Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-02-13

both of you, and get tinto evening dress
as quick as you can. Then, opening
his over coat, he continued: you see |
am already dressed. Make haste. 1t will
not do to be late on such an occasion.
We must be there at $50.
But where are you going to take us?"
BAH as though you did not know
But come! GOMEZ do not lose moment. :"
When Martin organized an expedition
there was nothing to do but to obey.
There was one certainty-tha his COM
paniOns would not be bored.
a.. Martin called a cab which was passing,
and we were taken home, where we were
allowed ten minuets to dress.
We were soon altogether 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 us?"
My insistence seemed to vex him, but
he condescended to reply:
ITO the Porte Maillot.
For dinner?"
''Certainly-for dinner.
And was it 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 severe glance on us as
he said:
Are you accustomed to attend wedding
feasts in street costume?"
Are you going to a wedding feast?''
Certainly"
THAT of one of your friends?"
'Yes-Of one of my friends ?"
Whats his name?"
81 don't know
so, come, Martin speak seriously
I am speaking seriously. About 2
o'clock this afternoon, while passing the
Church of Trinity, saw a charming,
adorable bride come forth, and | said to
myself: There is bride to whom
would like to drink a toast. Now the
only way to toast her is, of course, to be a
guest at her wedding-feast, and to her
wedding-feast we are going, my friends.
| heard her father-in-law say to one of the
guests: This evening at the Porte Mail
lot. And know the name of the bride
/ learned it from the beadle-it is Mile.
Lemonnier - Blanche Lemonnier. You
shall see how charming she is-a dream of
love and beauty
When we arrived at the restaurant Mar
tin had the air of one who had come in
all seriousness, as guest of the wedding
feast.
There were three wedding parties at the
restaurant that evening, consequently the
whole establishment was in COM
motion. The walters rushed up and down
the stairs. The stewards leaned over the
balusters of the three floors, shouting.
storming, calling for napkins, knives and
glasses.
The moment is propitious," said Mar
tin with delight. And three wedding
feasts at that! FIVE are excluded from
ours we can attend one of the others.
Then with graceful assurance, he said
to an attendant:
mile. Lemonnier's wedding party?"
First floor -
We were little apprehensive in re-
gard to the termination of our expedition
as we followed Martin. He, however,
was soon in the room where the servants
had Just finished setting the table.
"Ah, ] am glad to see you are ready in
good time" said Martin, in a tone of
voice BETTING a master of ceremonies.
The steward, who held a paper In his
hand, bowed respectfully.
rs this the list of the guests?" said
Martin, taking the paper from the stew
ard Let me 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 COW
ers are wanting. 1t is fortunate | arrived
early" While the confused steward call
ed over the baluster, giving orders for
three more covers, Martin added our three
names to the list and made the necessary
changes on the table. He arranged a
place for himself opposite the bride plac-
ing us at 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 | afterwards
learned, their positions, as 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 peo-
pie, whose only fault was excessive love
of money. What they found desirable in
Joseph Durand was not so much his
amiabiity, his refined manner and his
tender love for Blanche, as his important
position in large dry-goods firm, the 40.
600 francs which his parents were to give
him on the day of his marriage and the
magnificent property which would fall tc
him later. No one knew better than NJ
Lemonnier the value of the vineyards on
his property, which was situated in the
center Of Gascony The elder Durand
moreover, had 100000 francs in bank
which in time would come to his son.
Blanche paid no attention to these bust
ness matters. She loved Joseph Durand