Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-03-26
MADEMOIsELLE sYLyIE.
A Partisan IdyI.

i 1
have much Of view, but he will enio,
the benefit of Mademoiselle Sylvie'i
flowers and her two canaries;" anC
pointing across the courtyard he glanced
up at small window very high on the
sixth floor, .embowered in a thick trellis
work Of sweet peas, scarlet runneos, and
mignonette boxes, amid all of which
hung brave little cage, smart with
green and white paint and gliding. Il
was costly looking trifle, this cage, and
one was rather surprised to see it so high
up as a sixth floor; but the two birds
inside hoped from perch to perch, and
piped their trilling notes, and shook the
trim yellow wings they had just dipped
in water with as chirping an air as if the
whole world was theirs, and there was
nothing on earth too good for them.
She is a stay-maker," continued the
concierge, and the next window to
hers isithat Of M. Polydore, a railway
clerk / do not know why the con.
cierge should have thought it necessary
to thus intrude M. Polydore upon the
scene. was rather disappointed that
he had done so. i could have wished he
had kept this gentleman in the back
ground, or brought him in some other
day incidentallyto something else. But
it is way with Frenchmen quietly to
root up certain illusions, and to do it
quickly. tl ts
l took the rooms, and during several
weeks was enlivened by the sight Of
the flowers and by the chirruping of the
two canaries. 0fan afternoon, when the
house was in the shade, and the hustle
which attends the arranging of rooms,
the opening of windows, and the shaking
of carpets in the morning was over !;
when the yard was silent and cool, the
warbling so clear and melodious, so gay
aud unrestrained, / sometimes laid
down my pen merely to listen to it,
But | never saw Mile Sylvie, and / was
beginning to regard her as a sort of
myth to he perpetually associated with
songs of birds and impenetrable groves
of creepers. One morning, however,
having CHANGED to rise earlier than
usual, and being seated writing at my
desk, ] raised my eyes towards the
familiar window and observed young
and bright, but rather pale face, pro-
trude through the foliage, and pair of
small hands suspend the smart cage on
its accustomed hook. The birds had
been under cover for the night, and on
being put into the air instantly saluted
the rising sun with their music. Then
the small hands disappeared and
came back again, and nimble fingers,
armed with scissors, set to work trim
ming the plants, here Topping off one
tendril there tying up another, after
which a new eclipse, and then the small
hands brought the tiniest of water-pots
and gravely watered their ten thousandth
part of an acre of garden land. At this
moment, while was studiously survey
ing the scene, the adjoining easement
was opened, and second head, much
less bright and interesting than the
other, and ornamented by shaggy crop
of uncombed hair and black mustache,
became visible, and there commenced an
interchange of greetings between the
windows. The waterproof paused on the
edge of the mignonette box, the face
smiled amicably, and the shaggy head,
putting out large hand with pair of
tongs in it, and basket fastened to the
end of the pair Of tongs, leaned forward
and passed the basket until it dangled
right among the flowers. Then the MIN
BILE hands lifted something out, fumbled
half minute in a pocket and dropped
something in, and the basket travelled
back, followed by another amicable smile
and nod.
Yes, it's like that every morning, "
exclaimed the concierge, who had come
up with my letters, and was standing by
me, holding a sheaf of other lodgers'
boots, letters, and hot-water cans be-
tween his hands. That is M. Polydore,
the railway clerk, passing her breakfast
to Mile Sylvie. M. Polydore rung down
at seven every morning for his own pro-
and brings up his neighbor's at
the same time-two sous worth of milk,
two rolls at one sou, and a sous worth
Of ch;ck-weed for the birds, and that's
all. It's never more than five sous she
has to drop into the basket, and I'll be |
bound NJ. Polydore would pay it all for
her himself, ay, and double that, if she
would only let him. y ,..,a. u /
But here the concierge interrupted
himself, for a second and a more novel
scene was being enacted. The shaggy
head, after vanishing for moment with
the tongs, had reissued in their company,
and was now passing o new basket the
conical shape Of which revealed its con-
tents; it was presumably full of straw
berries. Mile Sylvie lifted up her hands
rs uttering an amused exclamation, took
out a strawberry, which she thrust
through the bars of her cage, then nib
lied one herself, making little sign to
,ay that it was good; but, having done
his, shook her head and was apparently
or sending the rest back. Whereupon
/ discussion arose, which, of course, we
could not hear, but the pantomimic elo-
Iuence of which, especially in so far as
VI. Polydore's gestures went, vas easy to
1t lasted two good min
ties, and then the matter was settled by
VI lie Sylyie shaking one or two more
into her left hand, and wav-
ng her right laughingly before her face,
Is though to convey: This is positively
Ill shall take, NJ. Polydore, so you
needn't tempt me- NJ Polydore pro
ested, but finding It was of no use, gave
! shrug, and the pottle moved slowly
,sck on its way along with the tongs.
d'lle Sylvis thap took up her tiny water
,ot anew, and finished her watering,
"Yes," said the concierge approyingly 4
'that's just it. NJ. Polydore is a good
hearted young man, Of the free and
,asy sort, and he and Mile Sylyie get
N very well together, He goes on err
ands for herr she nends bis things for
lin; but except they meet on toe stsig-
.ase, all their talking is done through
he window N Polydore, | suspect,
would like affairs to take another turn;
tut Mile sylvie knows how to put young