And Married They Were.

Otago Witness, Issue 2660, 8 March 1905, Page 86

And Married They Were.

Two wedding couples presented tliemat the mayoralty in a suburb of Paris to carry out the civil portion of their marriage contract. They ranged themselves on opposite sides of the mayor s official chair, facing- one another. The mayor wa% asking a question of one of the bridegrooms, whose attention was thus distracted from his bride.

On turning round to look at her when he. had answered the question, he caught hoi- looking at the bridegroom opposite. Being of a, jealous temperament, he laid his hand roughly on her arm, and said sharply : '•JJademoivlle, which of the two bride* are you? You are mine, I be-lic\e; thon oblige me by confining jour glances to

Tl.e biid'" wa' a young woman of sp'i-.t, and, resenting the ton" m wh.ch the repumand wa= mfulf, n fortctl :

"Ah, moiwc-ij* if J" ou -^ i^alous a!vearir, I am l'Lely to lead a pka-ant Lie with tou. '

The" jealous 'brido^roo'n rosuV an ar.-,-rc-pij-. and (hen the oth-r l>i idegroom thoughf it lino to put hi-s orr ii 1 . "Pali ' moinr-Kur, why U'ould you ma!--o snch a fu ; bpcau-r 1 mademoi-0110 tliocs.es to favour n.,^ with a ftla.nrp''" Thcre-ir li, 3 bi.de turnocl uron him, and cxolaim-ed • "Ha, monsieur, it; seems, then, that you

like to l-a\o ladies make eyes at you! Now 1 know what to expect from you; but jou might, at ka«t. ha\o had the decency to keep tins proof of you" faithlessness concealed from me here." And with this fierce thrust sha burst into tears.

In vain the mayor attempted to pacify both parties. The bridegrooms stormed at eat-h other, and the brides, between, their hysterical sobs, mutually accused each other of perfidy. What wa-, to be done? At last tho mayor, 10-mg temper, cr.ed out :

"Am I to proceed with the marriage ceremony, or f>m I not ' The two brides with one accord screamed "No!" "Perhaps." said the mayor, controlling his wrath, "you couid arrange matters between yourselves if you were left alone. The clerk will show you t«. my private room. I will give you half an hour." At the expiration of that time the parties were summoned to appear again before the mayor. "Have you settled your differences?" he askt'd.

"\'es, Monsieur le Maire," exclaimed both bridegrooms at once. "Oh, then, I may proceed v.irh the ceremony." "V«. Monsieur le Maire; but — but '" 'Well, what is it?" "We have effected a change." "A change l What do you mean?"

"A change of brides, Maire."

Monsieur le

And co it was — the jealous bridegroom had taken the jealous bride, and the young lady of tho fickl glances had taken the gentleman who liked ladies to "make eyes" at him. Th astonished mayor looked at them in silent amazement for a moment or two ; but they met his gaze unabashed, so he shrugged his shoulders, and said :

" Well, if you are satisfied, it is r.o business of mine. I will proceed with the ceremony." And married tnev wore.