Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1889-10-03

tho table TIo arranged place for
himself opposite tho bride, placing us
nt a short distance from him in order
that we might como TO his rescue II
he got into difficulty.
Then ~ solemnly waited tho ar
rival OF the wedding guest, who soon
assembled.
Weddings are usually gay but there
are also those which are melancholy.
That OF Mile Lemonnior belonged TO
tho latter category.
When M. Joseph Durand began TO
pay court TO Mile Lemonnicr ms I
afterwards learned, their positions. as
far as fortune was concerned, wero
about equal Mile. Lemonnier had n
dowry OF one hundred thousand francs
and expectations OF coming In for
! two hundred thousand moro, all Of
which had been amasscd by her
father in the wine business. Her
father and mother were good, honest
people, whose only fault was excessive
love Of money. What they found do.
sirable in Joseph Durand was not so
much his amiability, his refined man
ner and his tender love for Blanche, as
his important position in a largesdry-
goods firm, the forty thousand francs
which his parents we're TO give him on
the day Of his marriage. and tho mag
nifcent property which would fall 20
him later No one knew better than
NJ. Lemounier the value OF tho vine
yards on his property. which was sit
uated In the center OF Gascony. The
elder Durand. moreover, had ono hun.
dred thousand francs In bank, which
In time would come to his son.
Blanche paid no attention to these
business matters. She loved Joseph
Durand simply because she loved him
because he had manly form and 4
rather severe countenance which al
ways sof.ened before her smile, aut
because she imagined that with hin
! life would be an uninterrupted serie,
OF pleasures. Joseph Durand's Low,
for Blanche was equally unseltish. III
adored the charming, sprightly littl,
brunette; he adored her plump figure
her bright face, her velvety oyes ant
her beautiful waving tresses
Great was tho CONSERVATION, there
fore. when on the evening before tn
day set for siguing the contract NJ
Lemonnier, before the assembled mem
bers OF the two families. declared tha
the marriage should not take place
Having become suspicious. NJ. Lem
onnier had few days before under
taken to verify the declarations OF tn
Durand family. and he had just re
ceived news that the banker who hai
held the one hundred thousand franc
which his prospective son-ln-law wa
70 inherit was about TO suspend pay
nsent.
"You knew this. monsieur" he sal.
to NJ. DuraDd, ''yet you did not tel
us"
NJ. Durand warmly defended hi
banker, who. he declared, was an hon
est man, and he asserted that although
temporarily embarrassed he woul
pass triumphantly through the crisi
in his affairs. NJ Durand was inter
rupted by NJ. Lemonnier. who said
brusquely;
"My daughter will never have q So
OF your one hundred thousand francs
But that would be nothing II you
vines we're not blighted by the phyl
loxera. or IL your banker fails It is be
cause Gascony has been ruined by tn
phylloxe "a"
In vain did NJ. Dueand explain th
depredations Of the enemy; that h
had at great expense replaced the in
jured vines with others from America
NJ. Lemonnier would not listen.
"You have deceived usl" he eS
claimed. "The affair is ended"
But as this did not accord with tn
desires OF Blanche Lemonnier IN
affair was not enGed. She persuade
him TO withdraw his objections l
the marriage. not by speaking OF he
love. for she knew that such an al
gument would have little infuenc
with the old tradesman. but by war;
ing him OF the scandal which IN
breaking of the engagement woul
cause, and by threatening that sh
would never marry and would ente
convent, old and classic measure
which never fail TO bring obdurat
fathers 10 terms
The contract accordingly was signe
and the marriage took place. Tn
nuptials, however, we're not accom-
panied with rejoicings The fathers
in-law looked at each other like dog
that are old enemies and the mothers
in-law seemed ready TO eat eac
other The guests, whom gossip ha
made aware OF the situation, wer
constrained and bored. There wa
no laughter; the conversation wa
carried on In low tones The maj
riage ceremony was a melanchOl
affair.
The wedding feast would probabl
have been equally us melancholy II o
entering the festal hall the two faInilie
had not encountered the joyous pres
ence OF my friend Martin. who gayl
welcomed them. He extended hi
hand TO each OF the fathers-in-law
smiling as though he himself were
party TO the wedding, and he said in
reassuring tone;
Every thing has been looked after
These imbeciles had made severa
mistakes, but it is all right now"
NJ Durand thought he was an In
Innate friend Of the Lemonnier fam
ilyi NJ Lemonnier supposed he was
friend Of the Durands; both shOol
him warmly by the hand. His Joy
Gus face and his eager manner scenes
to restore their sincerity. NJ. Lemon
nier. however, yielding TO his natura
distrust. leaned over Martin, and
whispering, said:
What is your nameP can not re
call II.
'Martin-Henri Martin" answers
my friend. Don't you remembe