remedy for
the evil caused by the phylloxera. They
shall find It. The ruinedland shall be.
come rich and credit shall be re.estab.
lished. Your happiness shall be
crowned by fortune. My young friends,
/ drink 10 your future, 10 your children,
10 your grandchildren, TO your great.
grandchildren"
Martins toast was loudly applaudel.
NJ. Lemmonnier pronounced 1t 10 DO
most felicitous.
II Is eight years since Joseph Durand
was welded 10 Blanche Lemmonnier.
They are very happy and have three
children, whodote on their friend Henri
Martin. N. Durand's vines yield superb,
ly, his banker Is solvent, and his 100000
francs arc drawing interest. To this day
tho two families diBptiLc over the ones.