HOW TO SECURE A HUSBAND IN FRANCE

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume IX, Issue 485, 17 June 1867, Page 3

HOW TO SECURE A HUSBAND IN FRANCE

A girl, young and pretty, and above all gifted wiih an air of admirable Parisian candour, lately presented herself before a lawyer. “ Alonsieur, I hare come to consult you upon a grave ail'air. I want you to oblige a man 1 lore to marry me in spite of himself. How shall 1 proceed?” The gentleman of the bar had, of course, a suuiciently elastic conscience. He redected a moment, and then, being sure that no third person overheard him, replied hesitatingly : “ Mademoiselle, according to our law, you always possess the mean* of forcing a

man to marry you. You must remain on three occasions alone with him ; you can then go before a judge, and swear that he is your lover.” “And will that saSlos, monsieur f” “ Yes Mademoiselle, with ene farther condition.'’ ! '■’Well?”

‘‘Then you will produce witnesses who will make oath to have seen you remain a good quarter of an hour with the individual said to have trifled with your affections.” “Very well, Monsieur, I will retain you) as counsel in the management of this affair Good day.” A few days afterwards the lady returned. She was mysteriously received by the lawyer, who scarcely giving her time to seat herself, questioned her with the most lively curiosity. “ Capital, capital.” “Persevere in your design, Madtnoiselle; but mind, the next time you come to consult me. give mu the name of the young man you are going to make so happy in spite of himself.” “ You shall have it without fail.” A fortnight afterwards, the lady again knocked at the door of the counsel’s room. No sooner was she within, she flung herself into a chair, saying that the walk had made her breathless. Her counsel endeavored to re-assura her, made her inhale salts, and proposed to unloose her collar. “ It is useless, Monsieur,” she said, “ I am much better.” “Well now tell me the name of the fortunate mortal.”

“Well, then, the fortunate mortal, be it known to you is—yourself!” said the young beauty, bursting into a laugh. “I love you; I have been here three times tete-a-tete with you, and my four witnesses are below, ready and willing to accompany me to a magistrate,” gravely continued the narrator.

The lawyer, thus caught, had the good sense not to get angry. Tiie most singular fact of all is, that ha adores his young wife, who, by the way, makes an excellent housekeeper.