Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1881-05-29
LODGINGS To LET.
An Episode of the French Exhibition.

An EPISODE OF the french EXnlDlCiOn.
During the Exposition, Paris was Wis
tied by mania for lodge-letting. From
the middle Of April, hanging up at the
doors of the houses, in the fashionable
and central neighborhoods of the French
capital might be seen bills with "Joi
apartement meuble louer present
ment -" Handsome furnished apart
ments to let; ;" and many family, many
widow, many bachelor or widower
emigrated to some distant outskirt Civ
ing up their apartments to strangers or
foreigners, in consideration of receiving
some thousand francs, while they them
selves nestled down, during the great
influx, in some humble locality, within
OF without the walls. In letting, there
was no distinction of nation made tire
terms were the same for one and all
for the native compatriot as well as the
Milford Anglais-for the German Baron,
as we'll as the Russian Boyard, the
Polish Count, the dollar laden American
for everybody, in short, who could pay;
that was the one condition
Madame de y, ayoung and hand
some widow of Is, who, on the first of
April in that memorable year, had
thrown off her weeds, resigned
herself, among the rest, to the
reigning epidemic. One morning she
ran for the lodge-keeper of the house in
which she resided in the Chaussee
d'Antin, and ordered him to nail up at
the portecochere the universal bill.
"Bless my soul what running up and
down I shall have of it I" exclaimed, in
petto voce, with piteous shrug, the
seemingly-disconsolate porter, but who
inwardly rejoiced at the circumstance;
for he, also, hoped to reap golden har-
vest from the newcomers.
"N'importe, Andre" continued the
charming young widow" N'importe !;
let my apartment for 5000 francs, and
you shall have your commission of-let
me SEES per cent, if to bachelor or
widower; 4 per cent, if to married
couple without any infantile encum-
brances and per cent, if to "a family
and there are francs to drink my
health"
"Alas alas p groaned the porte
cochere Cerberus, as he pocketed the
silver piece and promised, in a tone of
melancholy devotedness, to do his best.
That evening the widow, accompanied
by her femme de chambre, took up her
quarters in small cottage near the vii
lage of Fontenay AUX Roses, outside the
Barriere d'Enfer, and contiguous to the
pretty Bots de Meudon, where she rusti-
Gated in the full enjoyment of her indie
pendent widowhood till the expiration
of the term.
On the I'd of August following, Ma
dame de Y returned to Paris, and
drove to her residence, believing that
her apartment, which had been let by
the concierge, was vacated and ready for
her.
Madame," said Andre, "the gentle
man has not yet gone.
What gentleman, Andrea"
The ledger, madame, Monsieur de
R, provincial gentleman, very
CONNIE il fault. Yet it is not my fault,
for informed him, three days ago, that
his time was up, and that he must go;
but he said to me that it was all right;
it was his affair, and he would square
all matters with madame"
eco and inform him, Andre, that !
have returned, and want my apartments
Immediately.
"Useless, madame completely use
less. He was headstrong as a donkey;
he wouldn't listen to r,e; it is with you
alone he. wishes to confer"
"Be it so, Andre. Go before and an
nounce me"
Madame de Y was received most
graciously and politely by the provincial
tenant, who thus addressed her:
You cannot conceive, madame, how
comfortable find myself in this your
pretty apartment, and how much de-
sire to spend in it the remaining time I
have to stay in your charming capital
and fondly hope you will have the
goodness to allow me so to do. What
ever be your terms, I accept them be-
forehand."
To this the widow replied, somewhat
surprised, that she had no terms to pro-
pose; that she wanted her apartment,
and must have it. But greater still was
her surprise when she heard the provin-
cial declare his determination to keep it,
even if it was necessary to stand regu-
lar siege. Madame de y ndeavore1,
as gently as possible, to make him un-
derstand the impropriey of his conduct;
but all to no avail, for the tenant plead
ed his cause with grace, eloquence and
wit. The debate became warmer and
warmer, the gentleman losing, and the
lady gaining no ground, while Andre
slipped away to his lodge, informing his
better half that the storm was gathering
above. At last, after much speechify-
ing on both sides, the gentleman, break
ing pause of apparently deep rehec-
ton, spoke again:
"Well, madame said he, there re-
mains but one way to arrange our little
dispute, SO as to enable you to resume
possession of your delightful residence,
without ousting me from it. !"
"What is your meaning, sir?" de-
manded the bewildered young widow,
looking still more charming in her
adiaz6mept.