The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-02-10


as we walked along.
What are you talking about?"
asked Anita.
THAT Is the way I used to remember
my aunt's address, when I was boy"
/ said.
"Oh, then, your aunt lives at Is Fif-
teenth street; is that it?" asked Anita.
Yes, either at Is Fifteenth street,
East or West, or at Is Eighteenth
street, East or West: at one of the
four, am quite sure" l replied with
confidence.
Anita and had been married a fort
night before in San Francisco, and had
started for the East directly after the
wedding. This particular Sunday af-
ternoon in New York had been set
apart in our programme for calling
upon my aunt, the venerable Miss Will
liampe Van Brunt Accordingly, we
left our hotel at two and strolled slow
ly down Fifth avenue.
In the astronomical observatory with
which I am connected / am most or
derby, but unfortunately my methodi-
cal habits do not extend to the ar
rangement of my private papers, and
/ found, that afternoon, that / had
neglected to bring my aunt's address
East with me. Happily, though I had
not forgotten the old memory crutch
of the battle of Waterloo. This might
Phecessitate our calling at four different
houses, but there was also a chance of
our achieving success at the first place
>pf inquiry.
As we approached a druggists Anita
suggested our going in and looking at
a directory. This did, little knowing
at the time how familiar 1 was fated
to become with the interiors of drug
stores during the afternoon. A search
of the directory did not reveal the
name of Miss Williampe Van Brunt.
Thereupon We pursued our downward
and crosswise stroll, and rang expert
mental bells at East and West Eigh-
teenth and East and West Fifteenth
streets, but with the discouraging re-
suit of discovering that there was no
Miss Van Brunt concealed in any one
OF those abiding-places.
AT the last place of inquiry as de-
scended the steps l thought 1 saw a.
look of annoyance on Anita's face.
The battle of Waterloo L began.
"Oh. bother the battle of Waterloo
exclaimed Anita, in a tone had never
heard her use before. Il do wish YOU
were a businesslike man, but you are
so vague and scientific. Now, / don't
believe you have the least idea where
that poor old aunt of yours lives"
Anita at this climax stamped her foot
loudly on the pavement, thereby at
tracing the attention of two or three
men to us. We maintained after this
outbreak a silence so prolonged that
1t extended over into the next block.
AS we approached the second corner
Anita spoke.
Don't get so vexed about your poor
memory, dear" said she, that you
can't even speak to me-"
Her tone was soothing and evidently
calculated to calm a man in a violent
rage.
Il am not vexed," replied; 'T have
only been thinking about the best way
OF dealing with the unexpected"
"Well?" said she; shave you thought
of another address we might try?'
"49 East or West Sixteenth street." I
replied promptly.
And why?" she asked.
Because it makes 1649, the date of
the execution of Charles I. 1 think that
possibly l may have used that instead
or waterloo to remember my aunt S
street and number. At all events, we
can try the two, they are so near"
And after that, 16 East or West
Forty-ninth street." said Anita cheer
fully. IT'S poor memory device that
won't work both ways"
NO. 1 said. '"The Van Brunt house
isn't out of the teens; of that 1 am
certain"
And If we don't find her at the exc
cution of Charles L." said Anita, "shalI
we have TO give her up?"
Il am afraid we shall" 7 replied.
Those are the only dates I have ever
been able to remember. And that I do
remember them SO we'll is what makes
me quite sure that there was some-
thing important connected with them
something, that is. of real import
ance."
The execution, when tried, worked no
better than the battle.
II YOU are sure the house is in the
teens" said Anita. after the negative
that met our inquiry at our last hone.
we have something still to work on.
NOW you say you stopped at the house
Tor a week; think carefully: wasn't
there something peculiar about the
house, something you could remember
it by?"
1T was high-stoop. brown-stone. I"
L replied, heroically trying to rise to
the occasion, but conscious that 1 was
railing miserably, with windows in
front"
Really" said Anita, "you surprise
me-" - '''o
Then she laughed, but her disappoint-
ment was nevertheless keen. and on
this account: My aunt had written
that she wished to make Anita a. we'd
ding present of huge piece of Van
Brunt mahogany-a bureau, she had
written, or chest Of drawers. as Anita
should decide upon inspection of the
pieces when she came to New York.
THE chances are" said Anita. as we
turned to walk up town towards our
hotel, that your aunt, who is peculiar
you say. will be so offended at us for
not having called that she won't give
us the mahogany at all. / am so sorry
for just dote on Dutch things, as Won
know" She gave me an inclusive
smile.
The drawers in that lumberinp
bureau, or in that chest, that she prom
ised to give you, stick like the mis-
chief" / said, They're not worth the
house-room they take up. know them
well; they were in my room when
stopped at my aunt's. They spoiled my
disposition"
And they will spoil mine," said An
ita, IF i don't get them, or one of
them"
Anita" exclaimed, "I have a capi.
tai ideal"
"Well?" said Anita. looking at ms
resignedly.
For a week I was in that street
Thirteenth, Fourteenth. Fifteenth Siv.