The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-10-30
5z-7a--75~-9a4
Our Daily Short Stories ]
A LOS ADDRESS.
BY FRANK H. SWEET.
Copyright. 1901. by Authors. syndicate3

nweu. that is too, bad!'
Che was sitting on the floor of one
Of the rooms of a Fifth avenue hotel,
o,viously examining the contents, OF
email vaise. which were presently
altered in semicircle before her. That
the search--was unsuccessful was APP
narent from the gathering frown on
her face. At length she thrust the va
rous articles back into the vahse and
walked impatiently to window
Several minutes Of silent consterna-
ton. then the frown vanished in a
clear. ringing laugh.
Sure, this is one on you, Miss
Eighty Head" she cried, merily.
would. not Reggie laugh if he. knew.
Rut he shall not find out. No indeedlis
with a grimace.- He would never let
mo hear the last of it, But what shall
do? Three thousand miles from home
with only five pounds in my purse, and
not the remotest idea in what part of
this hurry scurry New York Reggie is
TO be found Well, nil desperandunl, as
papa says. A Fitzgerald never gets to
his wits ends. But what a ninny to
lose that address"
She remained for a long time gazing
abstractedly at the telescoping tides Of
humanity in the street below, then a
sudden flash came into her eyes.
Why Of course" she said, as though
she had come to the one natural con-
clusion, I viii earn my living until
l can get the address from papa. He
will be up at BaHyshannon with his
guns and dogs before this, and it will
take at least six weeks to hear from
him. 1 have often read letters to the
servants from their people in America,
and they always go to an intelligence
office. I VIII go 10 one myself"
On this very day it happened that
Mrs. Van Maurice was unexpectedly
deprived of her housekeeper. She was
in the midst of a round OF engage
ments and social duties, and as she
prided herself on the unobtrusive ma
chinery of her household, this detection
filled her with mOmentary consterna-
ton. But she was d woman Of re-
sources, and quick mental ealcula-
ton convinced her that she could spare
d brief half hour from her calls. This
she utilized in a visit to an intelligence
Office
young lady was talking with the
clerk when she entered. Several wo-
men were sitting OF standing about
the room in various attitudes of hope
OF dependency. Mrs. Van Maurice
gave them one comprehensive glance,
and then turned To the clerk and wait
ed ton him to be at leisure. It was not
a, ordinary servant she Wanted-now,
but one who was competent to take
charge Of her complicated household
She was a liberal patron of the Office,
and presently the clerk excused HIM
self to the young lady and came for
ward.
What can 1 do for you, Mrs Van
Maurice?' he asked. ~ '-'---
She told him briefly.
Why really! / am not so sure but
this person viii suit you. She has been
speaking about just such a place"
All. Mrs. Van Maurice looked at
the young lady more closely She was
undeniably progressing, and she had
the Very air that was the delight of
Mrs. Van Maurice's fastidious soul,
She was young, of course, but. her eyes
We're so clear and self-possessed, and
well, Mrs Van Maurice did much of
her business on impulse.
After they had entered the carriage
she suddenly turned to her companion
with the air of one conscious of having
omitted something.
i believe 1 forgot to ask your
name?'
ut is Geraldine Esther Geraldine"
All! very pretty name. And you
said that you had had experience in
managing a large establishment
looking after servants and table deco
rations and kitchen purchases, and
and all that? May l ask where you
We're last?"
The girl hesitated little, then
looked at her companion frankly.
AT home. l have been my fathers
housekeeper nearly four years. Re
Gently II had occasion to come to
America"
"Ah!' Mrs. Van Maurice possessed
an extensive vocabulary in her "ah's, -
and the meditation of this one init
mated that her questioning was at an
end And, indeed, she believed that
She understood the whole situation
good -death-involved estate
supposed heiress seeking employ
Ment. That was all; and it was so
simple that she Immediately dis
missed the matter from her mind.
The new housekeeper showed mar
veious aptitude for her Situation,
thoHgn there We're some few details
winch it seemed almost impossible
Ior her to grasp. For instance, when
she came in from the street she in
Valably ran lightly UP the broad mar
Ole steps, and only recolleeted herself
as She reached out toward the out
.on' Then she would make WY
sHnallce and slip back to the httie
gate which led around to the serV-
anus entrance. Again, she found 1t
impossible to go past the doors of
ue drawingroom and library with
out an almost irresistible impulse to
one morning she was in the music
room arranging some folios on q
%oie when She heard quick approach
w footsteps. Thinking 1t was Mrs.
,. e4 Maurice, she went on quietly
win her work.
Deg your pardon / didn't knew
aunt Liza had company" said an