The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-12-01
MY OPPOSITE NEIGHBOR.

never spent in the good old town of Herring
hansen.
MY OPPOSITE NEIGHBOR.
Reader, are you bachelor 2-and had you
ever an opposite neighbor2 If you are not I'M
welded, and have never given thought to-
your neighbors, you are stranger 10 the en-
barrassments of him who has no wife TO look at,
and be scolded by, and pretty face over the
way, ready to meet his inquiring gances, and to
smile them all back in return. Yes, she lived
over the way. had not long been domced in
my nev aparment-no matter where it was ST.
tuated--in gay French capital and had not
yawnel from the window of my little saloon
more than dozen times in the course OF each
mortal hour, before | became sensitively con-
scious of pair of the soitest, and, at the same
time, most laughter-lovng brown eyes, peering
from {, window over the way. 1t was at large
hotel, tenanted by some half dozen families of
distinction. knew them all by name, and was
du fat al their various ingoings and outcom-
ngs, but no one had ever thought it worth his
whileto speak of the fair dweler pentresol /;
and vet, in my eyes, she was worth all the aged
counesses and wrinkled Mesdames Les Ba-
ronnes of the storied mansion. Who was she 2
sat the wind.,w the whole of one day coming
it over in my mind while my eyes rested on
hers wherever she came in sight; and when
she was rot present. pierced the muslin drape-
ries in se,rch of her. She possessed graceful
figure, a brilliant complexion, and pair OF eyes
lit was 90 much for an opposite neighbor AT
first she qnly smiled when looked at her; but
it acds smile. | dreamed of love in cottage,
and that smile, for several nights. Then we
grew bqter acquainted | ventured to kiss my
hand, aid she did not resent it. In few days
she retirned the salutation, and remained at her
window as long as | was at mine. We were
both o. US in love, it was very evident. ! sat
down, ind wrote dozen love-letters, one warm
er thanthe other; and was on the point of send
ing herrhe whole dozen, when recolected that
| had frgotten two most important points in the
AFFAIR." did not know her name, and the epis-
ties wee in English instead of French. This
first cold be remedied by visit to the porter,
the las by one of those convenient gentry who
neutrality-suspicious. for all the world Of gr-
settes ad BARRIERS boys at the low rate Of a few
sous. lut the porter was gone out on an err
rend foiMadame La Baronne an premiere, and
his dea wife either could not or would not I'M
delstare my French accent. No matter; the
name is II little importance SO long as the letter
is writel. "Monsieur wishes something of a
superior tind 2" said the universal letter-writer,
when hdheard my embarrassed account of what
| did wait. eyes, yes; eternal love and fdeli-
ty," saitil, in the best French could muster.
"An ofsr of marriage, peut etre2" 1t was rather
more tan | intended but with my bad pro
nounciaion, and ignorance of the idioms of the
language, couldnot do more than shout-'Non,
non, p3 encore. Component" The man
smiled Is he reiterated-ssNon, comprenez ~
But tbolgh he looked more puzzled than myself
as proceeded to explain, he kept repeating,
vous volez dire y and, in due time the epistle
was written, folded, and sealed 1t was too late
to deliEr it that same evening, SO contented
myself by sitting at the open window, and
whistliE "Don't say nay, charming judy Cal
laghan to the great amusement Of the ragged
boys aid apple women in the street.
NV charmer, meantime, was busy arranging
delicate nosegay in the golden framework
which ladies usually carry at a ball. She looked,
too, Tetty; and fancied she answered my song
acro3 the street by singing, "Toi, 'oujours tot"
1t WIS too much for an Irishman's enthusiastic
hears late or not, the letter must be delivered
that fiery night. The PORTER was put into an
hast humour by five franc piece; and with
his assistance added the superscription to my
tenter epistle-a "Mdlle Rosalie de Ia Monden
hav ig first discovered that the mistress Of the
e,ltr.sot apartment, and my charmer, bore that
nam, " Is she young" said l. "Mais oui,-
une trentane d'annees peut etre." Who is
she y .'Elle est modiste ct tres CONNIE il faut."
sAl! i" said l, ''what the deuce is modiste?"
An began to turn over the leaves of my peck
saving he would take Milor Anglais' letter up
stars, toltte soute and asked if there was no
thing else he could do. | took the hint and went
hone. Mdlle. Rosalie had left her window
wen got back to mine but | sat musing, Ro-
m,o-like at the spot where she had been, and
wandering what modesto was until, at last, !
solved the problem to my own satisfaction, by
rowing il 10 be lady who mixed much in the
world and now remembered having seen her
her tnin1 mn han
cay, to welcome gayy dressed ladies, who drove
hrough.the porte cochere, in their coronetted
carriages. ''Une lettre pour Monsieur" said the
smiling bonnie, as she broke my reveries by hand
ng gentle missive, doubtless from my fair |
collected sufficient from its contents TO know that
Mdlle. Resale would admit me into her saloon
on the morrow at midi. | went to bed. but not
to sleep. He only who looks forward to an in
terview with an unknown mistress can imagine
my nervous trepidation. How would she re-
ceive me7-whats should say2 were the thoughts
which hurled through my brain.
But morning and noon came, in one time,
and paid my visit. Mdle Rosalie received
me in the most gracious manner | was disap
pointed, and not little, at her appearance, her
color was rough her grace was of art, not nature
and wrinkle at the corner of her eyes, which
were bright and bewitching enough, told that
Spring had long passed away in her years. |
stainmeleu, colofeu, ooWeu, WINE she auuIcsseo
me as Mior Anglais, and talked some unintelli-
gible stuff about her heart, and la jeunesse. Ne
yer was Irishman so put TO it. | wished myself
back atmy window again. To make long sto-
nv short, discovered too, that ntodiste meant
miIliner, and that Mde Rosae was determi-
ned to take my letter in earnest, and make me
her lawful property, if possible The Rosalie
over the way and Rosalie when viewed near
were quite different beings What a fool | was |!
paid my first visit, and internally vowed no Sc