The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-11-02
THE vNsiDDEN GUEST.
A sprightIy Story of Partisan
Life.
Translated from the French.l

IIes
Translated from the French.l
One evening In spring was looking over
the playbllls, wondering what theatre would
attend. Twas with Bernard Lonmagne,
young lawyer, who was as grave as judge.
For an hour, during which time we had been
promenadin.; 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.
"Ahp' l cried, Martin will suggest a way
of passing the evening"
Martin had never had we'll defined profess
sion. He had been little of everything
musician, actor. litterateur, mathematician,
merchant, manufacturer. HIS was a hand
some fellow. of about the medium height,
slender, having a well-shaped head, silky
mustache and beautiful black eyes. large
and earnest. Martin is essentially man of
action: he never seems to be at rest.
"Ahl how fortunate l am to find you"
he exclaimed; and then. making disdainful
gesture toward the playbills, he added: "Do
you think of going to the theatre?"
"Yes."
"Have you dined?"
"Not yet"
"Then all goes we'll. 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. II will not do to be
late on such an occasion. We must be there
at 100"
''But where are you going to take ~"
bah! as though you did not know But
come! come! Do not lose moment"
When Martin organized an expedition
there was nothing to do but to obey. There
was one certainty-that his companion would
not be bored.
Martin called cab which was passing,
and we where taken home, where we were
allowed 10 minutes to dress.
We were soon all together again in the
cab. which was driven in the direction of
the Champs Elysees. Martin 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."
"For dinner?"
'Certainly-for dinner"
sand was 1t 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 a severe glance on US as he
said:
feasts In street costume?"
Are we going to wedding feast ?'
Certainly"
THAT of one of your friends?'.
Yes of one of my friends"
whats his name?"
81 don't know"
"Oh, come, Martin. speak seriously"
Il am speaking seriously. About2 o'clock
this afternoon, while passing the Church of
the Trinity, saw charming, adorable
bride come forth, and / said to myself /:
There is bride to whom / would like to
drink toast Now the only way to toast
her Is. of course, to be guest at her wedding
feast, and to her wedding-feast we are
going, my friends. heard her father-in-ls law
say to one of the guests: This evening al
the Porte Maillot.' And know the name
of the bride-I learned it from the beadle-it
Is Mile Lemonnier-Blanch Lemonnier.
You shall see how charming she is a dream
of love and beautyl"
When we arrived at the restaurant Martin
had the air Of one who had come, In all
seriousness, as guest of the weddIng-feast.
There were three wedding parties at the
YQsfquranf that
whole establishment was in a connection.
The walters rushed up and down the stairs.
The stewards leaned over the balasters of
the three floors, shouting, storming, calling
for napkins, knives and glasses.
1.-The moment is propitious," said Martin
with delight. "And three wedding feasts at
that! 1t we are excluded from ours we can
attend one of the Others"
Then with graceful assurance, he said to an
attendant;
mile. Lemonier's wedding party?"
First floor"
We were little apprehensive In regard to
he TERMINATION of our expedition as we
followed Martin. He. however, was soon in
the room where the servants had just finished
setting the table.
An, am glad to see you are ready in
good time" said Martin in tone of voice
betting master of ceremonies.
The steward, who held paper In his hand,
bowed respectfully.
us this the list of the guests ?" said Martin,
taking the paper from the steward. "Let us
see If it is correct"
Surveying the table with a grave air, he
verified the list, and then said sharply:
You have made a mistake. Three covers
are wanting. 1t is fortunate / arrived early"
While the confused steward called over the
balaster, giving orders for three more covers,
Martin added our three names to the list and
made the necessary changes on the table.
He arranged place for himself opposite the
bride. placing us short distance from him
in order that we might come to his rescue if
he got into difficulty.
Then we solemnly waited the arrival of
the wedding guests who soon assembled.
Weddings are usually gay, but there are
also those which are melancholy. That of
Mile. Lemonnier belonged to the latter
category.
When M. Joseph Durand began to pay
court to Mile. Lemonnier, as 1 afterwards
learned, their positions, so far as fortune
was concerned. were about equal. Mile.
Lemonnier had dowry of 100000 francs
and expectations of coming in for 100000
more, all OF which had been amassed 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 desirable in Joseph Durand
was not so much his amiability, his refined
manners and his tender love for Blanche, as
MS Important position in a large dry-goods
nrm, the 10000 francs which his parents were
70 give him on the day of his marriage, and
the magnificent property which would fall to
nun ia.er. NO one knew better than NJ.
henionnier the value of the vineyards on his
property wnlch was situated in the centre of
oascony' Inc elder Durand, moreover, had