The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-10
THE LOST HARLEM HOUSE.
SURPRISE FOR ITS OWNER JUST
BACK FROM EUROPE

here in New York could get lost 80 that nobody
would know who the owner was docs it," said a
real estate agent yet that was what happened
N house and lot cross street In Harlem.
"The property belonged to a man named HALL
day who hailed from the South and enjoyed him
sclf 80 well in Europe that presently he had moth
ing left but this piece Of Harlem real estate. Il
had been left u him by n family friend and he
had never thought much about II till the rest Of
mis- property had disappeared Then he came
back from Europe TO New Enrk to look IL up He
had not employed regular renting agent like
myself for instance, but entrusted the of the
property 10 a sort Of a chance acquaintance. When
he went broke over there in Europe he smiled at
the remembrance Of the instructions he had given.
Rent the house furnished he had said. Pay
thc toxee Take out your commission. II there
IA anything left TO send to me- all right II not all
right The rental of a house had seemed a mere
bagatee to him then. In his impoverished con
diton il took on the size OF a royal income and he
felt that the sooner he got back to it the better
Having made up his mind to come, Halliday
started for home at once. He reached Now York
at 10 o'clock on morning in the latter part-of
MAY He went at once TO his own house. He
had expected 70 find II occupied. He was not
disappointed. As he alghted from the cab q
small boy wearing exceedingly short brown knick-
erbockers and exceedingly long brown stockings
camo running out to the gate and stood looking
AT him curously. A few seconds elapsed and
other small boys and girls arrayed In knicker-
bockers, skirts and stockings which were evidently
older or younger brothers and sisters Of the first
suit broke away from hilarious game Of tag
and congregated round the gate.
The sight made Halliday mad as hornet
He struck his stick sharply on the pavement and
glowered fierccly at the group Of little folks He
distinctly recalled his instructions To the agent on
that point Don't rent to people with children ;
he had said 4 have no Use for children. They
ruin place in less than no time That was what
he had said But just look at EN-, he muttered
10 himself 4 suppose my man thought II he
were going to disobcy me at all he might as we'll
do IL on a grand scale Let's see Here are one
two. three four, m m m. thirteen Of EN- Great
Scott and I've como homo TO this.
This mathematical calculation was not COM
plicacd but it seemed to arouse unbounded interest
in the mind Of the first little boy who had been
regarding Halliday attentively. DO you want TO
see Miss Cecilia?' he asked
Halliday looked at the little chap sternly.
Miss Cecila?' he repeated. NO. want to know
who lives here.
Miss Cecilia does. she's in there said the boy.
pointing toward the house.
Halliday made no further response but picked
his way through tho bakers dozen OF boys and
girls, who separated 10 the left and right as he
drew near and approached the house. He rang
the bell and a maidservant came TO the door.
Halliday has admitted many time that he never
was so hard put to II TO think OF something to say
in his life as he was then. 4 should like to see
Miss-Miss' he stammered, and then came TO a
dead stop.
Miss Cecilia supplied the maid DO you
want 10 take a room?
A room?' Numbered Halliday. No. | want
the whole house. 1t belongs to
Before he could finish his declaration OF rights
the maid servant broke in gibly. The whole
house, she cried. oh, Miss Cecilia couldn't
let it go that way, but we can accommodate you
with rooms Come this way, please.
Fate seemed to have had things all cut and
Iricd before hand so Halliday demurred no longer
lilo followed the girl 10 small alcove room
on the second floor which was fitted up as half
office half sitting room woman sat at desk
writing She looked up carelessly when Halli
day came in.
"You wish To place child with me'' she asked
serenely.
mo no. explained the maid. He wants q
room.
"'Oh room, is it, said the young woman with
the same unrufled calm The rooms are or
the next floor, Do you mind climbing another
stairway?
NOW want you 70 understand tndt ldihudy
life had been an eventiul and he ought TO hav,
had sense enough to settle things right then and
there, but he didn't So far as can make on
he didn't do much OF anything but look With
ono comprehensive glance he took In the details
of the whole scene, yet-and I'm giving yot
his word for it, not my own.-his eyes seemed tc
rest on the woman alone She was young anc
pretty; that's Halliday's word again. She hae
red hair and ycllowish brown eyes that were long
and had a habit OF creeping up under her eyeashe'
when she spoke to you. Moreover, she was taste
fully dressed in shade OF brown which so per
fectly matched the skirts and knickerbocker
down stairs that it seemed as II some aesthetic
mind had been making laudible endeavor Il
convert tho whole place into symphony OF au
tumn leaf tinta To be surs she was not TO b.
COMPARED with the beauties who had gone halve
with him in the innumerabe flirtations which
had he had often declared burnt his heart gu
but in spite OF her simplicity. or perhaps becaus
of it, she appealed To him in a novel way. Some
how tho unreasoning anger that had agitatet
him upon enoountering tho children became sub
ordinate 10 suddenly aroused interest and curl
osity in the people who were occupying his house
and he felt thai il Miss Cecilia had asked him
he minded climbing stairway that reached
the fixed stars he would have answered no, nc
at all with az much afabiity as he assured he
he had no objections TO going upstairs
Upon his complying 80 readily, the youn
Young woman smiled. Come with me- please
she said at tho same time handing him car
on which was engraved the name, Miss Cecil
Temple Mamma is out just now, and wi
shoW Won the rooms Then she led the way I
the third story The rooms there were light airy
and dainty Just what would be expected fror
such woman unused Halliday. The youn
woman's yellow eyes narrowed. She read hi
-;-ht o,,ra vrnItI