River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1901-12-12
A LOST
AID r E s 9
Copyright, 1901, by Authors syndieatel
BY FRANK H. SWEET


of the rooms of Fifth avenue hotel,
anxiously examining the contents OF
a small valise, which were presently
scattered in semicircle before her.
That the search was unsuccessful was
apparent from the gathering frown
on her face. AT length she thrust the
various articles back into the valise
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, merrily.
Would not Reggie laugh if he knew.
But he shall not find out. No, indeed!"
with a grimace. ''EIe would never let
me 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
desperandum, as papa says. A Fitz-
gerald 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 natu-
raj conclusion, Il will earn my living
until | can get the address from papa.
He will be up at Ballyshannon with his
guns and dogs before this, and it will
take at least six weeks to hear from
him. l have often read letters to the
servants from their people in America,
and they always go to an intelligence
office ! will go to one myself"
On this very day it happened that
Mrs. Van Maurice was unexpectedly
deprived of her housekeeper. She was
in the midst of round of engagements
and social duties, and as she prided
herself on the unobtrusive machinery
of her household, this detection filled
her with momentary CONSERVATION.
But she was a woman of resource, and
a quick mental calculation convinced
her that she could spare brief half
hour from her calls. This she utilized
in a visit to an intelligence office.
A young lady was talking with the
clerk when she entered. Several wom-
en- were sitting or standing about the
room in various attitudes of hope or
dependency. Mrs. Van Maurice gave
them one comprehensive glance, and
then turned to the clerk and waited
for him to be at leisure. IT was not an
ordinary servant she wanted now, but
one who was competent to take charge
of her complicated household
She was a liberal patron of the of
flee, and presently the clerk excused
himself to the young lady and came
forward.
"What can I do for you, Mrs. Van
Maurice?" he asked
She told him briefly.
"Why, really! I am not sure but
this person will suit you. She has been
speaking about just such place"
"Ahr' Mrs. Van Maurice looked at
the young lady more closely. She was
undeniably prepossessing, 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
were 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.
81 believe I forgot to ask your
name?"
ct is Geraldine Esther Geraldine"
"Ah! 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
were last?'
The girl hesitated little, then
looked at her companion frankly
eat 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 cabulary 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 family 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
velous aptitude for her situation,
though there were some few details
which it seemed almost impossible
for her to grasp. For instance, when
she came in from the street she in
variably ran lightly up the broad mar
bic steps, and only recollected herself
as she reached out toward the but
ton. Then she would make wry
grimaee and slip back to the little
gate which led around to the serv-
ants entrance. Again, she found it
impossible to go past the doors of
the drawing-room and library with
out an almost irresistible impulse to
enter.
One morning she was in the music
room arranging some folios on a