The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1889-11-08
A MUTUAL FRIEND.
What He Accomplished at a
Strange Wedding Feast

One evening IN spring was looking
over the Playbills, wondering what
theater / would attend. l was with
Bernard Loumagne, young lawyer,
who was rs grave as n 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 I perceived the sprightly
figure OF my friend, Henri Martin
"AhH' / cried, Martin will suggest
way Of passing the evening""
Martin had never had a weIl-defned
profession He had been a little Of
every thing-musician, actor, Iittera-
teur, mathematician, merchant, manu-
tacturer- He was handsome fellow,
of about the medium height, slender,
having a well-shaped head. silky
mustache and beautiful black ewes,
large and earnest Martin is essenti-
ally q man OF action; he never seems
70 be at rest
''Ahi how fortunate I am TO find
your he exclaimed; and then, making
disdainful gesture toward the play
bills, he asked: '.Do you think Of going
10 the theater?"
Yes"
Have you dined?"
mot 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 continues:
You see ! am already dressed. Make
haste 1t will not do to be late ON
such an occasion. We must be there
at $50"
us?''
Bah! as though you did not know,
But come! comeI Do not lose a mo-
ment"
When Martin organized an expedi-
ton there was nothing 10 do but to
obey. There was ono certainty-that
his companions would not be bored.
Martin called cab which was pass
ing, and We were taken home, where
we We're allowed ten minutes to dress
We were soon altogether again in
the cab, which was driven in the d.
rection of the Champs Elysees. Mar
tin smoked his cigarette in solemn
majesty. Again i asked:
Where are you taking usp'
My insistence seemed to vex him,
but he condescended TO reply:
ITO the Porte Maillot-"
For dinner?"
'Certainly-ford dinner.
And WAS 1t necessary that We
should don evening dress when only
We three are 20 dine togetherP" asked
LOumagne, who was put out, for he
had no affection for his swallow-taiI-
Martin turned a severe glance on us
as he said:
Are you accustomed TO attend we'd
ding feasts in street costumePn
Are we going 70 wedding ieast?"
Certainly"
That Of one Of your friendsP'"
"Yes-of one Of my friends"
What's his name?"
81 don't know"
20, come, Martin, speak seriously"
II am speaking seriously. About
two o. clock this afternoon, while pass
ing the Church Of tho Trinity, saw a
charming, adorable bride come forth,
and said to myself: There is q bride
To whom would like 70 drink toast
Now the only way TO toast her Is, OF
course, TO be a guest at her Wedding
feast, and 70 her wedding feast we are
going, my friends heard her father
in-law say to one Of the guests: This
evening at the Porte Maillot' And 1
know the name OF the bride-I learned
IL from the beadle-it is Mile. Lemon
nier-Blanche Lemonnier. You shall
see how charming she is-s dream OF
love and beautyr'
When we arrived at the restaurant
Martin had the air Of one who had
come, in MI seriousness, as a guest OF
the weddiug-feast
There were three wedding parties at
the restaurant that evening, conse-
Quently the whole establishment was
in a commotion- The walters rushed
up and down the stairs. The stewards
leaned over the balusters of tho three
floors, shouting, storming. calling for
napkins, knives and glasses
Tho moment is propitious," said
Martin, with delight "And three
wedding feasts at thati II we are ex-
cluded from ours we can attend one Of
the others"
Then, with graceful assurance, he
said to an attendant:
Mile. Lemonnier's wedding parts'"
FIRST floor"
We were a little apprehensive In re-
gard 10 the termination OF our expedi-
tion as we followed Martin He,