Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-10-19

the lover sitting near. dreamily watch
ing the graceful figure in soft gray
drapery, touched with glintings of color
ed light from the old stained windows.
There We're no other weddings at that
particular hour on that particular morn
ing These two couples and their
friends had the mighty fame all to
themselves. As the clock struck ten
the organ began to peal, and the priests
rich vestments-fOr the vestmentS worn
Upon the humblest occasions at Notre
Dame are splendid-and the ceremonial
began.
hour, and Kathleen and her sister went
back into the sunshine, out of the
gray shadows, the magical lights from
painted glass, the glory of gold, and
splendOr of chromatic color.
rs that all?" asked Kathleen, look
ing up at her lover-husband. Am l
really and truly your wife,
Really and truly; and you would
have been just as truly my wife if we
had never gone farther than the
Marie"
NO. no, Castor; for then Heaven
would have no part in our marriage
My sweetest, L am content that you
should be content. Women love old
world fancies."
There was q stand of carriages in
front of the church. Philip Durand
hailed two of them, and the wedding
party got in. The two bridegrOomS had
planned the day between them. They
were to breakfast at the restaurant IN
the Place de Ia BrOuSe, chosen for the
sake of it's winter garden, which gave
an air Of prettinesS to the sOrdid fact
of dinner. And just now, too, III this
time of anxiety and ferment the BrOuSe
was the central point of Paris, where
one could always hear the latest news.
Just now Paris lived on tip-toe, as it
were, palpitating, thrilling with the eX-
pectation of great victories-an Aus
terlitz, Il Jena; the news might be flash
ed along the wires at any moment
of the day or night. The telegraph
clerks were waiting, fingers itching to
record the triumph Of Gallo arms.
No one thought of Waterloo.
The bridal-party drove across the
river, past the Louvre, into the Rue de
Rivoli. What meant this new life and
movement in the streetS-mem running
to and fro, women standing in little
groups, laughing, crying. hats waved
in the air-the wild excitement of a
race -cOurSe?
Zone would think our happiness had
driven all the world out of their wits,
said CASTOR, with his arm round his
Wife'S slim waist.
There was only Madame Schubert
with them in the carriage. She had
insisted on taking the back seat, and
sat smiling benignly on the happy
lovers.
The cOachman turned round and
shouted to them as he ratified his horse
over the broad space in front of the
Theatre Francois. The pavement be
fore the cafes was crowded with the
usual loungers, smoking, talking, drink
ing; only the talk and laughter was
louder than usual, the crowd was
denser the air was full of electricity.
A victOryn' shouted the driver, look
his whip ferociously; "a great victory!
MacMahon has made mincemeat Of
those Prlssian dogs
A victory, and on our Wedding-day'
exclaimed Kathleen joyously; and then
the sweet sensitive face clOuded sud
denly, and she cried. There can be no
victory without soldiers slain. Many
hearts of wives and mothers will be
mourning today amidst all this joyous
ness. O Castor, how thankful l ought
to be that You were past the age for
SERVICE"
True, dearest, | am better off here
than with the Moblots; but if the Ma
tional Guard were called out l should
have to shoulder my musket.'
But not to leave Paris said kath-
1een, nesting closer TO him; and there
can be no fighting in Paris"
Heaven forbid. No, love; one Oh
two victories. and Prussia will give US
herd of Huns and Vandals do against
the fine flowers of our army, the heroes
of Magenta and Solferino, the grave
boards Of Alma aIu Algiers:'
They drove along the Rue Nivienne
The narrow street was all in commo,
ton; people at the shop-doors, people at
the upper windows; 4 Babel Of voices,
shrill uproar of laughter and eXcla-
nation But in the Place de Ia Brouse,
and on the boulevard beyond, the eX-
citement eliminated. It was the fever
| of EPSON when the Derby has just
! been won-the stir and tunult of Don
| caster at the browning moment of the
( Leger; and yet 4 deeper and stronger
fever, for this had the aWfulness of life
| and death.
! Victory, yes; but where? Which of
| the armies was it-MacMahOn's or
BaZaine's? Or was it the two armies
which had crushed the Prussian forces
! between them-which had met and
| Joined, like two living walls deadly, in
yincible squeezing out the life Of the
enemy?
| Every one was asking questions,
every one answering, stating, counter
stating, denying; but in this tumult OF
statement and counter-statement there
was a difficulty in arriving at any posi-
! tive fact, except the one allinSpiring
fact that there had been tremendous
victory on the French side. Flags were
| fyinp at all the windOwS-fiagS Droduc-