Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1857-01-02
fiterarp 5eIeltions.
From DR.. Bartlett's Anglo Saxon.
THE FRENCH WIDOW.

WAS fislt6U Dy In6 Sdule Hanld IOL lOdS
ing-lefting which ravaged London in
1851, during the great Exhibition. From
the middle Of April, hanging up at the
doors Of the houses in the fashionable and
central neighborhoOd ofthe French capi-
tol, might be seen with "Jot appartement
meablc louer prese,tenaent )" and many
a family, many widow, many bachelor
or widower, migrated to some distant out
skirt, giving up their apartments to
strangers or Foreigners, in consideration
of receiving some thousand frances; while
they themselves nestled down, during the
great influx, in some humble locality,
within or without the walls. In letting
there was no distinction of nation made ::
the terms were the same for one and all
for the native compatriot, as we'll as
the Milford Anglais for the German ba-
ron, as well as the Russian boyard, the
Polish count, the dollar-laden American;
for everybody, in short, who could pay,
that was the condition.
Madame de y, a young and hand
some widow of five-and-twenty, who, on
the first Of April in that memorable year
had thrown off her weeds, resigned her.
self among the rest to the reigning cpl
demic. One morning she rang for the
lodge keeper of the house in which she
resided in the Chaussee dAntin, and
ordered him to nail up the universal bill,
"Lodgings to let
"What running up and down I shall
have of it r exclaimed, with a piteous
shrug, the seemingly disconsolate porter,
who inwardly rejoiced at the circumstance
for he also hoped to reap golden har-
vest from the new comers.
N'importe, Andre" continued the
charming young widow 'let my apart
ment for three thousand frances and you
shall have your commission of five per
cent, if to a bachelor or widower; four
per cent, if to married couple, with
out any membranes and three per
cent, if to family and here are five
frances 10 drink my health"
T" Alas! alas - groaned Andre, as he
pocketed the silver piece, and promised,
in tone Of melancholy devotedness, to
do his best. That evening, the widow
accompanied by her famnae de chanabre
took up her Quarters in a small cottage
near the village of Fontenay- y-aux-Roses
outside the Barriere d'Enfer, and contigu,
Gus to the pretty Bois de Meudon, where
she rusticated in the full enjoyment Of
her Independent widowhood till the ex-
piration of the term.
On the I'd of August following, Mad
anne de Y returned to Paris, and
drove to her residence, believing that her
apartment, which had been let by the
porter, was vacated and ready for her.
g Madame" said Andre, the gentle.
man has not yet gone"
4" What gentleman, Andre?"
"The lodger, madame-Monsieur de
R, a provincial gentleman, very
handsome. Yet it is not my fault, for ]
informed him three days ago that his
time was up, aud that he must go; but he
said to me it was all right-it was his af
fair, and he would square all matters will
madame"
Go and inform him, Andre, that
have returned, and want my apartment
Immediately"
Useless, madame, completely useless
he's as headstrong as a donkey h
woulden't listen to me; It's with you alon
he wishes to confer"
Be it so, Andre; go before, and an
nounce me-" Madame de y wa
received most graciously and politely b.
the occupant who thus addressed her:
You cannot conceive, madame, hoy
comfortable ] find myself in this you
pretty apartment, and how much desir
to spend in it the remaining time / hav
to stay in your charming capital, and
fondly hope you will have the goodnes
10 allow me 50 to do whatever be YOU
terms, ! accept them beforehand
To this the widow replied, somewha
surprised, that she had no terms to prc
pose; that she wanted her apartmen
and must have it. But greater still wa
her surprise when she heard the provir
cial declare his determination to keep
even if it were necessary to stand a regl
lar siege. Madame de y endeayo
ed, as gently as possible, to make hi
understand the impropriety of his COZ
duct but all to no avail, for the tocGtai
pleaded his cause with grace, eloquent
and wit. The debate became warm,
and warmer, the gentleman losing, ar